Mossberg gets even more serious about offering defense-minded consumers with a diverse and increasingly capable lineup of personal defense shotguns for 2025
by Larry Case
Mossberg ain’t playin’. The oldest family-owned firearms manufacturer in America has introduced many new gun offerings in recent years and they don’t seem to be slowing down. Indeed, O. F. Mossberg and Sons recently opened the flood gates with a wave of new tactical shotgun options. Mossberg was founded in 1919, is the largest pump-action shotgun maker in the world, and that, my friends, is saying something. The number of variants on Mossberg’s venerable model 500 pump gun and the 590 is staggering, I would not even attempt to list them all.
Having said all that, you might think the guys and gals at Mossberg might kick back and take a few victory laps, have a bourbon-based beverage, and bask in the glow of their accomplishments. Nope. This month, Mossberg is releasing a truck load (a big truck) of shotgun goodies.
Now class, this is going to be a lot of scatter gun info thrown at you, so sit up, pay attention, and take notes.
Chapter 1: Mossberg’s New 590R and 590RM
Unless you have been under that proverbial rock we always talk about, you know that the Mossberg 590 pump gun has been used by military and police organizations for many years. So, it is no surprise that the 590 has evolved into the latest tactical and fighting shotguns for the civilian set.
First, let’s talk about the 590R (“R” for rotary safety) series. This is a 12-gauge, 3-inch chamber shotgun. The standard versions feature an 18.5-inch barrel with an integrated heat shield, compact forend, 5-position adjustable stock with interchangeable recoil pad, MOE pistol grip, Picatinny rail, flat profile trigger, and rotary safety selector.
When you consider how popular the AR-style firearm has become, it is a wonder that this move in shotguns has not come sooner. We are told that a military entity came to Mossberg and wanted a shotgun with AR features like a pistol grip, AR-inspired safety, and an AR-type stock.
Mossberg made some significant changes from the existing 590 model. First, they redesigned the forearm on these shotguns. Most shooters may not notice this as particularly significant, but I think that it is. The new forearm has four parts and is tighter and with less “play.” Those of you who remember back in the day the old-style model 500s will not hear the “clackety clank” when carrying these new shotguns. As with many AR designs, Mossberg installed an M-LOK adapter for lights, lasers, and other goodies. What is different here is the end cap on the magazine tube secures it to the gun.
Next, you will notice the safety has been made to accommodate the pistol grip. (The pistol grip is from Magpul, an MOE+.) A quick note here. I have always been a fan (like many others) of the Mossberg signature safety placed on top of the receiver where it meets the stock. It’s handy, it works, and lots of shotgunners love it. For the AR configuration, though, on the R-series guns, the new rotary, ambidextrous style of the safety is better. No breaking your grip to get to the safety. Mossberg also added a flat profile-type trigger and moved the bolt release to better conform to the pistol grip.
The AR-style stock is, of course, the most notable change on the 590R. Mossberg did a barely noticeable, very clever, slight protrusion on the stock that rides above the safety to keep it from snagging on clothes and gear. The stock is classic AR. Those who know and love this configuration will have no trouble with it. The stock adapter is one piece, reinforced with steel, and will accommodate many aftermarket stocks.
In this round of introductions, Mossberg will unveil two versions of the 590R. The first will sport a classic or plain barrel and the second features a breacher stand-off type barrel.
Now for the 590RM series (“M” for magazine fed). The 590RM is a 12-gauge, 2 ¾-inch detachable magazine-fed pump gun with an 18.5-inch barrel. The 590RM features an integrated heat shield, compact forend, 5-position adjustable stock with interchangeable recoil pad, MOE pistol grip, Picatinny rail, flat profile trigger, rotary safety selector, and a 10-round magazine. There are also adjustable sights with a mini top rail for front sight attachment and an AccuChoke-compatible barrel (cylinder choke tube included). Another version is equipped with an 18.5-inch stand-off, cylinder bore barrel.
