Mossberg 590A1

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 6/4/20 | F Jardim

[w1n1]

For When You Need a War Shotgun - If you do your bird hunting with a classic Mossberg 500 shotgun, you might be taken aback when you first handle their tactically oriented, nine-shot, bayonet-lug- and aperture-sight-equipped Magpul series Model 590A1. For starters, the 590A1 is built for war, not sport, and the Magpul series takes it a step beyond with furniture that enhances its tactical function and allows for more user customization than the standard military stock. Whether you’re repelled by it or drawn to it, you have to admit: it’s a sexy beast.
At nearly 8.5 pounds empty, I found this model’s weight alone impressive. It’s a load to carry, which means any Marine Corps infantryman issued one will curse it long and loudly, but when it comes time to shoot it, that mass just soaks up the recoil of the heaviest 3-inch magnum loads.
This is a gun you can shoot slugs with all day long. I don’t love this gun, but it’s an apocalypse-grade weapon. If I have to go into battle against a rival warlord or endure decades of chaos after the collapse of civilization with just a shotgun, this is the one I'd want.

FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR with the 590A1, it is the latest, and possibly final, tactical evolution of Mossberg’s 500 series shotgun line introduced in 1960. The 500 series shotgun is one of the most successful sporting arms in history with over 12 million produced in various gauges and configurations.
The Mossberg 500 in tactical trappings was also very popular with law enforcement, but its most demanding role was serving in the hands of our military service members in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact, the changes that evolved the series 500 into the current 590 and 590A1 tactical shotguns were in response to the military’s requirements.

Though non-NFA versions of the 590A1 with barrels 18.5 inches or longer became available to civilians in 2009, these shotguns are marketed primarily to law enforcement and military agencies. The 590A1 is among the mix of shotgun models and types the military currently uses for interior guard duty, prison security, riot control, door-breaching, boarding hostile naval vessels and front-line combat roles.

GETTING BACK TO the specific tactical adaptions of the Mossberg shotguns, the principal difference between the 500 and 590 was the design of the magazine tube and barrel mounting. The former’s magazine tube is closed at the end with a threaded hole in the center to attach the barrel. The latter uses an open-ended magazine tube with exterior threads and holds the barrel in place with a screw-on cap.

This made the 590's magazine much easier to clean. That wasn't a big deal for most American hunters, but it was for airmen, soldiers and marines, who tended to get a lot of sand and dust in their guns doing their duty during the Gulf Wars and the Global War on Terrorism. The 590A1 differs from the 590 in the thickness of its barrel and its use of aluminum, rather than polymer, for the triggerguard assembly and safety. It doesn’t take too much to dent a shotgun barrel, and the U.S. Navy requested a heavier barrel that was more resistant to denting after observing guns were sometimes damaged banging into ship hatchways.

THE MOSSBERG MAGPUL series 590A1 has an MSRP of $836 and is fully decked out with Magpul adjustable SGA buttstock, MOE front handguard, forward sling mounting point, and an XS Sights ghost ring adjustable-aperture rear sight and receiver-mounted Picatinny rail. These upgrades, all American-made, have an MSRP over $400 if purchased separately.
The Magpul (magpul.com) SGA buttstock is ambidextrous in the sense that it has a 1.25-inch sling loop and QD socket on each side and the steel ring for hook attachment at the stock wrist can be positioned on the right or left side. This user-configurable buttstock is adaptable for use with body armor, optics and shooters of differing stature. Length-of-pull is adjustable from 12.5 to 14.5 inches in half-inch increments with a spacer system. Read the rest of Mossberg 590A1 Magpul.

[circlecity]

Other than a larger internal magazine I don’t see any real benefit over the basic Mossberg 500

[CodeToad]

Metal trigger group instead of plastic, for one.

[Codeflier]

A lot less recoil is mentioned. That could be nice for high volume shooting. I find the recoil fine on my standard 500 for how often I actually shoot it though.

[mylife]

saiga 12

[mylife]

VEPR 12

[halo66]

Was just looking at the VEPR 12 but need it to be California compliant:

https://www.atlanticfirearms.com/products/vepr-12-shotgun-12-07

Tempting...

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

My JTS works beautifully. Just sayin’.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Oh, and uses 5-round mags. Nice shotgun.

[UnwashedPeasant]

My antivirus program (Malwarebytes) tells me there is a Trojan on that website and blocks it.

It could be the Left trying to restrict access, or maybe they planted a Trojan.

[mylife]

Molot makes fine weapons.

[Mariner]

My Mossberg 590S cost $299.

So I bought two, plus a case of 00.

The heat shield matters, as does 8+1.

[DarthVader]

Excellent for home defense! I have the Persuader and Shockwave.

[deks]

Just got a warning from my Anti-virus software.

It is blocking your website due to a Trojan virus.

[Manly Warrior]

A bunch- already mentioned- Al trigger guard, heavy ( really heavy) barrel- for durability with muzzle attachments and dent resistance ( sporting shotguns are very thin walled and lightweight), Modified safety and beefed up action bars and heavy walled Al receiver etc... NOT a 500.

[circlecity]

Nothing there I would consider paying even an extra 100 bucks for except the larger magazine. I’ve had my 500 for 30 years, put it through a lot use and abuse and there not mark on the trigger guard or anywhere else. It shoots just as hard and accurate as a 590.

[Viking2002]

I inherited a Mossberg 500 in 20 ga. with a 26” barrel - it just sits in my rifle rack, but it would make a nice bird gun. Having said that, I got an H&R Pardner Protector 5+1 pump with an 18” barrel a few years ago, swapped the OEM rear stock for an adjustible stock w/pistol grip and five shot shell carrier, added a vented barrel shroud, Picatinny rail and holographic reflex scope w/laser, and low light front sights. Overkill? Maybe. But looks alone could kill. I did the same thing to my AR, but added a bipod, same scope setup, and flip-up Magpul sights fore and aft. (I have yet to co-witness the damn thing.)

[Manly Warrior]

Indeed, but you likely have not roped out of a hovering Helo, parachuted and crawled through swamp, jungle desert or woodland doing combat rolls and IMT, dove into it on concrete rubble or used it to break windows or doors or wear a bayonet or ....etc.

But I hear you.

You would be amazed at what issue weapons and gear go through.

[circlecity]

We’ll in that situation the military would give me one. And if I really needed that much ruggedness I’d rather have steel Remington 870 anyway instead of the aluminum Mossberg.

[Manly Warrior]

Well, that’s what/who the 590 series was designed for. As far as steel vice aluminum receivers, the M590 won against about five other makers offerings about 20+ years back, Rem, Win, Benelli ( the USMC adopted one of those for a while too) and the Mossy won the overall competition, including durability reliability etc.

It has been the Army shotgun for sometime. I carried one in my vehicle in IRQ in 2003 and 4. Made a difference in the crowds. Good driving suppression weapon, but the go to was still the M4 or A2.