POTD: Mossberg’s Military Shotgun in Full Flash
Today’s Photo of the Day features U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Deondre Dennard firing a Mossberg 500 shotgun during a non-lethal weapons course at Camp Pendleton, California. The training, hosted by Marines from 1st Law Enforcement Battalion in 2020, covered proper employment of non-lethal force in both policing and combat scenarios. The shotgun, often underrated, is actually one of the most powerful firearms available to civilians. At the same time, it’s extremely versatile, as it can throw a lot of different types of ammunition out of the barrel.
While the Marine Corps continues to use the Mossberg 500 in various roles, the U.S. Army recently placed a new order for additional Mossberg 590A1 pump-action shotguns. As I scouted the image databases for images, it became quite apparent that all of the Mossbergs in service looked quite worn.
The 590A1 was developed as a strengthened variant capable of enduring sustained high-volume use. It features a heavy-walled barrel, metal trigger guard and safety, parkerized finish, and the familiar Mossberg 500-series action with twin action bars, dual extractors, steel-to-steel lock-up, and an ambidextrous top-tang safety.
Interested in owning one? The configuration purchased under the new contract is not commercially available. The closest civilian-available model is the 590A1 7-Shot.
Photos by U.S. Marine Corps, Cpl. Dalton S. Swanbeck.
Ex-Arctic Ranger. Competitive practical shooter and hunter with a European focus. Always ready to increase my collection of modern semi-automatics, optics, thermals and suppressors. TCCC Certified. Occasionaly seen in a 6x6 Bug Out Vehicle, always with a big smile.
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