Yes, completely interchangable, it will even work on a 12GA model 500...
Partially correct. There are 18.5" AND 20" 590A1 models. There is also at least one 500 (that breacher model 54125) which also has the "clean out" mag tube. I suspect an 18.5" 590A1 barrel will fit on that 500 model, too (pictured below).regular old 500's have a differant means of mounting the barrel and use a screw that screws into the magazine tube where as the 590 uses a nut to hold the 590 barrel to the magazine tube. as well as 500's having 6 shot tubes and 590's having 8 shot tubes.