Some years ago, Mossberg followed Remington with a detachable magazine on a shotgun. Remington seemed to waver in continuing to produce these and then had other troubles. Mossberg forged ahead and now has several pump guns with detachable mags. The new 590RM guns have magazines in 5-, 10-, and 20-round capacity. The Mossberg mag-fed guns pull it off much better than other versions as they are the only double stack magazine shotguns I am aware of (angle stack magazines with this many rounds are just too long). Twenty rounds of shotgun ammo can be heavy no doubt, but you may find that the weight steadies the gun with less muzzle jump. The magazines on the 590RM lock into the gun tight and secure without any shaking or movement.
Chapter Two: the Mossberg Enhanced 940 Pro Tactical SPX Autoloading Shotgun
A few years ago, Mossberg devised a new gas system for the 940 Pro shotgun with a stepped and vented-spacer component that keeps the gas system running fast by shedding any moisture or carbon build-up every time it cycles. This allows for over fifteen-hundred rounds between cleanings, so those who hate to clean guns even more than me can appreciate that. The 940 Pro Tactical will reliably cycle any 2 ¾- and 3-inch shotgun ammo you feed it. Because loading is such a concern with the defensive shotgun, the 940’s loading port has been upgraded to allow the user to efficiently quad-load the magazine tube straight out of the box without any need of modification to the receiver. The elevator and shell catch have also been designed to eliminate common pinch-points.
All these improvements from the predecessor 930 model were great but then the engineers really hit a home run. They created an Optic Ready system with a receiver cut to accept the direct mounting of low-profile, micro dot sights (Shield RMSc footprint) and included a cover plate for when an optic is not in use. The receiver is also drilled and tapped for the option of adding rail-mounted optics. This cut revolutionized the optic mounting world on shotguns and gets the red dot lower and into the shooter’s line of sight with the cheek welded to the stock (where it is supposed to be). The 940 Pro Tactical Holosun Micro Dot Combo comes ready out-of-the-box equipped with Holosun’s HS407K open reflex optic sight. Now, Mossberg has decided to improve on this very successful fighting shotgun with the advent of the 940 Pro Tactical SPX series.
The 940 Pro Tactical SPX (SPX for “Special Purpose”) is an optic-ready platform available in 8-shot or 5-shot versions with 18.5-inch AccuChoke-compatible barrels. Initially, five models are available, including a Holosun Micro Dot Combo and optional Cerakote finishes.
Some of the new features on the 940 Pro Tactical SPX include two QD mounting cups on the stock (right and left), allowing the sling mount to be positioned in 90-degree increments (3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions), a stabilizing barrel clamp with two-sided M-LOK mounting slots and swivel studs, and a redesigned one-piece magazine tube for ease of maintenance and improved reliability. The magazine spring is retained for ease of removing and attaching the barrel. Additional features include a Vang Comp 6-Shotshell Carrier Card nd rear ghost ring and front fiber optic sights with protective, low-profile wings. Of course, the receiver is optic-ready for the direct mounting of micro dot sights. Cerakote coatings (Flat Dark Earth and OD Green) on barreled actions of select models boast wear and corrosion protection.
On recent trip to Gunsite Academy in Arizona, we shot the 940 Pro Tactical SPX for three days. Besides range time burning powder in different drills (with birdshot, 00 Buckshot, and slugs), the instructors put us through the three-day Team Tactics for Two class. This class is usually done with handguns, but we did it with the Mossberg shotgun. No doubt a trip to Gunsite is a lot of fun, and thoroughly educational for any shooter. If you want to be serious about defending home and hearth with a shotgun, you need to investigate taking a class at Gunsite.
Having said that, the instructors certainly put us through our paces. We shot hundreds of rounds with the 940 Pro Tactical SPX, and if there was a malfunction with a gun during the class, I don’t remember it. Should there be any doubt in anyone’s mind of an autoloading shotgun standing up to this type of test, or being adequate for a tactical shotgun, I think this class put it rest.
Look for more tactical shotgun variations from Mossberg in the future. I don’t think the crew at Mossberg is anywhere near finished with the 500, 590, and the 940 Pro models.
