I only have a Mossberg 590 with the standard 18 inch barrel and no choke tubes. Do I have any chance at all of hunting waterfowl with this or will I need to get someone with a longer barrel and choke tubes, etc. Unfortunately I don't see any barrel swapping options for the 590, only the 500.

The 590 is a self defense gun with fixed cylinder chokes designed for close combat. iMO you’d be wasting your time trying to hunt with it. Not saying it would be impossible to hit a duck, but a huge handicap on an already difficult target. Save up a little money and invest in an entry level pump shotgun. Plenty of used ones cross the classifieds here.

Perfect. Mossberg 835 barrels fit and work on the 590 depending on the length of your mag tube vs the length to the barrel ring. 590 won’t cycle the 3.5” shell though, action isn’t long enough. Stick with 3” or shorter ammo.

590 is a damn fine shotgun. Mossbergs are under rated these days, they are like an SKS or an AK. Loose and rattley but takes a licking and keeps on ticking!

590 is the toughest of all the mossberg pump guns.

Also, the factory cylinder barrel, I’m gonnabet it will throw a nice pattern with the bigger steel shot. Think, steel BB’s and up. Might try #2 as well… hell, might as well try 4’s.

A lot of people hunt waterfowl with skeet chokes. Generally, steel shot doesn’t pattern well in a tight choke.

A modified is like a full to steel. Cylinder will be more like modified. Full chokes, a lot of times will pattern badly with large gaps.

Just get it to a range and pattern it. Pick up some big cardboard slats from behind Walmart or something. They use these big cardboard slats in between layers on pallets, that’s what I use to pattern my guns. I have a big stack of ‘em.

Also just so you know, in case you try the 835 barrel. I shoot a mossberg 835 and I’ve killed squirrels from probably about 70 yards with that thing, shooting cheap Federal steel shot shells. It is a killer!

Edit- I apologize for the back to back posts. Just thinking about my mossberg 835 gets me all excited! Mossberg and Federal collaborated on the 3.5” steel shell and the mossberg 835. It was made specifically to shoot steel. Those 3.5” shells carry a 10 gauge payload and pattern better in a overbore gun. So the 835 was created with a 12 gauge chamber and 10 gauge bore.

I shoot my 835 with the factory full choke and I strictly shoot only steel ammo for squirrel hunting. It’s not waterfowl but I am reaching out way longer than any man should attempt to kill with steel and I’m dropping grey squirrels. Which are tough little buggers with tough hide.

Anyway if I recall correctly the factory full choke in my old 835 is .730”, which is the same as a cylinder bore of a standard 12 gauge. And that combined with the 10 gauge bore really patterns nice with steel. I shoot 2 3/4” and 3” shells.

Hadn’t thought of trying the 835 barrel. I guess that would be an option. But the short stock on a 590 would still seem to be a handicap? Unless shtgnr happens to be a small framed guy?

How short is it? Are you using a collapsible stock? Should be 14” lop.

For the cost of an 835 barrel you could just pick up a used 835 from a pawn shop. It will get you through the season.

Then you can upgrade for next year, or not.

For the price of a barrel you might get a whole new shotgun



https://grabagun.com/firearms/shotg...tguns/maverick-88-12-28-vr-accu-mod.html

The maverick 88 will not pattern with steel like an 835 will. Also they are know for breaking the safety, due to repeatedly shucking her too hard. That’s why it’s so cheap.

The safety on the 500/590/835 is rock solid, and it’s in the right spot. You can get a used 500 or 835 at the pawn shop for about the same price as a new maverick 88, and it will probably still outlast the new maverick 88.

It would also be great for someone who uses a 590 for a defense shotgun, because you have the same trigger, same safety, same feel.

Thanks for all the great info. I appreciate the counterpoint etc. I have heard of the 835 barrels working for the 590s. Unfortunately I have a 6 round magazine tube and I think the 835s only work for 5 round tubes. I would love for someone to tell me differently and show me a link haha.

Ultimately I have about 300 dollars to make a waterfowl shotgun happen, whether it's with a new barrel or a new gun. I'm really trying to get the range I need to be successful on an upcoming waterfowl hunt. Can anyone suggest something in my price range? I would prefer the max 3 round capacity rather than a double barrel but maybe I'm asking too much.

Also the minimum (and max?) barrel length I am looking for. Thanks!

Literally owned probably 15 88s over the years and currently use a 20ga to hunt with. Never once have I seen a broken cross-bolt safety, I believe you are thinking of the pinned forend. Which even newer polymer stock 500s have the pinned forend now ( 12ga 500/88s mostly, my current 20ga 88 has a normal thread cap forend and its new this year).

You should be able to get a used pump gun in that price range. Check your local pawn shops or used gun dealers. Mossberg, Remington, Winchester all have guns that should be in your price range, maybe even a Benelli Nova. I'd look at 26"-30" barrels. 24" could work, but I think the longer ones swing better.

Been hunting with a pair of Maverick 88's (12 and 20 gauge) for many years and have had no issues with the safety or patterning.
Just make sure you get a big piece of cardboard and take the time to evaluate and understand how different brands and loads will perform in your gun at different distances.

I think the 590 will be ok over decoys, and even may be preferable in thick timber since you can swing it easily. Not to mention it's quick to point.