Mossberg’s New 590M Pump-Action Shotguns Deliver Higher Magazine Capacities to Venerable Shotgun Line

One of the highlights of interest during the recent 2018 SHOT Show in Las Vegas was the surprise unveiling of the Mossberg 590M, the “M,” of course, standing for magazine fed. And it’s arguably that magazine design that caught a lot of eyes from those flowing into the Mossberg booth during the show.

The 590M comes with one detachable, 10-round magazine, giving users a capacity of 10+1. The polymer magazine is of a double-stack design, which utilizes integral stabilizing ribs to positively engage notches in the receiver for lock-up. Internally, the magazine features hardened-steel feed lips, over-molded steel shell ramps and a rounded follower that is designed to withstand cant and promote reliable feeding. The exterior is tactile for grip, while the polymer housing is billed as self-lubricating internally, and the removable base plate enables cleaning. Accessory magazines in 5-, 10-, 15- and 20-round capacities are also available from Mossberg. The magazine system appears extremely robust and solid, and the prices reflect, ranging from about $100-$140 retail.

Hardened steel feel lips help promote positive feeding.

The 590M itself comes in two versions, the 590M Mag Fed 10-Round ($721) and 590M Mag Fed Tri-Rail 10-Round ($801), the main differences being the strips of Picatinny rail on the fore-end, ACCU-CHOKE system, heat shield and Ghost-Ring site of the Tri-Rail Model.

For general sporting or defensive work, the 590M’s attributes are fairly obvious; however, for 3-Gun and other practical shotgun work, the shotgun is very interesting. The pump gun, traditionally, puts competitors in a more limited division, while magazine-fed capacities of up to 20 rounds would normally bump one into Unlimited/Open. Of course, then there’s the idea of downloading the pump itself. For example, 3GN allows competitors to maintain division standards in Limited with pistol magazines that could hold more rounds, an attempt to offer competitors more options and an easier framework in which to shoot different matches.

Mossberg isn’t alone wading into the mag-fed, pump-gun foray; in December, Remington unveiled its 870 DM line, which now has a handful of different models centering primarily on the hunting and defensive markets. While no less an iconic shotgun line than Mossberg’s 590, the 870 DM does, however, feature much less magazine capacity, with 3- and 6-round magazines currently available.

Remington Model 870 DM Tactical

In purely 3-Gun terms, arguably the most interesting aspect of the 590M is that it enables greater access into shooting a new division, Unlimited. The division where seemingly infinite capacities, comps and optics of all kinds make it a true gear-driven division.

This category is typically dominated by the $4K custom shotgun based on the Saiga design. But at $800 or less, Mossberg’s new box-fed pump-gun might just breathe some new life, especially those on a budget, into competition shooting.

Time will tell how the shooting public, especially the competition world, responds to the new Mossberg 590M. At first glance, and after talking to some folks in the know, the magazine looks legit, and the 590 series is famous for durability and reliability, adding up to an interesting new entry into the shotgun market.