Gunner Quinn
The Mossberg 500 is one of the most popular pump-action shotguns ever made. That doesn’t keep the company from making updates and improvements, as evidenced in the new-for-2025 590M Standoff and 500 Slugster series.
The Mossberg 590M Standoff combines the features of Mossberg’s Shockwave series and its 590 box-magazine fed pump shotguns. Chambered in 12 gauge with a 2 3/4” chamber, it has all of the features of the 590 series, including a heavy-walled barrel, dual extractors, steel-to-steel lockup, top-mounted ambidextrous safety and twin action bars. It uses detachable box magazines available in capacities of 5, 10, 15, or 20 rounds that are released by a push button in front of the trigger guard. One 10-round magazine is supplied.
The Standoff differs in several keys ways over the 590M Shockwave introduced in 2018. Its 14.25” barrel has a cylinder bore and a standoff muzzle device machined integral to the barrel. A bead front sight is mounted on the barrel and the receiver is drilled and tapped for adding optics. A Shockwave-type firearm, the Standoff uses Mossberg’s Aftershock bird’s head grip, designed to minimize recoil while providing a firm purchase on the firearm. The pump-action fore-end has a handstop, as well as M-Lok slots for mounting accessories. With an overall length of 27” and a weight of 6.6 lbs., the Mossberg 590M Standoff has an MSRP of $1,050.
Many hunters, through personal preference or due to local regulations, still take to their deer stands with an iron-sighted shotgun loaded with slugs. For these hunters, Mossberg is making the 500 Slugster. Available chambered in 12 gauge, 20 gauge or .410 bore, all Slugsters have 3” chambers with a five-shot capacity in their underbarrel tubular magazine. Rifle-type sights, adjustable for windage and elevation, are mounted on the barrel and the receiver is drilled and tapped for mounting optics.
To top off the no-frills pack, Slugsters have black synthetic furniture, a matte blue metal finish, and sling swivel studs. The models chambered in 12 or 20-gauge versions have a 24” fully rifled barrel with a 1:36 twist rate. The .410 bore model has a 20” smoothbore barrel with a cylinder bore and a “Bantam”-sized buttstock with a 13” length-of-pull for hunters of a smaller stature. Mossberg’s 500 Slugster shotguns have an MSRP of $533, regardless of chambering.
For more information, see the company’s 590M Standoff and 500 Slugster websites.
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