Lets talk about the mossberg 590.
Some of the differences between the mossberg 590 and the remington model 700:
Remington 870 has a choke - the mossberg 590 does not. This limits the 590 usage as a hunting shotgun - unless you are up close and personal with hogs or deer. And I mean really up close, as in less then 35 yards.
The remington 870 and mossberg 500 are good all around shotguns that should give you years service. Both have chokes that can be changed out, both are good for duck hunting, bird hunting, hunting small game, deer hunting or just about anything else.
Remington 870 has a longer barrel - should hold a tighter pattern then the 590.
Mossberg 590 receiver is drilled and tapped for a scope - remington 870 is not.
Mossberg 590 has a bayonet lug, remington 870 does not
Bushmaster AR-15 and a Mossberg 590 side by side
If there is one thing that I had to say about the Mossberg 590, I like how solid the shotgun feels. When you hold the mossberg 590, it does not feel cheap or feel like a toy. When you pick it up, it feels like a tool that is ready to work.
My one complaint is that the action seems a little "long". When I am holding the 590, my left arm feels like its having to stretch out there to hold the shotgun. Maybe its that I have gotten use to shorter firearms? Maybe I need to spend more time in the woods with my 590? I am not sure.
Several months ago I bought a light kit for my 590, and I need to get that installed sometime soon.
If there were 2 things that I would add to the Mossberg 590, it would be a light kit and a side saddle.
The light kit would be for
tactical situations, and the side saddle is for carrying that little bot of extra ammo with you.
My personal experience of using the Mossberg 590 in a home defensive situation has been after hurricane Ike and Hurricane Rita. With Hurricane Rita the power stayed off for about 18 days, with hurricane Ike the power stayed off for about 4 or 5 days.
In the aftermath of Hurricanes Rita and Ike, I never had to use my 590 to defend my home, but I felt secure knowing that I had protection close at hand.