Originally Posted by
powell556
I bought a Moss 590 20" Mariner model with bead front site a long time ago. It has a lighterweight barrel compared to most current generation 590s. I converted that to a 14" on a Form 1 but kept the barrel and mag tube.
Years later, I bought a 20" 590 that has a heavy barrel. I decided to compare them tonight and found the heavy barrel is 10 ounces heavier than the light barrel. Some portion of that is the rifle site (to pair with the ghost ring rear), compared to the bead site on the Mariner lightweight barrel. Another portion is the bayonet lug that the heavy barrel has but the light does not.
That's over half a pound difference! I'm wonder if I really need the heavy barrel. I've heard the heavy barrel was designed for banging around Marine Corp ships and not be damaged. Even if I were to "go to war" with the lightweight barrel, it seems like it would do okay. It doesn't seem that thin.
What are everyone's experiences with light versus heavy mossberg barrels? Anyone ever tried to switch in one direction or another? I imagine the barrel is almost the cost of a new gun so probably not worth it. But since I do have the old Mariner lightweight 20" barrel, I may try to find a smith who will solder the same front site on, and run this to save some weight on this 20" beast.