[boots]

hello folks...just went in to my local gunshop to pick up a shotgun i recently purchased over the internet...while i was there, i had a little chat with a fellow patron and he had some interesting things to say...he told me that mossberg had produced a batch of 590's for the marines that were produced with steel receivers...reason being that marines were bending the aluminum receivers because they were using the shotguns as improvised stepladders to get over walls and onto roofs, etc...is this true??? i that the 590a1 just had a heavy barrel, bayo lug, and heat shield...

[Regolith]

Sounds like a bunch of BS, to me. Improvised stepladders? I'm not even sure how that would work....let alone why someone who depends on their weapon would want to potentially risk damaging it by using it in such a manner.

Mossberg would also probably have to completely retool to do a steel receiver. It'd be cheaper just to buy Remingtons if they needed a shotgun with a steel receiver.

[boots]

thanks for your input...i was thinking the same thing...but, i didn't want to contradict him in public so i just politely nodded along unitl the paperwork was finished...:)

thanks again...

[dfariswheel]

Consider this:

If the Marines needed a steel receiver shotgun for a special purpose like this, which would be easier and cheaper.

Having Mossberg have to do an expensive research and development program then custom build steel guns, all at extremely high prices.

OR

Just buy standard off the shelf Remington 870 Police guns.

OR

Just hand a squad a piece of steel pipe that could be used as an assist.

In all these rumor and Urban Legend stories, always ask yourself, "What sounds reasonable"?

[HOLY DIVER]

lol i'm with ya'll your weapon keeps you alive why would you use it for a ladder?

[jad0110]

Interesting. When I picked up my 590A, the gunshop owner insisted it had a steel receiver. I stated that no, it was aluminum like the 500, but perhaps beefed up a bit. He then tried sticking a magnet in multiple locations and whadya' know, the magnet stuck everywhere we tried it.

I'm thinking that the magnet was just reacting to the steel parts inside the receiver, like the cartridge interupter, bolt, bolt slide, elevator, etc.

Next time I disassemble it for cleaning, I may try the magnet again for the heck of it.

[scout26]

Least we forget:


Kirk's Fifth Law of the Errornet: "If you hear it in a gun shoppe, there is a irrebuttable presumpiton that it is incorrect."

[mnrivrat]

No Steel receiver Mossberg 500's or 590's were ever built .

They are, and always have been ,made of aluminum alloy.

[Rshooter]

Sounds like a bunch of BS, to me. Improvised stepladders? I'm not even sure how that would work....let alone why someone who depends on their weapon would want to potentially risk damaging it by using it in such a manner.

Well, I hope to differ. I cannot get you the footage in that I am not privy to it but there are films of showing how to assist in breaching obstacles using rifles. One man on either side of the weapon and then each man uses the weapon as a step as he goes over. This practice I believe ended with the adoption of the M14, if not definitely with the M16 though. Not to say that it would not be used if necessary. One broken rifle to save many lives is a small cost.

[al g blenny]

I was never in the military but I just don't see a situation where you would need to take the time to set up a rifle to climb on. I'm pretty sure I can jump higher than a rifle can boost me. Even weighed down with equipment.

[Oldnamvet]

Many years ago when I was in the Army, I was trained with that technique for emergencies. Using the M-14, two soldiers held it, one gripping around the pistol grip and one about a foot higher. With the improvised step about knee high, a third soldier ran and stepped on the rifle as the other two pulled it upwards. You could toss a soldier quite a ways up to climb over a wall or other obstacle. We only did it a couple times just so we would know how. Then they sent up to RVN with M-16s which could not have held up to that. Besides, there weren't any walls to climb where I was, just rice paddies and mountains.
If you can jump higher than that technique can send a soldier, you belong in the NBA.:p

[Rob96]

According to the Mossy website, the receiver is still aluminum.

[jmr40]

I have seen the technique described by Oldnamvet in several old WW2 movies. Never knew if it was actually used or just Hollywood.

[mr.trooper]

What a load of CRAP! What fool uses a loaded 12 gauge as a "stepladder"? Sounds like a great way to get dead.

Why would you want a steel receiver? The Aluminum one is plenty strong enough, lighter weight, and MUCH more corrosion resistant.

[proud2deviate]

With seven shells in the tube, steel balances better.

For me, at least.

[Rshooter]

What a load of CRAP! What fool uses a loaded 12 gauge as a "stepladder"? Sounds like a great way to get dead.

Tell it to the Marines MrTrooper. Aside from conduct unbecoming the average Marine does not appreciate being told he is a fool. Maybe the Mossberg was never made with a steel receiver for this purpose but other weapons were used for this purpose. This is not a load of anything.

SSGT USMC Retired.

[Rob96]

With seven shells in the tube, steel balances better.

For me, at least.


Thats the thing, it is purely subjective. I think the 500 has better balance.

[Rob96]

Tell it to the Marines MrTrooper. Aside from conduct unbecoming the average Marine does not appreciate being told he is a fool. Maybe the Mossberg was never made with a steel receiver for this purpose but other weapons were used for this purpose. This is not a load of anything.


