Mossberg 590A1, over rated!

The A1 barrel is very heavy and can be used to inflict serious head injuries that result in death with one good swing. The regular barrels it may take 3 or 4 swings and if you need to strike your enemy more than once your chances of dying increase by 60%.

Right on, good point ,I'am sold, too bad only 32% of people know this.
 
I'm not sure what the definition of mil spec has to do with it ...I certainly did not state that mil spec is "always" better, in fact i said nothing to that effect at all. It is merely an easy way to refer to the A1 designation in this discussion.

The word NEED has certain implications. I have never once actually NEEDED the gun itself, period. I live in a nice neighborhood and i cant actually say that i have any really need for anything beyond sporting arms. For that matter if i strictly limited my purchases and lifestyle by NEED i wouldn't own firearms, or a car, or a home such as i do.

I really couldn't tell you what the 590A1 can do that the 590 cannot but I went looking for the most robust and reliable shotgun i could find and the A1 ticked most of the boxes. In reality, I could make do with a maverick 88 but that does not lead me to belive that the 500 is over rated. Hell... i could throw rocks :)

DO i need the heavy barrel? no... The metal trigger group? probably not... the silly ass bayonet? certainly not. Would i prefer a 590? NO. To come back to my point, If you don't think you need the A1 that is fair enough, but i don't see how that leads to the conclusion that the "mil spec" gun is overrated. I don't recall, but i think the difference in price was not that much anyhow.

I do love those sights though, amazing fun, especially if you replace the front fiber optic with a tritium hoo-haa from LPA... makes it much more usable in low light. I should also add that with the barrel and 9 rounds in the gun it is a heavy bastard! but a hoot!

Cheers!

f:P:2:Mil spec gun doesn't always mean better, they go through this argument with the AR crowd all the time,it only means its built to a set standard.


this part you might have to dum down a bit for me.



Heavy shotgun as in weight? or as in heavy duty use? what can the A1 do that the standard 590 or even 500 not do, thats my point, Why the need for a heavy barrel?

I'am not saying "Don't buy it." just saying the standard 590 or even the lowly 500 will do the job just as well.


those sights on the SPX are sweet, thats worth the extra $$$.
 
Mine died. The tabs holding it in sheared off, likely due to prolonged aggressive racking during action shooting (I finished one match with zip-ties holding the group in). I now have a metal trigger group, no problem.

Well Thats different,how do you put stress on those tabs,? I would of thought the trigger group pin would of taken more stress. Shell lifter hitting it?

muscles1000; so there is no need for a heavy barreled 590.

as far as the Mil-spec part, both guns are [590 and 590A1] ,that was part of my point, and its got nothing to do with anything, lot of hype.

Don't get me wrong, I like the metal trigger group and the safety, just don't understand why the heavy barrel.

And you've got to love being able to mount a bayonet ,that the best part of having a 590.

tritium front sight, that rocks, you should put some pictures up,just got a Meprolite front post for my GSR 590, not on yet., pictures later.
 
Well Thats different,how do you put stress on those tabs,? I would of thought the trigger group pin would of taken more stress. Shell lifter hitting it?

When you pull back on the forend, a tab attached to the trigger group prevents movement (pressing against the bolt assembly) until after the trigger has been released. That tends to push the trigger group down at the front, pivoting on the pin but held from doing so by the tabs. Plastic tabs == eventual shear if you're racking aggressively / pulling hard in order to speed the reload.

And lots of guys report breaking the plastic trigger guard or safety with rough handling. I find that surprising, but I supposed certain types of use would expose those two areas to impact.
 
The A1 barrel is very heavy and can be used to inflict serious head injuries that result in death with one good swing. The regular barrels it may take 3 or 4 swings and if you need to strike your enemy more than once your chances of dying increase by 60%.

I think TDC was reincarnated...:rolleyes:
 
So far, OP's argument is that "you don't need it so it's useless". That's like people going "you don't need more than 6 shots" or "you don't need semi-auto".

OP, I have a 590A1 #51663. It's not that damn heavy, the barrel stays cool even when you shoot a lot, it's thick and will take abuse (like a cut shell). When reloading that 8 shot tube mag, it's nice not to burn yourself on a thin barrel, and the tube mag system is much better on the 590s. The heavy barrel also reduces felt recoil (870 guys are always saying how 500s are too light/cheap). Metal internals are just better if you plan on using it in the very cold, and hold up to heavy use better. I've seen a few shotties with busted plastic. I think for the few extra dollars, it's worth it. I maybe don't need it, but I WANT IT. I don't think you have business telling people what they should or should not have based on "do they need it or not". It looks good, feels good to shot, works even better.

