STOLEN 15 DECEMBER 2005 - click here for details
This is, except for some cosmetic differences, the same as the current-issue US military shotgun. It was developed from the M500 series of sporting shotguns and was the only design to survive the military's 3,000 round torture test for reliability. Its role in my collection is manifold: home-defense, riot-defense, tyranny defense; in short, peace-of-mind, like a fire extinguisher or a first-aid kit, unlikely to be needed but stupid to be without.
This one came with a SpeedFeed stock, which carries two extra rounds on each side; standard quick-release sling swivel studs; a bayonet lug; and ghost-ring rifle-type sights. I added a simple aftermarket carrying strap and an aftermarket synthetic handguard. The photo above, from Mossberg's site, is how mine appeared as purchased.
I used to have an M500 civilian model, in home-defense configuration with short barrel and long magazine, much like this military M590. I dressed up that old M500 before trading it at a show, and had the wood from it left over. In a fit of boredom (and noticing that the wood stock had a softer-looking recoil pad than the SpeedFeed), I swapped it over. The bayonet is the M7, standard for the M16 series of rifles. I would dearly love to get one with a longer blade - anyone know where I can find one?
UPDATE: in September 2005, after observing events in and around New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and after reading John S. Farnam's The Farnam Method of Defensive Shotgun and Rifle Shooting, I put the original synthetic SpeedFeed stocks back on.
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