Mossberg 500 or 590A1

breakingcontact · January 27, 2013, 10:47 PM

Is the 590A1 worth the extra cash over the basic 500 model?

I know the differences, but is a 590A1 really twice as good as a 500, because they cost roughly twice as much.

**hogdogs** · January 27, 2013, 10:54 PM

Not for me... I have never had a safety tab or trigger group housing break due to plastic materials and i don't need any of the other features of the 590...

Gimme a 500 field and security combo (28 and 18 inch barrels) anyday...

brent

BerdanSS · January 27, 2013, 10:56 PM

I wouldn't say twice as good, the 500 is great....But I prefer the 590/835 over the 500.

Some differences

Take down cap.
Extendable magazine.
Action.

Xfire68 · January 27, 2013, 10:56 PM

Love my 500 8 shot but wanted the 590. At the time I did not have the funds and I was trading in a Rem 887 Nitro Mag.

The 590 is a good value IMO.

Uncle Malice · January 27, 2013, 11:17 PM

I have both. I really like both. I did put a complete 590 front end on my 500 though because I dislike the 500 screw on barrel design. I don't like the polished stainless bolt on the 500, but I plan on taking the whole thing down and doing a camo job on it.

The 590A1 is a hell of a gun. It's just a rugged beast. The heavy walled barrel does add quite a lot of weight. I would recommend just going with the 590 special purpose. It's a good compromise. Unless you're running a huge amount of rounds through the gun in a short time, you don't need that huge thickness.

Anyways, yes, I think the 590 is worth the extra cost over the 500. The A1 has the cool factor of being a military shotgun, but whether those changes are worth it to you is something you have to decide for yourself. I'd definitely recommend the 590 style though.

breakingcontact · January 27, 2013, 11:30 PM

The heavier barrel add enough weight to help cut down recoil?

breakingcontact · January 27, 2013, 11:31 PM

Another tricky issue with the 590A1 is then I'm getting close to the price of a 930.

Tony615 · January 28, 2013, 01:02 AM

I own a 590A1 and i like it because it has a screw cap and it is very easy to replace the magazine spring. I believe the 590 is similar without the heavy barrel.

My first shotgun is a Maverick 88 which is similar the 500 except it has a trigger safety instead of a tang safety. I under load by one shell since I don't want to deal with replacing the magazine spring. To replace the magazine spring I need to remove the magazine tube.

WJR · January 30, 2013, 12:10 AM

I have never owned a 500, but to me the 590A1 was worth every penny.

I love mine.

WJR

Motor-T Marine · February 6, 2013, 12:48 PM

mossberg 500 "blackwater" with hogue overmold 380 for the gun +50 for the hogue stuff , then check out Aimpro tactical for ghost ring sights , best of both worlds for cheaper

kutz · February 6, 2013, 02:49 PM

My M590A1 is certainly worth the extra $ it is great,from a Marine Gunny to a fellow Marine. Semper Fi.

Jkady · February 6, 2013, 10:42 PM

breakingcontact, I don't know that I'd say the heavier barrel is the reason for less recoil, the 590 overall feels much more substantial than a 500 and I've shot a 500 back to back with my 590A1 and there's quite a bit less felt recoil with the 590. Granted, the stock on an A1 is a little nicer than the bare bones 500 my buddy had, but we split a 100 count box of shells and he developed quite a shoulder bruise even through a heavy jacket and I had none.

Tony615 · February 7, 2013, 12:39 AM

What I did for my 590A1 was I bought a LimbSaver recoil pad. It deadens the recoil quite a bit when shooting full power 00 buckshot for practice. I keep my shotgun loaded for HD with low recoil LE132 9 pellet 00 buckshot or LE132 15 pellet #1 buckshot.

Waspinator · February 10, 2013, 04:28 PM

I was trying to decide this as well. I ended up buying the Mossberg 500 Home Defense / Field Combo from Cabellas. It comes with a heavy-walled 18.5" "Breacher barrel" with a white-dot sight and a ribbed 28" field barrel with three different chokes and dual bead sights.

