Mossberg 590

About the Mossberg 590

The Mossberg 590 is a pump-action shotgun designed for military and law enforcement applications, manufactured by O.F. Mossberg & Sons. Derived from the highly successful Mossberg 500 platform, the 590 was purpose-built as a combat shotgun with reinforced internals to meet U.S. military MIL-SPEC 3443 standards. Key differences from the 500 include a heavier barrel, metal trigger guard (on 590A1 variants), metal safety button, and a clean-out tube magazine that allows rapid clearing. The 590 is available with 6-, 8-, or 9-shot tubular magazines and features the Mossberg family's signature ambidextrous tang-mounted safety. The 590A1 variant, with its heavy-walled barrel and bayonet lug, became the only pump-action shotgun to pass U.S. military MIL-SPEC 3443E testing. Used extensively by the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan, the 590 series has been adopted by armed forces and law enforcement agencies in over 70 countries. The platform is available in 12 gauge, 20 gauge, and .410 bore, chambered for 3-inch magnum shells.

The Mossberg 590A1 was the U.S. military's primary combat shotgun from the late 1980s until the Benelli M4 began replacing it in the early 2000s. The 590 Shockwave variant, with its bird's-head grip and 14-inch barrel, exploits a legal loophole in U.S. federal firearms law -- its overall length exceeds 26 inches, so it is classified as a 'firearm' rather than a shotgun, exempting it from short-barreled shotgun regulations.

Mossberg 590 specifications

The Mossberg 590 was the U.S. military's primary combat shotgun until the Benelli M4/M1014 replaced it in the early 2000s. The 590A1 remains in active service alongside the M1014. The 590M variant, introduced in 2018, accepts detachable double-stack box magazines in 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-round capacities. The 590S variant can cycle 1.75-inch mini-shells, 2.75-inch standard, and 3-inch magnum shells interchangeably without modification. The 590 Shockwave, featuring a 14-inch barrel and Raptor bird's-head grip, is classified as a 'firearm' rather than a shotgun under U.S. federal law due to its overall length exceeding 26 inches despite the short barrel. All 590 variants share the Mossberg 500's dual action bars for smooth, reliable cycling.