I shot my 590A1 for the first time today.

It's my second 12 gauge pump with the first being a Mossberg 500 that came in a kit with a 20" smooth bore barrel and 28 vent rib barrel. I paid $200 for the 500 new around 2001, never shot it, and sold it to my uncle around 2008. Sometime in 2007, I got a great deal on 00 buck and slugs from Vances in Columbus, OH. I ordered it online from Florida and picked it up while visiting relatives near Columbus. I don't know why, but the ammo counter guy laughed a little when I told him who I was and what I had come to pickup. He went through a door and reappeared with a handtruck stacked three deep and almost top the top with the cases of my ammo.

When I sold my 500 to my uncle, I assumed I would buy something to replace it. It didn't happen nearly as soon as I had planned for a variety of reasons. Fast forward to last November or so, I spotted a 20" barrel 590A1 with ghost ring sights for $369 on Bud's website and I wound up with an early Christmas present.

I brought it up to Michigan with me for the summer, but left the ammo at home figuring I'd buy some when I got there. That was a mistake. I managed to buy 5 rounds of Remington low recoil slugs and 5 rounds of Winchester 3" slugs. For the last month, we've been saving our 1/2 gallon milk jugs. We filled 10 of them and set them up on our 25 yard range this morning.

First up the 2 3/4" Remington low recoil 1 ounces slugs at 1,200fps. First shot, boom, blown up 1/2 gallon milk jugs. My dad, my oldest son, and I are laughing because that was fun. The recoil wasn't bad and I didn't think twice about the next 4 shots. 4 more blown up milk jugs. Next up, the 3", 1 ounce, Winchester slugs at 1,760fps. First shot, POOOM! The busted jug goes flying over 10' straight up. My dad and son are just about rolling in the sand laughing. I'm thinking that was awesome, but also that was some recoil. Probably more than my 45/70 shooting Hornady LEVERolution. The next 4 shots I'm more deliberate and focused, but 4 more milk jugs destroyed.

I'm happy with the results. 10, 25 yard shots and 10, 1/2 gallon milk jugs ready for the recycle bin. It really was a lot of fun. The low recoil shells were definitely managable, but the 3" shells definitely put a bigger hurt on the milk jugs.

The three of us shot my dad's Ruger Ranch in 7.62x39 next. Then my dad's .22 GSG Colt 1911.

nice report

that's a heckuva good price for a 590a1

i can shoot the 2 3/4 inch shells fine ... I'm not signing up for the 3" shells ...

sounds like a good time was had

the ballistics power of the 12ga is no joke

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Yep, when those evil milk jugs get inside the wire, nothing dispatches them like a shottie. I've had my 590A1 Mariner since 1997. Should a zombie milk jug attack happen on my watch, I am armed to the teeth. I put a pistol grip on mine, so the 'fast' type of zombie milk jugs can eat lead just as quickly. But man, those high brass rounds kill your hand after a tube or two.

Congrats on the purchase. Have fun. Don't knock yourself over with those 3" 1 oz. slugs!

H&K-Guy

Good report.

I've been practicing with my shotguns more too.

My 5' 1" girlfriend REALLY likes the 12.5" 870 SBS and the Benelli M1. She ran some buck and slugs through the 870, that woke her up.

Thanks for the report, I have had a re-interest in shotguns lately. I am really close to SBSing my Mossberg Shockwave but using it with a brace its hard to pony up $200 for stamp then more for a stock.