Why does Mossberg produce each a 500 mannequin and a 590 mannequin? It’s straightforward to say the 590 is simply the tactical model, however that’s not the entire fact. The five hundred has a wide range of tactical fashions, so why is there a 590? It’s due to america army. This brings us to as we speak’s article, which focuses on 5 fascinating details concerning the Mossberg 590.
1. The Origin of the 590
Since World Conflict I, america army has at all times had a smorgasbord of shotguns. Within the late Nineteen Eighties, army shotguns included the Ithaca 37, the Remington 870, the Winchester Mannequin 12, and the Winchester Mannequin 1200. Not like rifles and handguns, there wasn’t a giant push to standardize the service shotgun.
Shotguns have at all times been area of interest army weapons, however in 1987, the army wished to standardize the service shotgun, or no less than try and. They put out a name to gun producers, and Mossberg responded with the five hundred. The five hundred didn’t meet a requirement for the journal tube. The army wished to have the ability to take away the journal cap, and the journal cap of the Mossberg hooked up to the barrel.
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Mossberg made modifications and launched a mannequin of the five hundred with a detachable journal cap, which might develop into the M500 in army parlance, however Mossberg designated it the 590. It’s type of like how the Beretta 92FS is the M9. It’s just a bit extra complicated because the Mossberg 500 exists and isn’t a 590.
2. How the five hundred Turned the 590
Why did Mossberg add 90 to the title? What’s the naming conference Mossberg was making an attempt to comply with? Mossberg hasn’t produced one other shotgun with a 90 designator till 2025 with the 990 Aftershock, however the 90 there’s only a reference to the 590.
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The 90 designation got here from the army’s preliminary order of the M500 shotguns. These pre-590 590s featured the 590 design. They ordered 5,900 of those shotguns. Mossberg dropped a zero from this quantity and named it the 590 as a reference to this preliminary order.
3. The 590A1 and Tighter Patterns
I first heard this from Steve Fisher of Sentinel Ideas. He talked about how the 590A1 threw tighter patterns than a 500, commonplace 590, or different related shotguns. We all know shot unfold is managed by issues just like the choke, the wad, the quantity of shot, and extra. Mr. Fisher theorizes that the heavy-walled barrel and bayonet lug have an effect on barrel harmonics.
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This leads to a tighter sample. After listening to this, I needed to take a look at it for myself. I took out a 590A1 and a Mossberg 500, each cylinder bore weapons, and fired the most affordable buckshot I had via every. The Mossberg 500 produced 11-inch patterns at 10 yards. The 590A1 produced 7.5-inch teams at 10 yards. That’s a considerably tighter sample that’s confirmed to be a constant theme with the 590A1.
4. It’s the Solely Shotgun to Go Mil-Spec 3443E
The army is large on checks and testing, and the take a look at for, quote, “Operated by hand, slide-action, hammerless, 12-gauge riot-type shotguns” known as the 3443E, which has been up to date to the 3443G. The take a look at set the necessities for the brand new shotgun and in addition outlined the sturdiness and reliability necessities a shotgun should meet to be accepted to be used by the U.S. Armed Forces.
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The principle a part of the take a look at value noting is the torture take a look at. It requires a shotgun to fireside 3,000 rounds of full-powered buckshot with not more than three malfunctions and no elements failure. The Mossberg 590 and 590A1 are the one shotguns to have ever efficiently handed the demanding Mil-Spec 3443E take a look at.
5. A 590A2 Exists (Variety Of)
The Mossberg 590A1 is well-known, however do you know a 590A2 exists, type of? The army designation is the M500A2, and keep in mind the 590 is the M500 in army parlance. The M500A2 is a 590A1 match with the Army Enhancement Package, or MEK.
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The Marine Corps is the one department that has fielded the 500A2 and has solely performed so in small numbers with Fleet Antiterrorism, Recon, and related small groups. The M500A2 with MEK integrates three completely different inventory choices: the Inflexible fastened inventory, the collapsible inventory variant, and the pistol grip-only design.

One other a part of the MEK is the presence of a breaching system on the finish of the barrel. This enables the gun to be positioned in opposition to locks and hinges with out worrying about damaging the barrel. This breaching system has tooth to chunk into the door and supply a secure level for firing breaching rounds in numerous positions.
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The 590 Without end
The 590 isn’t going wherever anytime quickly. It’s expanded into .410 and 20-gauge variants, and it’s Mossberg’s flagship combating shotgun. It’s a tank of a gun and certainly one of my all-time favourite pump-action shotguns.

















