Mossberg 590 (9-Shot) barrel thickness question

S

Suicide*Ride

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I have a Mossberg 590 (8+1) w/ Speedfeed stock, Ser# P56781xx.

My question: How can I tell if I have a Heavy Walled barrel (A1 type) or the thinner "standard" size? Do I need a micrometer or is there a model # or special fitting/item to look for.

It's got a heat shield, bayonet lug, bead sights, & parkerized finish. I bought it 10 yrs. ago if that helps w/ your reply.

Thanks all!
Suicide*Ride
 
Chances are, unless the weapon has "590A1" etched on the receiver, it has the "standard" barrel. Also, from what I understand, most (if not all) 590A1's sold by Mossberg do not have a heatsheild factory installed as the heavy walled barrel is too thick to accomodate such an item (in theory). However, some have managed to alter the heatsheild so it will fit. In addition, it seems like the HW 590A1 barrels (parkerized) look "unfinished" or "uncoated" at the welds located between the barrel and the mag tube retaining rings. These areas look similar, in appearance, to copper or gold. I contacted Mossberg about these apparently "unfinished" areas and they said all the 590 heavy walled barrels look like this at the welds (seams). I would tell you why, but the person I spoke with was not very clear with their explanation. I guess the welding process/matierials used for joining these two parts resulted in weld seams which would not "take" when parkerized.

Either way, from what you describe, you probably have the "standard" 590 barrel.

Now, even though this may be hard to tell if you have never seen a heavy walled barrel side by side to the standard 590 offering, take a look at the muzzle end of the barrel and see if it just plain "looks" thick or thin. Trust me, the heavy walled barrel looks pretty thick compared to most other shotgun barrels Ive seen. Based on somewhat loose measurements, the HW barrel I bought for my 590 is roughly 1/8" in thickness, give or take.
 
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from what I understand, most (if not all) 590A1's sold by Mossberg do not have a heatsheild factory installed as the heavy walled barrel is too thick to accomodate such an item (in theory).
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I think the heatshield was a military design requirement for the beaded sight models. The standard heatshield doesn't fit, but the military version of the shield does.
 
Easiest way to tell is to go measure a standard 12 gauge barrel outside diameter at a pawn shop or store and compare to yours. Bayo lug may well be a thick barrel option.
Brent
 
I think the heatshield was a military design requirement for the beaded sight models. The standard heatshield doesn't fit, but the military version of the shield does.
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I was not aware that there was a "military" version. If there is, cool deal. Either way, I have personally never seen a "factory fresh" 590A1 sporting a heatsheild. But, then again, my shotgun isnt 10 years old (as is the OP's). ;) Of course, with a heavy walled barrel Im wondering if one would even need a heatsheild. Plus, the HW barrel is heavy enough without adding a fairly heavy heatsheild, IMHO.

For the thin walled barrels, I could see the need for a heatsheild, given an extended firing session.

As a side note: the A1 HW barrel I have has a front bead sight only...no heatsheild.



Bayo lug may well be a thick barrel option.
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I believe the bayonet lug is simply a 590 thing, for the 8+1 models anyway. I have both the "standard" thin walled barrel (w/heatsheild) and the heavy walled version for my 9-shot 590; Both have bayonet lugs....
 
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Mossberg won't sell part number Mil-Spec PN 16335P to the public, Aimpro had a batch once for sale, i guess the military figured the barrels might get hot. Who knows?
 
hotdogs - what you're saying is if it has a bayonet lug, then it is a HW? I thought all 590's came w/ the lug option...

inSight-NEO - I take it from your post that you had a "standard wall" barrel & went to a HW barrel. Does your standard wall have a bayonet lug? Also, if your HW barrel looks to be roughly 1/8in thick... "eye-balling" the standard barrel... the thickness would be... ?

Also wondering why go HW barrel? Is the SW barrel not strong/tough/durable enough, especially in 3" Mag?

Thanks for all of the replies so far.... :D
 
hotdogs - what you're saying is if it has a bayonet lug, then it is a HW? I thought all 590's came w/ the lug option...

inSight-NEO - I take it from your post that you had a "standard wall" barrel & went to a HW barrel. Does your standard wall have a bayonet lug? Also, if your HW barrel looks to be roughly 1/8in thick... "eye-balling" the standard barrel... the thickness would be... ?

