I bought a M590A1 a few years back, although the model number is not stamped on the firearm (unless I'm just not seeing it) it's a model 51411 (according to the receipt). Anyways my question, is it one of the models the USMC uses overseas? It is stamped on the left of the receiver M590A1 so I'm assuming so, but I was hoping someone more educated in this matter can help me figure this out. Any responses are helpful.
M590a1 Question
- Thread starter MarbRed88
- Start date
Model number is not on the gun... You have to call Mossberg with serial number and they can tell you what exact model yours was sold as...
Your model number comes back as a Law Enforcement type...
Most all of the 590 A1's should have an alloy trigger guard and safety tab instead of the INCREDIBLY durable plastic... And a thicker barrel... Not all may have the thick barrel of the military spec units.
Brent
Your model number comes back as a Law Enforcement type...
Most all of the 590 A1's should have an alloy trigger guard and safety tab instead of the INCREDIBLY durable plastic... And a thicker barrel... Not all may have the thick barrel of the military spec units.
Brent
Hey thanks for the reply. I believe it is 51411 since thats what my receipt says on it and it is the model I ordered. It does have the metal saftey, metal trigger guard, and a thick barrel. I have a few other Mossbergs and the
M590A1 barrel is two or three times as thick as my 500's. I might just call them to be sure but i apprieciate the time you took to check.
M590A1 barrel is two or three times as thick as my 500's. I might just call them to be sure but i apprieciate the time you took to check.
I wouldn't bother callin' if it were me... The most I would want to know, at this point, is which models are sold to which agency types... Then look and see if your model is one sold to the armed forces and if so... which ones...
and no problem on the checkin'... it feeds my hunger for knowledge...
It is awful hard to be a "Know It All" when you don't learn new stuff...
Brent
and no problem on the checkin'... it feeds my hunger for knowledge...
It is awful hard to be a "Know It All" when you don't learn new stuff...
Brent
So I took a look at the M590A1 again and on the barrel just in from of where the reciever ends there is what looks like a bullseye with a P or an R stamped on it. It's half stamped on it looks like since half of it is either hard to see or just didn't get the full imprint. Not sure if this is even relevant to my question or not. Figured put every detail i can out there.
m24shooter
New member
The A1s are going to be either 18.5" or 20" guns except for the NFA lines, which are 14.5" barrels. There was a very limited number of 16" breacher barrel and 14.5" retrofit kits.
If you have a bayonet lug, then you have a 20" gun. The 18.5" barrel does not have a bayonet lug, and won't accept one. Not all shotguns (very few of them actually) in use by the military have a bayonet lug. The requirement for that depends on the type of shotgun being requested/purchased (more on that later).
The mark on your barrel is just a proof mark for the barrel.
All A1s have the heavy barrel (except for a small run of 18.5" standard barrels for Anniston), metal safety button, and metal trigger guard. There will be "590A1" rollmarked on the left side of the reciever. The bottom of the receiver forward of the ejection port should be stamped with "Mossberg Made In USA North Haven, Conn 590 12 Ga." Otherwise they are the same as the 590. You can switch the barrels, safeties, and trigger guards between them.
Some 500s have 590 features, and some 590s have 500 features; mainly referring to the magazine tube and barrel lug arrangements. The 500 and 590/590A1 series share the same receivers. There were a few 500s purchased with the heavy 590A1 type barrel and mag tube cleanout/barrel lug assembly. These were 18.5" guns. There was a large run of 500s with a 20" barrel and mag tube cleanout for USNWSC. There were some 500s with 20" barrels and a 6 round capacity. There were some wood stock models, but in general the .mil guns have synthetics. There were also some Butler Creek folding stock models. I don't think any of the contract run productions have ever used the Speedfeed magazine stocks, although you may see some in use on a .mil shotgun.
The 590A1 was produced in rather limited numbers for the .mil. The largest production runs of Mossbergs were actually the 500 series, and continue to the be the most commonly purchased by the .mil in recent years. The most common Mossbergs (and actually the most common shotgun currently in the .mil) is a Mossberg 500A or even the 500MIL. These are typically the 18.5" 6 shot model.
The problem with determining if yours is in use by an actual .mil group is that a lot of Mossbergs were bought COTS and some units used RFI funds to buy Mossbergs that were not otherwise contracted from OFM. The GWOT opened up a lot of atypical funding and procurement for units to allow them to buy equipment that was needed even if it was not part of the usualy supply system or was outside of the usual supply catalog. As such, there are a lot of variances in Mossbergs depending on the individual unit using them. Your 18.5" A1 has definitely been used by the .mil and I've seen several examples like yours. The 20" 590 and to a lesser degree the 20" 590A1 has been used as well. However, these (and several other configurations) may not be represented in an actual contract production run.
The A1s are built to the MilSpec for shotguns, and depending on if it has a bead sight, rifle sight, ghost ring sights, bayonet lug, and heatshield determines what type of shotgun it is within that MilSpec. I believe there are three types based on those characteristics if I remember correctly.