Picture: (I added a LaserLyte tri-rail and a NC Star weapon light)

Only thing I did not like was the stock/forend. The stock was a bit to thin where your hand grips it for me personally. Also, the forend was the cheaper "pinned" style you find on the Maverick 88's. So, I bought a Hogue overmolded stock/forend set ($40) and a Promag PM194 7 5/8" Action Slide Tube Assembly ($40) and I like it much better now.

Picture after the modifications: (you can see the grip area is a bit fatter and curved, which I found more comfortable for me.)

All told, it was still cheaper then a 590A1 and I have the extra sporting barrel for trap/skeet .... it had everything I was looking for.

Just thought I would share.

MagnumWill · February 11, 2013, 12:23 PM

I love my 590A1. If subjected to severe use, I'll take it over a 500 in a heartbeat. Under NORMAL use... It's great, but I would definitely grab a 500 to target shoot/hunt/bust clays with. It's more versatile since you can change barrel length and chokes, and it's not unreliable by any means.

January 27, 2013, 10:54 PM	#2
hogdogs Staff Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 10,687	Not for me... I have never had a safety tab or trigger group housing break due to plastic materials and i don't need any of the other features of the 590... Gimme a 500 field and security combo (28 and 18 inch barrels) anyday... brent __________________ Finally have designs going up in the Hogdogs Outdoor Apparel online store. http://www.cafepress.com/hogdogsoutdoorapparel Thanks for lookin'...

January 27, 2013, 10:56 PM	#4
Xfire68 Senior Member Join Date: April 1, 2010 Location: Communist State of IL. Posts: 1,292	Love my 500 8 shot but wanted the 590. At the time I did not have the funds and I was trading in a Rem 887 Nitro Mag. The 590 is a good value IMO. __________________ NRA Life Member, SAF Member

January 27, 2013, 11:17 PM	#5
Uncle Malice Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2009 Location: Phoenix Posts: 2,481	I have both. I really like both. I did put a complete 590 front end on my 500 though because I dislike the 500 screw on barrel design. I don't like the polished stainless bolt on the 500, but I plan on taking the whole thing down and doing a camo job on it. The 590A1 is a hell of a gun. It's just a rugged beast. The heavy walled barrel does add quite a lot of weight. I would recommend just going with the 590 special purpose. It's a good compromise. Unless you're running a huge amount of rounds through the gun in a short time, you don't need that huge thickness. Anyways, yes, I think the 590 is worth the extra cost over the 500. The A1 has the cool factor of being a military shotgun, but whether those changes are worth it to you is something you have to decide for yourself. I'd definitely recommend the 590 style though. __________________ Glock 17 OD \| Glock 19 G4 \| Glock 21 G4 \| Glock 20 G4 \| Springfield TRP Black \| Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Pro \| Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Daniel Defense DDM4 V4 \| Arsenal SGL 21 \| ASA SBR w/ Side Charger \| Mega/PSA M4 Clone \| Remington 700 SPS Tactical \| Savage Mark II FV-SR Mossberg 590A1 \| Mossberg 500 Cruiser w/ 590 14" front end \| Remington 870 Tactical

February 10, 2013, 04:28 PM	#14
Waspinator Member Join Date: February 10, 2013 Location: Connecticut Posts: 57	I was trying to decide this as well. I ended up buying the Mossberg 500 Home Defense / Field Combo from Cabellas. It comes with a heavy-walled 18.5" "Breacher barrel" with a white-dot sight and a ribbed 28" field barrel with three different chokes and dual bead sights. Picture: (I added a LaserLyte tri-rail and a NC Star weapon light) Only thing I did not like was the stock/forend. The stock was a bit to thin where your hand grips it for me personally. Also, the forend was the cheaper "pinned" style you find on the Maverick 88's. So, I bought a Hogue overmolded stock/forend set ($40) and a Promag PM194 7 5/8" Action Slide Tube Assembly ($40) and I like it much better now. Picture after the modifications: (you can see the grip area is a bit fatter and curved, which I found more comfortable for me.) All told, it was still cheaper then a 590A1 and I have the extra sporting barrel for trap/skeet .... it had everything I was looking for. Just thought I would share. Last edited by Waspinator; February 10, 2013 at 04:36 PM.