I paid a few bucks for the peace of mind that my shotgun will always outdo me, and I'd do it again and again.
 
So far, OP's argument is that "you don't need it so it's useless". That's like people going "you don't need more than 6 shots" or "you don't need semi-auto".

OP, I have a 590A1 #51663. It's not that damn heavy, the barrel stays cool even when you shoot a lot, it's thick and will take abuse (like a cut shell). When reloading that 8 shot tube mag, it's nice not to burn yourself on a thin barrel, and the tube mag system is much better on the 590s. The heavy barrel also reduces felt recoil (870 guys are always saying how 500s are too light/cheap). Metal internals are just better if you plan on using it in the very cold, and hold up to heavy use better. I've seen a few shotties with busted plastic. I think for the few extra dollars, it's worth it. I maybe don't need it, but I WANT IT. I don't think you have business telling people what they should or should not have based on "do they need it or not". It looks good, feels good to shot, works even better.

I paid a few bucks for the peace of mind that my shotgun will always outdo me, and I'd do it again and again.



'Sigh", Thats not what I said, I like the 590, hell I've got 2 of them ( 8+1) ones a pistol grip only because of TDC ,also have a 500 breecher (6+1) it has a 590 mag cap,and a 930(5+1) the semi-auto . and I don't "NEED" any of them so stop playing the "NEED" card, Christ on a crutch that gets old fast, the only one I need is my old Ithaca 37.:p and no, you're not getting them.

If you'd read though the above post instead of skipping to the end and "Enlighting" me with you gems of "wisdom" you"d understand that whats been posted so far;

1) the metal safety is good, I can see the need for a steel one over the plastic, something that thin and abused should be steel.

2) acrashb, made some good points for the steel trigger group,which I also said I liked over the plastic ,but didn't see as great a need to have, maybe a little more now. :D

and
3)If you've ever use a standard 590 you'd know its heavy enough to soak up the recoil with out the extra weight of the heavy barrel, and if you're worry about burns, add a heat shield,and add more ammo for the same weight.

At no time did I say don't get one, if thats what you really want, but don't try to tell me that the heavy barreled model is "so much" better because it got a heavy barrel, its over kill, its marketing, unless you're using it as a pry bar, mind you SwifTst did bring up a good point for the "need" if you want to justify it.

Whats a shell cut?
 
'Sigh", Thats not what I said, I like the 590, hell I've got 2 of them ( 8+1) ones a pistol grip only because of TDC ,also have a 500 breecher (6+1) it has a 590 mag cap,and a 930(5+1) the semi-auto . and I don't "NEED" any of them so stop playing the "NEED" card, Christ on a crutch that gets old fast, the only one I need is my old Ithaca 37.:p and no, you're not getting them.

If you'd read though the above post instead of skipping to the end and "Enlighting" me with you gems of "wisdom" you"d understand that whats been posted so far;

1) the metal safety is good, I can see the need for a steel one over the plastic, something that thin and abused should be steel.

2) acrashb, made some good points for the steel trigger group,which I also said I liked over the plastic ,but didn't see as great a need to have, maybe a little more now. :D

and
3)If you've ever use a standard 590 you'd know its heavy enough to soak up the recoil with out the extra weight of the heavy barrel, and if you're worry about burns, add a heat shield,and add more ammo for the same weight.

At no time did I say don't get one, if thats what you really want, but don't try to tell me that the heavy barreled model is "so much" better because it got a heavy barrel, its over kill, its marketing, unless you're using it as a pry bar, mind you SwifTst did bring up a good point for the "need" if you want to justify it.

Whats a shell cut?

Cut shell is a shell that's been cut right after the powder load so the whole top part of the shell, wad, shot cup, shot and crimp leave the shotgun as one slug. Works in a pinch but it's not very safe.
 
Cool, will have to try that sometime,thanks.

Well I don't recommend it... The outside of the shell is bigger than the inside of the barrel, so you can see how this would lead to possibly dangerously high pressures.

Yeah, shoulda read the thread, but your opening post was a bit iffy to me. Anyhow, I see your points, and I'd like to compare the weight of a 590 with a metal trigger guard and a normal barrel with a heat shield to a 590A1 and see what's the weight difference. I for one liked the barrel, I've found it to be more accurate than my 500 with slugs (might be other factors, but the barrel weight steadies the gun a bit) but anyways, I still don't feel it's a waste to have that configuration.