Using the Mossberg codes, a "51XXX" is going to indicate an A1 variant, and a "50XXX" is going to indicate a standard 590 variant in general terms. If you still have your box it will have the model number as well.
To further complicate things, there are some previously mentioned retrofit kits that supply a new barrel, mag tube, and slide assembly in either a 14.5" A1 CYL bead sight or a 16" A1 breacher CYL bead sight arrangement. This allows a unit to take what may be a 500 or 590/590A1 of various barrel and magazine configurations and standardize them into a CQB gun or breacher gun. Pro Patria assembles/sells these kits and provides them with an end-user kit with accessories.
If you have a bayonet lug, then you have a 20" gun. The 18.5" barrel does not have a bayonet lug, and won't accept one. Not all shotguns (very few of them actually) in use by the military have a bayonet lug. The requirement for that depends on the type of shotgun being requested/purchased (more on that later).
The mark on your barrel is just a proof mark for the barrel.
All A1s have the heavy barrel (except for a small run of 18.5" standard barrels for Anniston), metal safety button, and metal trigger guard. There will be "590A1" rollmarked on the left side of the reciever. The bottom of the receiver forward of the ejection port should be stamped with "Mossberg Made In USA North Haven, Conn 590 12 Ga." Otherwise they are the same as the 590. You can switch the barrels, safeties, and trigger guards between them.
Some 500s have 590 features, and some 590s have 500 features; mainly referring to the magazine tube and barrel lug arrangements. The 500 and 590/590A1 series share the same receivers. There were a few 500s purchased with the heavy 590A1 type barrel and mag tube cleanout/barrel lug assembly. These were 18.5" guns. There was a large run of 500s with a 20" barrel and mag tube cleanout for USNWSC. There were some 500s with 20" barrels and a 6 round capacity. There were some wood stock models, but in general the .mil guns have synthetics. There were also some Butler Creek folding stock models. I don't think any of the contract run productions have ever used the Speedfeed magazine stocks, although you may see some in use on a .mil shotgun.
The 590A1 was produced in rather limited numbers for the .mil. The largest production runs of Mossbergs were actually the 500 series, and continue to the be the most commonly purchased by the .mil in recent years. The most common Mossbergs (and actually the most common shotgun currently in the .mil) is a Mossberg 500A or even the 500MIL. These are typically the 18.5" 6 shot model.
The problem with determining if yours is in use by an actual .mil group is that a lot of Mossbergs were bought COTS and some units used RFI funds to buy Mossbergs that were not otherwise contracted from OFM. The GWOT opened up a lot of atypical funding and procurement for units to allow them to buy equipment that was needed even if it was not part of the usualy supply system or was outside of the usual supply catalog. As such, there are a lot of variances in Mossbergs depending on the individual unit using them. Your 18.5" A1 has definitely been used by the .mil and I've seen several examples like yours. The 20" 590 and to a lesser degree the 20" 590A1 has been used as well. However, these (and several other configurations) may not be represented in an actual contract production run.
The A1s are built to the MilSpec for shotguns, and depending on if it has a bead sight, rifle sight, ghost ring sights, bayonet lug, and heatshield determines what type of shotgun it is within that MilSpec. I believe there are three types based on those characteristics if I remember correctly.
Using the Mossberg codes, a "51XXX" is going to indicate an A1 variant, and a "50XXX" is going to indicate a standard 590 variant in general terms. If you still have your box it will have the model number as well.
To further complicate things, there are some previously mentioned retrofit kits that supply a new barrel, mag tube, and slide assembly in either a 14.5" A1 CYL bead sight or a 16" A1 breacher CYL bead sight arrangement. This allows a unit to take what may be a 500 or 590/590A1 of various barrel and magazine configurations and standardize them into a CQB gun or breacher gun. Pro Patria assembles/sells these kits and provides them with an end-user kit with accessories.
Hey thanks for the info. Mine does have a bead site and came with a standard synthetic stock. The only two models I could find that come with bead site, heavy walled barrel, metal saftey, 18.5" barrel, stanard stock, and metal trigger guard were the model numbers 51411 and 51517. Unfortunately I do not have the box anymore since I bought it almost three years ago. Although the receipt I have says the model number is 51411 I can always double check by calling Mossberg.
Last edited:
m24shooter
New member
The 51411 should have 6 shot capacity, heavy barrel, metal trigger guard and safety button, 18.5" barrel, bead sight, cylinder bore, 39.5" OAL, 13 7/8" LOP, Parkerized finish, synthetic stock, 7.25 pounds. It is a 590A1 Special Purpose shotgun.
ETA: No problem on the info. Those are the highlights, there are some limited run guns that are different and a few other things that don't line up universally but those are the general rules.
ETA: No problem on the info. Those are the highlights, there are some limited run guns that are different and a few other things that don't line up universally but those are the general rules.