Ah, the Mossberg 590 seriesโa name synonymous with rugged reliability and iconic status in the world of pump-action shotguns. If youโve spent any time around firearms, youโve likely crossed paths with one of these beauties. Born out of necessity when the original Mossberg 500 didnโt quite meet military specs, the 590 was designed to address those shortcomings, and what emerged became a staple in the tactical shotgun lineup. Traditionally chambered in 12 gauge, the 590 has always been a “big boy” when it comes to fighting shotguns.
But Mossberg, never one to shy away from innovation, has been expanding its horizons. Enter the .410 variantโa lighter, friendlier addition to the 590 family. For those of us who love the functionality of a shotgun but prefer not to feel like weโve been shoulder-checked by a linebacker after a range session, this could be a game-changer. Naturally, I had to get my hands on one to see if it holds up to the 590 legacy or if itโs just a novelty piece.
Letโs be realโwhen you think โfighting shotgun,โ your mind doesnโt immediately jump to .410 bore. The 12 gauge has long reigned supreme, with the 20 gauge as its slightly less intense sibling. So, where does the .410 fit in?
For starters, .410 shotguns offer significantly less recoil, making them more accessible to smaller-statured shooters, younger enthusiasts, or anyone who doesnโt relish the idea of bruised shoulders. While some argue that .410 sacrifices stopping power, Iโm not entirely sold on that narrative. With proper ammunition, like 3-inch 000 buckshot rounds delivering five pellets, the .410 can still pack enough punch to be a viable self-defense option.
That said, thereโs a caveat: once you start dialing down to .410, youโre venturing into diminishing returns territory. If the 20 gauge is still too much for you, perhaps a lightweight AR platform or pistol-caliber carbine (PCC) would better suit your needs. But hey, Iโm open-minded, and I decided to give the .410 590 a fair shake.
If youโve ever handled a standard Mossberg 590, the .410 variant will feel like an old friend. The design is simple, straightforward, and undeniably Mossberg. Itโs a pump-action shotgun with a six-round magazine tube and one in the chamber, giving you a respectable seven-round capacity.
The gun sports Mossbergโs hallmark tang safety, which is perfectly placed for ambidextrous use, and a lightweight polymer stock and forend. However, at 13.87 inches, the length of pull (LOP) feels a bit excessive for the audience this shotgun is likely targeting. I stand a towering 6โ5โ, and even I found it a tad lengthy. Luckily, Mossberg offers a Bantam compact stock, and for the tinkerers out there, Ergo makes an adapter that lets you attach AR-style stocks and pistol grips for a more customized fit.
Mossberg lists the weight of the .410 590 at seven pounds, but thatโs clearly an optimistic number. On my scale, it clocked in at a feather-light 5.6 pounds. This makes it an absolute joy to wield and carry, especially if youโre planning on using it as a utility shotgun around the homestead.
Letโs talk ammunitionโarguably the Achilles’ heel of the .410 platform. Defensive loads for .410s are about as common as a unicorn sighting at a gun show. If youโre looking for buckshot, good luck. Most options cater to hunters, with birdshot dominating the shelves.
Fortunately, AmmoToGo came through as the hero of this story, supplying me with Winchester PDX and Hornady Critical Defense loads. Both are tailored for self-defense, born in the era of the Taurus Judge revolver, and they perform admirably out of the .410 590. The Winchester PDX packs three large disks and 12 BBs, while the Hornady load combines a .41-caliber slug with two .35-caliber buckshot pellets. If youโre serious about using a .410 for home defense, these loads are your best bet.
I donโt just take a gun to the range and throw a few rounds downrangeโI run them through their paces. For the .410 590, I chose the Lucky Gunner Home Defense Shotgun Skills Test. This course of fire is practical, challenging, and specifically tailored to shotguns used in home-defense scenarios.
The results were…interesting. On single-shot drills, the .410โs minimal recoil allowed for rapid follow-up shots and easy target reacquisition. I clocked some of my best times ever on multi-shot drills, thanks to the gunโs lightweight design and negligible muzzle rise.
However, I did encounter some challenges. Reloading the .410 feels awkwardโthose tiny shells donโt fill your hand like a 12-gauge round does, making them harder to handle quickly. The shell lifter and loading port also felt a bit tighter than other 590 models Iโve used. Whether thatโs a break-in issue or a design quirk remains to be seen, but itโs worth noting.
With only two defensive loads to test, I kept my patterning trials short but focused. At 10 yards, both the Winchester PDX and Hornady Critical Defense produced tight, effective patterns. The PDX disks punched a single ragged hole, while the BBs grouped tightly within a hand-sized spread. The Hornady load performed similarly, with its buckshot pellets clustering close together and the slug hitting just slightly off-center.
For home-defense distances, these patterns are more than sufficient to stop a threat. However, the limited availability of defensive .410 ammo is a stark reminder that this caliber isnโt as versatile as its larger siblings.
So, where does the .410 Mossberg 590 fit in the grand scheme of things? Itโs not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it excels in certain niches.
For home defense, itโs a solid option for those who want a shotgun but canโt handle the recoil of a 12 or even 20 gauge. However, if youโre going that route, youโll need to ensure you have access to quality defensive ammoโand stock up when you find it.
Where the .410 590 really shines is as a utility shotgun. Itโs light, handy, and capable of handling pests, small game, and the occasional varmint. Throw it in your truck, strap it to your ATV, or keep it by the back doorโitโs a workhorse that wonโt weigh you down.
Mossberg has done an admirable job translating the iconic 590 into a .410 platform. It retains all the reliability and build quality youโd expect from a Mossberg, wrapped up in a package thatโs easy to handle and fun to shoot. While it may not dethrone the 12 gauge as the king of fighting shotguns, it carves out its own niche as a versatile, low-recoil option.
For those who need or want a lightweight shotgun, the .410 590 offers a compelling case. Just remember to stock up on those elusive defensive loadsโyouโre going to need them.