Bayonet lugs are just fun. Haven't you ever rushed a target, yelling obscenities and stabbing at it with a bayonet?
 
Well I don't recommend it... The outside of the shell is bigger than the inside of the barrel, so you can see how this would lead to possibly dangerously high pressures.

Yeah, shoulda read the thread, but your opening post was a bit iffy to me. Anyhow, I see your points, and I'd like to compare the weight of a 590 with a metal trigger guard and a normal barrel with a heat shield to a 590A1 and see what's the weight difference. I for one liked the barrel, I've found it to be more accurate than my 500 with slugs (might be other factors, but the barrel weight steadies the gun a bit) but anyways, I still don't feel it's a waste to have that configuration.

Bayonet lugs are just fun. Haven't you ever rushed a target, yelling obscenities and stabbing at it with a bayonet?


Their both 590s so its all good, and just want to stir it up a little here ,but not piss anybody off to much, always good to talk.

and taking Personal responsibility for my own actions will have to try out a cut shell sometime just for kicks.
 
Their both 590s so its all good, and just want to stir it up a little here ,but not piss anybody off to much, always good to talk.

and taking Personal responsibility for my own actions will have to try out a cut shell sometime just for kicks.

Good good. Be sure to cut 99% of the shell, right where the wad starts - just a little over where a high brass part ends. I usually cut the whole way through around the entire shell leaving only two little bit of plastic on each side of the shell to keep it in one piece.

Works nice, makes a wadcutter hole in plastic and it was used during the depression on deer and such.



here's my guide to a slightly safer version.
 
i dont believe a 590a1 is overated at all

still in a toss up deciding on my next shottie
its between a 590a1/roadblocker or a 870p

why, why the #&(% not -?

maybe ill get a flat tire and need to get some extra leverage on the baby D!(% wheel wrench that came with my car, slide that extra thick barrel over and giver!

what happens during a zombie apocalypse if you bash a zombie in the head with your maverick and break your trigger mech and need to shoot another zombie? then you will realize that you shoulda bought the 590a1

althou i am a firm believer in composites (fancy name for plastic eh?) i also believe in overbuilding everything which relates to a heavy barrel and thick steel trigger guards

my first shotgun was many years ago when a guy ran over the tip of his winchester with his argo, i gladly sawed 6" off and shot the crap outta it, "winnie" would have never been mine if it wasnt for her thin barrel
 
My experience with the 590A1 is very good. I actually like the handling of it and have shot trap (got more than a few looks LOL ) and sproting clays with it and like the balance. In the bush it may be a tad heavy as the day wears on but I gotta say that I really like the robust feel. As for performance, mine cycles perfectly and eats everything and anything. I feel that this is a shotgun that I can totally 100% rely upon and to me that's really important. As far as value is concerned it is priced quite a bit less than the Remy 870P which is, in my view, the shotgun with which it should, properly, be compared.

I too use mine for shooting clays. Everyone laughs, but I can hit just as many pigeons with a 20" pump than anyone else can. I love the bouncing rabbits, most people have problems with them, for some reason I time them well, will often call doubles and more than once because everyone else doesn't ever call for them.

Love my 590, well built shotgun. Recently sold it due to a new Benelli M4 in the gun cabinet.
 
I have noticed that as of late Mossberg has taken upon itself to become the Walmart of Tactical, offering all sorts of crazy looking tacti-cool ####.
I have 2 590A1s. A 20" with bayo-lug and RS and an 18.5" with RS. For what they are, they do fine. Never had a problem with either of them and they eat everything that I feed them.
 
i think it all depends on what you are using it for.
a wildlife protection shotgun for a backpacker that is 9lbs fully loaded is IMO next to useless. people spend hundreds of dollars to shave mere fractions of an ounce of weight off their other backpacking gear.
the 590A1 is way overbuilt for a gun youll be carrying a lot anywhere other than a battlefield.

for a home defense shotgun? a trunk gun? something to plink with on the range? sure, the weight is no issue.
 
They make a damn fine IPSC Standard Manual Shotgun as well, IMHO......

I have lots of rounds through mine now.......another 200 through it this afternoon.....Buckshot, Slugs.....target loads.....I have yet to find a round that it won't handle.....even the crap Winchester and Federal aluminum headed stuff, it eats.....unlike my 870's!
 
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