If the Marines were truly looking for a ****gun to serve as a ladder rung they would not have gone with the polymer over aluminum skeleton Benelli. And I really don't think the poster was calling the Marines fools.

[marksman13]

I don't think some of you understand the technique being described. Also, the Mossberg for us was a breeching tool mostly, and the soldier who carried it always had a rifle in addition. We used the Mossberg to climb walls if needed. Almost every house we raided in Iraq had a high wall around it. Sometimes you could bust the lock on the gate, sometimes you could hook a Humvee to it and snatch it off the hinges, but sometimes climbing was the only option.

One holds the pistol grip of the Mossberg (without a shell in the chamber of course) and another guy grabbed barrel. The two hold the gun parallel to the ground about knee high and the third soldier steps onto to it and is lifted to the top of the wall. If you do it quickly there doesn't seem to be much force applied to the shotgun. I wouldn't do it with a gun I owned unless it was an emergency. We beat those Mossbergs to hell and back. They were like a crow bar that went bang.

[Guns R Tools]

I checked with magnet on 590A1. It's aluminum. While the magnet was attracted to the receiver in certain spots it's because of steel parts inside. When I moved the magnet to different location I can feel the level of attraction change greatly.

Definitely aluminum receiver.

My trigger guard looks like plastic though.

[jad0110]

My trigger guard looks like plastic though.

If it's really a 590A1 (51663), then it should be aluminum, not plastic. Did you buy it new or used? If used, I suppose a prior owner could have put in a standard plastic one. Don't know why someone would do that.

When we put the magnet on the receiver of my 590A and it stuck, I assumed the same thing: that it was just attracted to the steel parts inside.

[loaf_fan]

There are steel receiver Mossberg's, the Parkerized 590A1's. As Parkerizing can not be done on Aluminum. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkerizing. Simple as that.

[MCgunner]

Whatever. Sounds like a 870 fanatic's made up tall tale to me. At any rate, who cares? I don't need a ladder out in the duck marsh. :rolleyes: And, usually, blinds are built with steps for the purpose.

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

There are steel receiver Mossberg's, the Parkerized 590A1's. As Parkerizing can not be done on Aluminum. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkerizing. Simple as that.


Let's all breath very deeply, and chant it together now...


"aaahhhhhhhaaahhhhhhh lllloooyyyyyyyyy."


That was good. One more time



"AALLLLLL LLLLLL LLL OYYYYYYYY"


EXCELLENT :D!

[MAKster]

The 590A1, 590, and 500 all have the same receiver. The finish might be matte or glossy but the receivers are all aluminum.

[inSight-NEO]

This is an interesting question as I have been interested in adding a 590A1 (20" barrel) to my collection. I have a 590 (with added metal safety, trigger guard/assembly and heavy walled barrel), but Ive been wanting the "real deal."

Now, to your question-

The general consensus is: 500/590/590A1 = Aluminum alloy

This would be similar to almost all (if not all) Benellis. Lets just hope various military personnel choose not to use their fine (and very expensive) "M" series semi-auto Benellis for stepladders as well. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Regardless, I too have heard of the "all steel receiver" equipped A1. But, given the various reports Ive seen, I have yet to nail down whether or not certain A1 models truly sport such an item. However, Im thinking no.

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

the rumors of steel likely involved 1 step conclusions like the one we saw in this thread.

"HURR ITS MAGNETIC SO IT MUST BE STEEL"

"DURRR I CAN BLUE THE RECEIVER IT MUST BE STEEL"

"DERP DERP IT CAN BE PARKERIZED MUST BE STEEL"

[Mainsail]

My trigger guard looks like plastic though.

It's probably a 590, not a 590A1. If it is a 590A1, that designation will be stamped in big characters on the side of the receiver.

[inSight-NEO]

My trigger guard looks like plastic though.

Follow the advice stated in the next quote. If you find that you have the 590 and NOT the 590A1 (and am interested in a metal trigger assembly) then see the link below.

If it is a 590A1, that designation will be stamped in big characters on the side of the receiver.


http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=24369/Product/Mossberg_Trigger_Assembly#specs

[Jack2427]

OK, just got to get in my .02 here. There were never any Mossbergs made with steel receivers, how do I know? I was in weapons procurement for a time, and was evaluating shotguns for the USCG. The CG went with 870s because there was not a way to get a steel receiver on a Mossberg, period. The CG did procure some Mossbergs on local purchases, but those were replaced with 870s. Further, I have worked closely with Marines, and every Mossberg I saw was not a steel receiver, and I was paying attention because of my weapons interest. As I collect military/tactical shotguns(when I started collecting they were the cheapest things to collect), I have handled a lot of shotguns, Mossberg has always made a point that they used a non-steel receiver, touting it as better, they may be right for many uses.
I have also heard a lot of total BS in gunshops about just about any gun related topic. Remember, folks do not always go into the gun selling business because they want to be near guns, they want to be near money.