[Stinkyshoe]

Can anyone explain the advantages and disadvantages of each gun? The 500 is a riot style and I believe 590 is already a tactical style. What would you get?
Thanks
Ss

[Preacherman]

The 590 is a mil-spec shotgun, developed specifically for military and police use. From the Mossberg Web site (http://www.mossberg.com/pcatalog/Law.htm):
the state-of-the-art Mossberg® 590A1™ reigns as king of heavy-duty police/military slide action shotguns. Engineered to the exacting standards of the National Institute of Justice, this smooth-handling yet ruggedly reliable service weapon offers such important subtleties of design as its ergonomic, ambidextrous top-tang safety and "swab straight though" magazine tube.
Having developed a "heavier-duty" shotgun for the 590, Mossberg then re-engineered the 500 line to incorporate many of the same features. From their Web site (http://www.mossberg.com/pcatalog/info500.htm):
Sharing many of the same stringent Mil-Spec standards of the renowned 590A1™, the 500® shotgun combines a proven track record and standard features like no other.
Basically, the 590 incorporates an 8-shot magazine with a different barrel mounting in the longer versions (the shorter-barrel 590's use the standard 5-shot magazine tube of the Model 500). It also comes with ghost-ring sights as a standard option on some models, and has options like sling mounting positions, a bayonet mount, etc. It can't take sporting barrels, as one can't fit a barrel designed for a 5-shot magazine onto the longer 8-shot magazine models. (The only barrels Mossberg makes for sporting use fit the 5-shot Model 500 only - not the 590.)

Apart from these differences, as far as the receiver, mechanism, etc. goes, they're essentially the same gun.

[biere]

There are a couple versions of the 590. I have a bare bones 590 which gets you the 8 round capacity, the neat finish, a bead site, and plastic on the safety and trigger gaurd.

One thing about the A1 is that I think it might have a thicker barrel along with the other items. I have read posts in the past where the heat sheild does not swap for whatever reason.

I do not know what options cross on these two, I ordered a bare bones 590 because I mostly wanted the finish and capacity. I am very happy with the bead site and have no problems with the plastic safety and trigger gaurd, though I may buy some metal spares in case I have trouble later.

I bought my 590 a few years back so I don't know if things have changed or not. I just know when I ordered one through a gun store they wanted to make sure of what I was expecting since some want the A1 and some want a cheapy with a nice finish that I have yet to hurt.

[Erik]

I've met more than a couple of Mossies that I liked.

However, for Mossberg to suggest, as they do, that the 590a1 is the "standard in law enforcement" is rediculous.

The Remington 870 is, now and well into the known future.

[Dave McCracken]

Amen to Erik. The Mossies are good guns and I'm certainly not bashing them, but....

870s are the most common LE shotgun, and there's no close second. Best guess, the Remington accounts for well over 90% of the LE market, with the Ithaca coming in a very distant second.And here,close to the Capitol, Remington has a lock on cruiser guns and agency weaponry.

There's a simple reason for that. The 870 just keeps going and going, like that little pink drumbeating bunny. No repeating shotgun EVER has matched its 50 year old record for flawless performance, reliability and durability.

Mossberg's statements are merely ad hype.

[Andrew Wyatt]

actually, there are three variants in the 500 series. there are the short mag tube 500s, with five round tubes, the long mag tube 500s with 7 round tubes, and the 590s.


the 590s have an 870 style magazine cap assembly.


the 500s have a magazine tube that's enclosed, and is threaded for a "takedown screw". these guns cannot use a magazine extention.


the 590A1 has an aluminum or steel trigger guard.

[Stinkyshoe]

I believe the gun I was asking about was the 7 shot that Andrew mentioned. It seemed to be a riot style(black syn. stock and black syn. pump). The barrel is about 20 or 22( maybe 24?) and has a much longer magazine than the standard "hunting" 500 with the 28 inch barrel. The guy who is selling it also has a 590, and prefers it to this 500. I guess it even comes with a pistol grip, although I think that might be like shooting two .44s taped together at the same time. It has a bead sight just like a normal hunting shotgun, and the barrel feels a little thicker and heavier. Could slugs be shot in it regularly? I was just interested in it because I'd like a shorter shotgun for hd, and I would like to take a few combat shotgun classes. Please tell me if I am way off base here. I don't know much about this.
Thanks
Ss

[Andrew Wyatt]

I have the 20 inch long mag tube 500, like you describe. it has a cylinder bore, and shoots slugs quite handily.

It has a point for sling mounting on the takedown screw barrel support.


You WILL need to replace the safety with a metal unit from brownells. the plastic ones are crap, and the metal ones are only a couple bucks.

[Stinkyshoe]

Andrew
Thanks for the reply. How many rounds will your 500 hold? The guy told me 8 or 9 but I didn't believe it. What is the official model name of this gun. If I knew that I would have to keep describing it so vaguely.
Thats right, it did have a sling point on it. Did yours come with a pistol grip? How much did it(the gun) cost when you bought it? Thanks for the tip on the safety. I have had problems with it on the standard 500. Sometimes the safety wouldn't engage while out target shooting or hunting. It really freaked me out, being someone who always uses the safety. Does purchasing a metal safety and installing it solve this problem? What other things can be done to make this gun more user friendly?
Thanks
Ss

[Arkady]

I've got the 20 inch Mossberg 500, it holds 7+1 rounds, blued finish, and a bead sight, no heatshield, my model number is 50577. The 20 inch barreled 590 does hold 8+1, the guy selling them isn't pulling your chain.
I've never had the safety failure issue you described.

As for shooting with the pistol grip... It ain't pleasant. You can do it, and with the cylinder bore and the grace of whatever diety you worship, you might even connect with something. Hopefully, it will be whatever you were shooting at. Of course, you're palms and wrists will be displeased, regardless of what you hit.

[Darrin]

Mossberg 590
Marinecote finish
8+1 Capacity
Birdshot, buckshot, slugs, magnums, 2 3/4", 3", tracers, dragon's breath, whatever
Synthetic stock and forearm
Comes with pistol grip (Gave mine away)
Hours of fun! :cool:
http://mywpages.comcast.net/darrinw/thr/mossy_590.JPG