Mossberg 500/590 comparison
- Thread starter Slater
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Well, it depends...
Mossberg makes two different trigger groups. One with a plastic body, one with a cast aluminium body. I have seen a broken plastic trigger group, but never experienced that myself.
The rest of the internal parts are identical.
The only issue I have is with the magazine tube on the 500, you must remove it to get inside it as the muzzle end has a block swaged in to provide a place for the barrel screw to screw into. That said I own a 500 with the short 5 round magazine tube and it works fine.
Mossberg makes two different trigger groups. One with a plastic body, one with a cast aluminium body. I have seen a broken plastic trigger group, but never experienced that myself.
The rest of the internal parts are identical.
The only issue I have is with the magazine tube on the 500, you must remove it to get inside it as the muzzle end has a block swaged in to provide a place for the barrel screw to screw into. That said I own a 500 with the short 5 round magazine tube and it works fine.
590 = metal reciever
500 = aluminum reciever
I have owned both and now own a remington 870 which in my honest opinion is twice the gun as both. Have nothing against mossberg but the 870 feels so much better to me. I can say that I have never had a hicup out of the mossbergs or the remingtons.
500 = aluminum reciever
I have owned both and now own a remington 870 which in my honest opinion is twice the gun as both. Have nothing against mossberg but the 870 feels so much better to me. I can say that I have never had a hicup out of the mossbergs or the remingtons.
ZenMasterJG
Member
Is aluminum no longer a metal? I got no memo....
meathammer
Member
500 - plastic safety button (less robust)
590 - metal safety button
Both have aluminum receivers.
I believe only the 590 has the metal trigger group. (Mayber older 500s do too.)
I have the 590A1. Love it.
Edited to add: 590A1 has a heavier barrel also.
--meathammer
590 - metal safety button
Both have aluminum receivers.
I believe only the 590 has the metal trigger group. (Mayber older 500s do too.)
I have the 590A1. Love it.
Edited to add: 590A1 has a heavier barrel also.
--meathammer
mons meg
Member
You also need to specify whether you mean the 590, or the 590A1. The A1 is the one with stock all metal triggerguard and safety, plus "heavier" barrel than the "old" 590, which I have. I don't know how much heavier that barrel needs to be, unless one was interested in vigorous bayonet work. 
This is a little off topic but I am really thinking about a 590A1. Do you all think it is worth the extra money to buy the ghost ring sight instead of the bead? I do not really know anything about shotguns-just decided this week I wanted one. Does Dick's, Sports Authority, or Walmart sell this gun? I didn't see it in-store or on the website.
Thanks
Ryan
Thanks
Ryan
ACP230
Member
I have a 590 with the ghost ring peep.
I find it works very well with slugs out to 50 or 75 yards and doesn't get in the way when shooting bird shot.
I use the sights when shooting buckshot too.
I think they make the 590 more versatile than a plain bead sight.
I find it works very well with slugs out to 50 or 75 yards and doesn't get in the way when shooting bird shot.
I use the sights when shooting buckshot too.
I think they make the 590 more versatile than a plain bead sight.
Poodleshooter
Member
I think very old 500's had the aluminum trigger group. My 500A,dating from the late 80's, has an aluminum safety button.
scott.cr
Member
The mag tube on the 590 is easier to clean and maintain than the 500, as mentioned in this post.
Removing either mag tube from the receiver can be a tough job, but it's easier if you buy or make a barrel wrench - I used two small pieces of 2x4 and clamped them around my 500's mag tube to remove it. Trust me, you won't be getting it out with Vise-Grips and you'll screw it up in the process.
I really like the ghost ring sights, but if you use the gun for shooting clay you probably will prefer a dumb ol' bead sight.
Removing either mag tube from the receiver can be a tough job, but it's easier if you buy or make a barrel wrench - I used two small pieces of 2x4 and clamped them around my 500's mag tube to remove it. Trust me, you won't be getting it out with Vise-Grips and you'll screw it up in the process.
I really like the ghost ring sights, but if you use the gun for shooting clay you probably will prefer a dumb ol' bead sight.
590's and 500's both have aluminum receivers. The 590 A1 has the metal triggergroup and the 590 has the plastic one. Also the barrel on the A1 is thicker then the regular 590. If you want to upgrade your regular 590 with a metal triggergroup Mossberg won't sell you the part you have to go through Brownells. The Magazine tube is way easier to clean on the 590 then the 500 as all you have to do is take off the magazine tube retainer nut.
