U.S. Marines assigned to SPMAGTF-CR-CC 19.2 were documented firing and handling Mossberg 590A1 12-gauge shotguns at the Baghdad Embassy Compound in Iraq in May 2020 during Operation Inherent Resolve.
Infantry Weapons
Mossberg 590 Shotgun
Also known as
- Mossberg 590
- Mossberg 590A1
- M590A1
- 590A1
- Mossberg 590S
- Mossberg 590M
The Mossberg 590 is O.F. Mossberg & Sons' U.S.-built pump-action shotgun line for military, law-enforcement, and defensive use. The 590A1 variant is the military-oriented branch of the family, with Mossberg listing MIL-SPEC 3443G compliance, a heavy-walled barrel, metal trigger guard and safety, a clean-out magazine tube, and Parkerized finish; DVIDS imagery documents U.S. Marines firing and handling 590A1 shotguns in Iraq during Operation Inherent Resolve.
Role in Conflicts
Profile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- United States
- Built by
- O.F. Mossberg & Sons
- Type
- 12-gauge pump-action shotgun
Specifications
- Gauge
- 12-gauge
- Action
- Pump-action
- Capacity
- 6-shot, 7-shot, or 9-shot in 590A1 configurations; 590S capacities vary by shell length; 590M detachable magazines are listed in 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-round sizes
- Chamber
- 2-3/4 and 3-inch shotshells
- 590A1 chamber
- 12 gauge, 3-inch chamber in current 590A1 Professional Series listings
- Barrel options
- 14-inch NFA/Class 3, 18.5-inch, and 20-inch heavy-walled 590A1 Professional Series barrels
- Receiver features
- Dual extractors, steel-to-steel lockup, top-mounted ambidextrous safety, twin action bars, and anti-jam elevator
- 590A1 construction
- Heavy-walled barrel, metal trigger guard and safety, clean-out magazine tube, and Parkerized or specialty protective finishes depending on model
- 590S shell-length feature
- Cycles 1.75-inch, 2.75-inch, and 3-inch 12-gauge shells interchangeably without a short-shell adaptor
590 Family Configuration
Mossberg's current 590 family is best read as a shared pump-action platform with distinct branches for standard tactical models, military-oriented 590A1 guns, multi-shell 590S guns, and detachable-magazine 590M guns.
590A1 durability package
Heavy-walled barrels, metal trigger guard and safety, clean-out magazine tube, Parkerized or specialty finishes, and MIL-SPEC 3443G framing in the current product line.
590S shell handling
A 12-gauge branch designed to cycle 1.75-, 2.75-, and 3-inch shells without a short-shell adaptor.
590M magazine feed
A detachable-magazine 12-gauge branch using double-stack box magazines, with Mossberg listing 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-round accessory magazines.
Variants
The catalog treats the 590 as a tactical pump-action shotgun family, with unlinked rows used for current Mossberg sub-lines rather than separate weapon pages.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| 590 | Baseline tactical pump-action line | Mossberg's current 590 page presents the line as a rugged pump-action family with 12-gauge, 20-gauge, and .410 bore offerings and multiple stock, sight, finish, and capacity configurations. Sources: 590 |
| 590A1 | Military-oriented strengthened variant | Mossberg lists the 590A1 as meeting MIL-SPEC 3443G and distinguishes it by heavy-walled barrels, metal trigger guard and safety, a clean-out magazine tube, and Parkerized finish. Sources: 590A1 |
| 590S | Multi-shell-length 12-gauge variant | Mossberg says the 590S cycles 1.75-inch, 2.75-inch, and 3-inch 12-gauge shells interchangeably without a short-shell adaptor. Sources: 590S |
| 590M | Detachable-magazine 12-gauge variant | Mossberg describes the 590M as a 12-gauge, 2.75-inch, magazine-fed pump-action design using detachable double-stack magazines available in several capacities. Sources: 590M Professional Series |
Compatible Ammunition
Army ammunition guidance lists the Mossberg 590 as a shotgun that can use the M1030 breaching round.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 12-gauge breaching cartridge | Army range-safety guidance explicitly lists the Mossberg 590 as a shotgun that can use the M1030 breaching round. Sources: Range Safety |
Timeline
Mossberg 590 Shotgun Key Events
590 adopted by U.S. military branches
Mossberg's 2025 Army-contract release says the Mossberg 590 was first adopted by multiple U.S. military branches in 1987 after completing MIL-SPEC 3443E testing.
