Differences b/t Mossberg 500/590

Bill56 · August 11, 2013, 12:58 AM

I'm thinking about a HD 12 ga. shotgun in the near future. I'm looking into the Mossberg 500 and 590 models. I know the 590A1 has the heavier barrel and metal trigger works but what are the diffs between the 500 and 590? Bill

MattShlock · August 11, 2013, 12:45 PM

Search the threads a little maybe...

thecelt · August 11, 2013, 07:20 PM

The main differences are the heavy barrel trigger gaurd and metal safety on the a1, and the magazine cap allows for an extension. Most 500s have a screw on the end of the mag tube so capacity is fixed. Except for the version with the breacher barrel. That has the heavy barrel and magaxine cap so you could increase capacity. For 99% of people the 500 will outlast them. Any firearm I buy must meet that requirement along with top reliability. I chose the 500 over a 590 because it was everything I wanted it to be. I got model 50578, 7 shot tube and parkerized.

Karrill · August 11, 2013, 09:31 PM

there's not so much a difference, it's more that the 590 is a specific configuration on certain variables....

Mossberg 590 Special Purpose shotguns are all 20" barrel, 9-shot (or, magazine tube is flush with the barrel from the factory) shotguns.

590A1 are the same receiver as 590, metal trigger guard, metal safety switch, and the reinforced barrel wall. Available in 18.5" and 20", 6 (non-flush) and 9 (flush with 20") shot varieties.

Bayonet lug is available on both 590SP and 590A1, but only in 20" 9-shot models. Both recievers can accept the heavy reinforced barrel, if you want to switch them around. I don't believe a standard 500 will accept the heavy barrel, but I don't know.

The 500 Persuader is basically a 590SP, but it only comes in blued steel iirc, and will not accept the heavy barrel if you choose to upgrade that later. The comment about the magazine cap is the biggest difference probably, as the 590SP and 590A1 tubes are much easier to completely disassemble, whereas the 500 is blocked at the end.

jmr40 · August 13, 2013, 09:37 AM

The 500 is designed as a budget hunting shotgun. When the military trials were taking place for new shotguns it was heavily modified in order to meet military specs. which led to the 590. The standard 500 would not have passed.

Personally I prefer the 870 for either hunting or SD purposes.

But if I wanted Mossberg, and if I were buying a hunting shotgun I'd buy the 500, for a SD gun I wouldn't let the small price difference keep me from the much better 590.

One of the more important differences not discussed so far is that the mag tube on the 590 can have both ends open in order to clean it. That is not possible on the 500.

August 11, 2013, 12:58 AM	#1
Bill56 Member Join Date: February 14, 2013 Posts: 28	Differences b/t Mossberg 500/590 I'm thinking about a HD 12 ga. shotgun in the near future. I'm looking into the Mossberg 500 and 590 models. I know the 590A1 has the heavier barrel and metal trigger works but what are the diffs between the 500 and 590? Bill

August 11, 2013, 12:45 PM	#2
MattShlock Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2013 Posts: 251	Search the threads a little maybe...

August 11, 2013, 07:20 PM	#3
thecelt Member Join Date: March 8, 2005 Location: ny Posts: 87	The main differences are the heavy barrel trigger gaurd and metal safety on the a1, and the magazine cap allows for an extension. Most 500s have a screw on the end of the mag tube so capacity is fixed. Except for the version with the breacher barrel. That has the heavy barrel and magaxine cap so you could increase capacity. For 99% of people the 500 will outlast them. Any firearm I buy must meet that requirement along with top reliability. I chose the 500 over a 590 because it was everything I wanted it to be. I got model 50578, 7 shot tube and parkerized.

August 11, 2013, 09:31 PM	#4
Karrill Member Join Date: January 30, 2013 Location: okc Posts: 42	there's not so much a difference, it's more that the 590 is a specific configuration on certain variables.... Mossberg 590 Special Purpose shotguns are all 20" barrel, 9-shot (or, magazine tube is flush with the barrel from the factory) shotguns. 590A1 are the same receiver as 590, metal trigger guard, metal safety switch, and the reinforced barrel wall. Available in 18.5" and 20", 6 (non-flush) and 9 (flush with 20") shot varieties. Bayonet lug is available on both 590SP and 590A1, but only in 20" 9-shot models. Both recievers can accept the heavy reinforced barrel, if you want to switch them around. I don't believe a standard 500 will accept the heavy barrel, but I don't know. The 500 Persuader is basically a 590SP, but it only comes in blued steel iirc, and will not accept the heavy barrel if you choose to upgrade that later. The comment about the magazine cap is the biggest difference probably, as the 590SP and 590A1 tubes are much easier to completely disassemble, whereas the 500 is blocked at the end.

August 13, 2013, 09:37 AM	#5
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,809	The 500 is designed as a budget hunting shotgun. When the military trials were taking place for new shotguns it was heavily modified in order to meet military specs. which led to the 590. The standard 500 would not have passed. Personally I prefer the 870 for either hunting or SD purposes. But if I wanted Mossberg, and if I were buying a hunting shotgun I'd buy the 500, for a SD gun I wouldn't let the small price difference keep me from the much better 590. One of the more important differences not discussed so far is that the mag tube on the 590 can have both ends open in order to clean it. That is not possible on the 500.