If you are going to buy a 590 get the 590A1 it is better by a long shot. It is usually parkerized instead of blued, it has a thicker barrel, and has a metal triggergaurd. I am not sure what other features it has that the reg 590 doesn't have but it is a far more solid weapon and the price difference is not that large.
-David
If you are going to buy a 590 get the 590A1 it is better by a long shot. It is usually parkerized instead of blued, it has a thicker barrel, and has a metal triggergaurd. I am not sure what other features it has that the reg 590 doesn't have but it is a far more solid weapon and the price difference is not that large.
-David
mons meg
Member
Aha....that's what I've been trying to determine. My bone stock 590 feels pretty solid already. I *might* consider popping in the metal trigger group after my current one breaks.
Carnitas
Member
Handle both... you'll find that the A1 has the "brick excrement house" feel that is lacking in the lower end models. If that rock solid feel appeals to you, buy it.
Nuts590
Member
Ryan,
In a word: yes! If I were to purchase a new mossberg I would purchase the 590A1 with ghost rings with absolutely NO second thoughts. As far as finding one locally to you, a few phone calls to gun departments should solve that problem for you. Might be best to cut the the chase and tell them exactly what you want. (example: I need to order a mossberg 590A1 with ghost rings, mossberg model number #51663. Can you get one?) Most department store people won't know what you're talking about beyond "mossberg shotgun..." the model number gives even the most dim counter help a starting point.
mons meg
Member
Just to clarify...the "old" 590 "pre-A1" has ALL the same function of the newer model, to include the bayonet lug for the M9 bayonet. The only differences are the metal triggerguard, safety button, and heavier barrel.
How much heavier, I can't seem to find out; but I bet the wimpy, inferior, paper-thin barrel on my "original" 590 shotgun will outlast me, if I may paraphrase our fair moderator.
What I'm saying is if I had to buy new, I would get the current 590A1. If I found a used 590 in good condition for a hundred or so dollars less, I'd grab it in a heartbeat.
Cosmoline
Member
The old 500's are plenty tough, believe me. My old boy survived the worst of Alaska fishing, including getting dropped in various bodies of water, getting rained on, getting sand and mud in the action, and getting bashed around. I always figured that plastic triggerguard would snap, but it never did.
The big advantage over the 590 is the availability of barrels and the @ one minute it takes to change them out. I toyed with getting a 590 but if I want more capacity I'll just get a sidewinder ten shot rig. The 870's aren't any tougher than Mossy's and have an exceedingly dangerous safety. IMNSHO
The big advantage over the 590 is the availability of barrels and the @ one minute it takes to change them out. I toyed with getting a 590 but if I want more capacity I'll just get a sidewinder ten shot rig. The 870's aren't any tougher than Mossy's and have an exceedingly dangerous safety. IMNSHO
DHart
Member
I've got a fairly recent model Mossberg 500A "Persuader" 12 ga. w/18.5" barrel which has been utterly reliable... a fine shotgun indeed. I have it for home defense use & for blasting mole hills. The ergonomics of the controls (tang mounted thumb safety and slide release on the rear of the trigger guard) are the best set-up I've seen on a shotty... very convenient and natural placement of the controls. The 870 is a fine shotty as well, but the placement of the controls on the 870 feels awkward as compared to the Mossy. With the Mossberg, everything is placed right where it feels like it "belongs" and is intuitive to operate. For my purposes, the polymer trigger guard and thumb safety knob on the 500A offer all the durability I will ever need.
If purchasing new, I'd certainly consider the 590A1 as well, which is no doubt all that the 500A is as far as reliability and quality is concerned, but with a few different features.
If purchasing new, I'd certainly consider the 590A1 as well, which is no doubt all that the 500A is as far as reliability and quality is concerned, but with a few different features.
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nitesite
Member
I have a 590 and think it's just fine for defending my home. I absolutely love the ghost ring sights, too! I have never felt that the additional strength in a few components on the 590A1 were necessary for me. Perhaps if I were breaching doors in Fallujah, I'd feel differently.
If you find a 590 at a good price, I don't think you'll experience any remorse that you didn't hold out for the 590A1.
If you find a 590 at a good price, I don't think you'll experience any remorse that you didn't hold out for the 590A1.
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