Also wondering why go HW barrel? Is the SW barrel not strong/tough/durable enough, especially in 3" Mag?
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To answer/comment in order: I believe that the bayonet lug is primarily available for the 9-shot 590's, both the Special Purpose and the A1.

Yes, I replaced my thin walled barrel with the heavy walled version. In terms of thickness, the thin walled barrel looks to be roughly half the size...1/16" maybe? Again, this is give or take approximation.

Try this...Take a look inside the muzzle end of the bore and see/feel if there are any threads (from the front bead sight) protruding into the bore. If there are..it is most likely the thin walled barrel. The reason I mention this is that the "stock" bead sight, along with the Meprolight tritium sight I now use on the thin walled barrel, had at least one thread poking down into the bore. With the heavy walled barrel, both sights (threads) were flush or better; hence, no threads protruding into the bore.

If all else fails, as I mentioned earlier, just search the receiver for the words "590 A1." If you do not see them, you probably have the standard thin walled barrel.

Also, I traded "up" for two reasons: 1). Due to a careless gunsmith armed with a dremel, the bore of the original barrel was scratched all to heck (still useable by all means...just not pretty) and 2) I wanted a barrel that could truly be considered "heavy duty" and far less likely to burst under pressure. Sure, this may be a somewhat paranoid reason, but I think of the shotgun as a "heavy duty" type weapon..therefore, I have set myself to making it as heavy duty as Mossberg parts allow, so to speak. For this reason, in addition to the HW barrel, I also added a metal trigger assembly and safety button. Hence, at this point, I basically have converted my "standard" 590 in to an A1. This just suits me better.....

Of course, all of this has less to do with necessity and more to do with "want." Does one need the HW barrel? Nope. Does one need the metal trigger assembly? Nope. Does one need the metal safety button? Well, possibly...

I guess I could have just bought a 590 A1 to begin with, but I couldnt find one locally and even if I had, the wait would have been over 3 to 4 months or so.
 
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Thanks for your help inSight-NEO! When I bought mine, I thought the 590 WAS the HD(Heavy duty), HW(Heavy walled), HP(Hi-perf) shottie of the time, due to the Military using it. I didn't know there is a 590A1 model!

If you don't mind me asking, what's a good price for a HW barrel? I've not been in the market for 1 (until now :rolleyes:).
 
I am not up on the 590 and was merely guessing it was 590A-1 or what ever. The military A-1, IIRC is the heavy wall, aluminum trigger guard and safety button. Mossberg is really trying to target the tacti-kewl market and are putting out so much "thug jewelry" (akin to the pitbull craze of late 80's early 90's fashion) most of us simple redneck mossberg lovers are truly left in the dust of knowledge.
Brent
 
If you don't mind me asking, what's a good price for a HW barrel? I've not been in the market for 1 (until now ).
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Glad to help out in any way I can!

Unfortunately for me, I ordered mine directly from Mossberg at the cost of $120 or so (not to mention a 5 week wait). But, I have seen them online for less than $100.

The military A-1, IIRC is the heavy wall, aluminum trigger guard and safety button.
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True enough. Thats why all of these parts now reside on my "conversion" 590. The heatsheild, as cool as it looks, I can do without.

Mossberg is really trying to target the tacti-kewl market and are putting out so much "thug jewelry" (akin to the pitbull craze of late 80's early 90's fashion) most of us simple redneck mossberg lovers are truly left in the dust of knowledge.
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I cant speak for the Mossberg mindset but to me, there is absolutely nothing wrong with "tactical" as long as its "practical." To me "tactical" is just a word which defines a category or mindset...kinda like "hunting." Just because something is labeled as "tactical," "for hunting," etc., does not necessarily mean that it is practical, necessary or even remotely useful. This I certainly understand....

But, I agree with you in that Mossberg can sometimes go overboard. But, in regards to the 590, they have basically "hit the nail on the head"..for the most part.
 
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