Barrel length/balance on defensive shotgun

I'm considering a Mossberg 500 Persuader or 590 shotgun defense. In
terms of length/capacity the options seem to be

6-shot (5+1?) 500 with 18.5" barrel
8-shot (7+1?) 500 with 20" barrel
9-shot (8+1?) 590 or 590A1 with 20" barrel

Is there a difference in handling between these models? Does 1.5" in
length make a difference? I imagine that the different magazine
capacities make the gun balance differently. Is there any noticeable
difference here, or is it mostly personal preference?

Also, is it really worth it to have the ghost ring sights? (This
changes the effective options to be

9-shot 590 or 590A1 with 20" barrel
6-shot 500 with 18.5 barrel)



On a completely different note, the suggested prices (which I realize
are not the actual selling prices) on the Mossberg web pages seems
really strange:

- Why should the #50440 cruiser be $4 more than the #50411 persuader
when the persuader includes stock and pistol grip, but the cruiser only
has the pistol grip? Is the silly heat shield really that much more
than the stock?

- Even stranger, why is the #51663 590A1 listed at $558, *cheaper* than
the #50668 590 at $591, when it says that the 590A1 is identical to the
590 but with *more* metal? This seems completely out of whack.

--Aaron


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