Sources: Mossberg Army Contract 2025
590S line released
Mossberg released the 590S line, centered on cycling 1.75-, 2.75-, and 3-inch 12-gauge shells without an adaptor.
Sources: 590S
590A1 Professional Series introduced
Mossberg introduced nine 590A1 Professional Series versions, including 9-shot and 7-shot models and a 6-shot NFA/Class 3 configuration.
Sources: 590A1 Professional Series
U.S. Army contract announced
Mossberg announced an approximately $11.6 million U.S. Army contract for additional 590A1 pump-action shotguns.
Sources: Mossberg Army Contract 2025
Media
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
590Publisher: O.F. Mossberg & Sons | Note: Supports the 590 lineup as a pump-action shotgun family with military, law-enforcement, and home-defense positioning, plus 12-gauge, 20-gauge, and .410 bore offerings. | Accessed: 2026-07-02590A1Publisher: O.F. Mossberg & Sons | Note: Supports the 590A1 product-line distinction, MIL-SPEC 3443G claim, 12-gauge chambering, heavy-walled barrel, metal trigger guard and safety, clean-out magazine tube, Parkerized finish, and standard Mossberg pump-action features. | Accessed: 2026-07-02590SPublisher: O.F. Mossberg & Sons | Note: Supports the 590S as a 12-gauge branch that cycles 1.75-, 2.75-, and 3-inch shells without a short-shell adaptor. | Accessed: 2026-07-02590A1 Professional SeriesPublisher: O.F. Mossberg & Sons | Note: Supports current 590A1 Professional Series configurations, 12-gauge 3-inch chambering, heavy-walled barrel lengths, capacity bands, optic-ready receiver details, and agency-focused positioning. | Accessed: 2026-07-02590M Professional SeriesPublisher: O.F. Mossberg & Sons | Note: Supports the 590M as a 12-gauge, 2.75-inch, magazine-fed pump-action design with detachable double-stack magazines and listed accessory magazine capacities. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Mossberg Army Contract 2025Publisher: O.F. Mossberg & Sons | Note: Supports the 1987 U.S. military adoption statement, MIL-SPEC 3443E testing context, 590A1 development framing, and the December 2025 U.S. Army contract for additional 590A1 shotguns. | Accessed: 2026-07-02590 Models Owner's ManualPublisher: O.F. Mossberg & Sons | Note: Supports the 590 models being designed for factory-loaded 12-gauge 2-3/4-inch and 3-inch shotshells and identifies O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc. in North Haven, Connecticut. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Range SafetyPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports the Mossberg 590 being listed as a compatible shotgun for the M1030 breaching round in Army range-safety guidance. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Shotguns at the BECPublisher: U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command via DVIDS | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State direct conflict use under Operation Inherent Resolve: Supports the 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve row by identifying U.S. Marines with SPMAGTF-CR-CC 19.2 firing Mossberg 590A1 12-gauge shotguns at the Baghdad Embassy Compound in Iraq on May 8, 2020; also supports the gallery image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Shotgun Range at the BECPublisher: U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command via DVIDS | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State direct conflict use under Operation Inherent Resolve: Supports the 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve row by identifying a U.S. Marine with SPMAGTF-CR-CC 19.2 feeding 12-gauge buckshot into a Mossberg 590A1 at the Baghdad Embassy Compound in Iraq on May 16, 2020; also supports the gallery image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Mossberg 590 imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a public-domain U.S. Army photo of a Mossberg 590 12-gauge shotgun. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Shotgun Mossberg 590 imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a public-domain U.S. Army photo of a Mossberg 590 series shotgun. | Accessed: 2026-07-02PEO Mossberg 590A1 imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a public-domain U.S. Army / PEO Soldier photo of a Mossberg 590A1. | Accessed: 2026-07-02