February 11, 2013, 12:23 PM	#15
MagnumWill Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2009 Location: Central Colorado Posts: 655	I love my 590A1. If subjected to severe use, I'll take it over a 500 in a heartbeat. Under NORMAL use... It's great, but I would definitely grab a 500 to target shoot/hunt/bust clays with. It's more versatile since you can change barrel length and chokes, and it's not unreliable by any means. __________________ Always carry an extra magazine when CCW. Friends don't let friends get a double-feed first round out. -Will

January 27, 2013, 10:47 PM	#1
breakingcontact Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2012 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 640	Mossberg 500 or 590A1 Is the 590A1 worth the extra cash over the basic 500 model? I know the differences, but is a 590A1 really twice as good as a 500, because they cost roughly twice as much.

January 27, 2013, 10:56 PM	#3
BerdanSS Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2011 Posts: 576	I wouldn't say twice as good, the 500 is great....But I prefer the 590/835 over the 500. Some differences Take down cap. Extendable magazine. Action.

January 27, 2013, 11:30 PM	#6
breakingcontact Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2012 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 640	The heavier barrel add enough weight to help cut down recoil?

January 27, 2013, 11:31 PM	#7
breakingcontact Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2012 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 640	Another tricky issue with the 590A1 is then I'm getting close to the price of a 930.

January 28, 2013, 01:02 AM	#8
Tony615 Member Join Date: April 25, 2012 Posts: 35	I own a 590A1 and i like it because it has a screw cap and it is very easy to replace the magazine spring. I believe the 590 is similar without the heavy barrel. My first shotgun is a Maverick 88 which is similar the 500 except it has a trigger safety instead of a tang safety. I under load by one shell since I don't want to deal with replacing the magazine spring. To replace the magazine spring I need to remove the magazine tube.

January 30, 2013, 12:10 AM	#9
WJR Junior Member Join Date: September 23, 2009 Posts: 7	I have never owned a 500, but to me the 590A1 was worth every penny. I love mine. WJR

February 6, 2013, 12:48 PM	#10
Motor-T Marine Member Join Date: February 4, 2013 Posts: 26	mossberg 500 "blackwater" with hogue overmold 380 for the gun +50 for the hogue stuff , then check out Aimpro tactical for ghost ring sights , best of both worlds for cheaper

February 6, 2013, 02:49 PM	#11
kutz Senior Member Join Date: September 24, 2012 Location: New Mexico USA Posts: 145	My M590A1 is certainly worth the extra $ it is great,from a Marine Gunny to a fellow Marine. Semper Fi.

February 6, 2013, 10:42 PM	#12
Jkady Member Join Date: December 23, 2012 Posts: 16	breakingcontact, I don't know that I'd say the heavier barrel is the reason for less recoil, the 590 overall feels much more substantial than a 500 and I've shot a 500 back to back with my 590A1 and there's quite a bit less felt recoil with the 590. Granted, the stock on an A1 is a little nicer than the bare bones 500 my buddy had, but we split a 100 count box of shells and he developed quite a shoulder bruise even through a heavy jacket and I had none.

February 7, 2013, 12:39 AM	#13
Tony615 Member Join Date: April 25, 2012 Posts: 35	What I did for my 590A1 was I bought a LimbSaver recoil pad. It deadens the recoil quite a bit when shooting full power 00 buckshot for practice. I keep my shotgun loaded for HD with low recoil LE132 9 pellet 00 buckshot or LE132 15 pellet #1 buckshot.