Mossberg 590 vs 590A1

[voyager4520]

I've never owned a shotgun before and I'm interested in the 590 models, particularly the A1. But I'm confused over what the differences between the two are. From what I understand all A1's have a heavy-wall barrel and a metal trigger guard and safety.

1. Is there a difference besides capacity between a 590 magazine tube and an A1 magazine tube? I heard that the regular 590 has some sort of internal end cap that has to be removed with an allen wrench or something.
2. Does the 590 have dual action bars attached to the forend like the A1 does?
3. Does the 590 have dual extractors like the A1 does?
4. Do any of the 590's have metal trigger guards and safeties?(from the factory)
5. Does the 590 Mariner have a metal trigger guard and safety?
6. If I were to buy a different forend for one, would that forend have its own action bar/s attached to it? Or would I have to somehow remove the action bar/s from the stock forend to put on the aftermarket forend?

Are there any other core differences between the two? I know each can come with various sights, different stocks and possibly a pistol grip, different capacity magazine tubes, different length barrels, and the 590 can use a heat shield.

I'm particularly considering the 20" barrel 9 shot models.

 

[CLP]

1. No difference afaik. There's a difference if you're loading 3" vs. 2 3/4" though.

2. Yes

3. Pretty sure

4. Mine does- bought it from from Brownell's; factory

5. Don't know

6. Nope, Midway USA sells a wrench that removes them. Aftermarket forends won't have the bars

 

[voyager4520]

Thank you!

 

[Hocka Louis]

The A1 has a MUCH heavier barrel designed not to be dented banging it into steps on a ship. The receiver is also thicker.

There IS an internal spring holder in the A1. It is removed by carefully prying it out. It is just in by pressure and there to keep the spring from accidently exploding out when you unscrew the mag cap that the regular 590 does NOT have -- the barrel types are different -- look at some pics!

You specifically asked about mag tubes... Vang Comp makes a +1-round extended magazine cap for the short A1 (nice and still short), and one Max100 makes (made?) a +2-round one that's very nice.

I personally love the 590 20" lightweight and prefer the shorter A1 of the 590's (see pic). The latter is a HEFTY gun and the shorter barrel makes it manageable to my mind's eye (even with an extended mag tube).

BOTH can take heat shields with bead sights (the A1's is even parkerized). The regular 590 are bead sights (mine was replaced with a Polychoke making a super-versatile all-purpose gun). Mossberg makes a bead sighted barrel for the A1 as well (note there were definitely barrel problems with melted steel dribbles inside barrels early on). I HATED using the standard-issue Ghost Ring sights on the A1 (though they LOOK SO sharp) and had to replace it with a traditional bead immediately. Eventually I bought a three-dot-sight barrel as a compromise so I could feel a little 21st C. tacticool.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

I have one of the 590 models, 20-inch barrel, parkerized finish, and ghost ring sights. I replaced the safety with a metal one. Other than that it's been good to go, Very nice gun and I see no reason to get the A1 and pay a premium unless you just HAVE to have that barrel and metal trigger housing. I actually wanted the 20" 590A1 but the A1 is very hard to find so I got the one I have and have been happy so I see no reason to get the A1 now.

My ghost ring sights are great, very accurate. Inside of 75 yards it's like firing a rifle with the sights being dead on using slugs.

 

[natman]

All 590s and 590A1s have the end cap and open ended mag tube. 500s have the capped mag tube.

http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=5&display=specs

Click on model 50645 to see a 590.

The difference between a 590 and a 590A1 is that the A1 is a heavy duty version with a metal trigger guard and a metal safety button along with the thicker and heavier barrel and a parkerized finish.

Note that Mossberg has a model with a metal trigger guard and a metal safety button along with the thicker and heavier barrel and a matte blue finish it calls a 590:

http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=5&display=specs

Number 51663.

 

[voyager4520]

Thank you very much guys!