Gun of the Week: Mossberg 590R Chisel

by
posted on June 12, 2026
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Mossberg's 590 is based on one of the most popular pump-action shotguns ever made: the Mossberg 500. For those who are seeking a shotgun that's a bit more heavy-duty and are willing to pay for the associated cost, the company's 590 line offers plenty of options, and one of the latest is the striking 590R Chisel. Watch our "Gun of the Week" episode above to see more details about this cutting-edge shotgun.

"What's the 'R' stand for, you ask? It has a rotary safety," American Rifleman Executive Editor Jay Grazio said. "If you're a fan of the AR-15-style rifle, you'll recognize that immediately. You'll also see the pistol grip. We have a collapsible stock. This one also folds. It's from Chisel Machining, and that's one of the options you can choose with the 590."

Other upgraded features found on the 590R Chisel include a top Picatinny rail for mounting optics (a set of Magpul MBUS 3 flip-up sights are included with the gun), as well as a flat-face trigger, interchangeable recoil pad, integrated heat shield, Cerakote-finished receiver and a enlarged and beveled loading port.

"At the heart, though, it's still a 590. There's twin action bars, steel-to-steel lockup," Grazio said. "It's just a super, super solid 12 gauge shotgun with a 3-inch chamber."

This 12-gauge shotgun is outfitted with an 18.5-inch barrel and has an under-barrel tube magazine capable of holding up to six 2 3/4-inch shotshells. Unloaded, the shotgun weighs 7 pounds, 9 ounces. The shotgun is also equipped with Mossberg's Accu-Choke system, and it comes from the factory with a cylinder-bore choke installed.

"Traditionally, with folding stocks, collapsible stocks, that sort of thing, folks are concerned about, 'What's the recoil going to be like?'" Grazio said. "I can tell you this recoil pad does a heck of a job. I shot one of these Gunsite when they launched it, and I at the time, unknown to me, had a torn rotator cuff and it was not unduly painful. So if I can do that, if you're 100 percent, this is going to be super easy. Super fun shotgun to shoot."

For more information on the Mossberg 590R Chisel and other models of the 590, visit the Mossberg website here.

Latest

attack in a back alley
attack in a back alley

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Rifleman Q&A: Understanding a Firearm's Cycle of Operation

The cycle of operation is the mechanical sequence of events that it takes to fire one shot out of a firearm. If one of those steps fails to take place as designed, there is an interruption in the cycle of operation and the gun stops firing.

Review: Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm Riflescope

Looking for a performance LPVO without the usual associated cost? The Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm might be your answer.

Myths & Misunderstandings About the “Modern Fighting 1911”

The Colt Model 1911 pistol and its derivatives are among the most iconic military handguns ever made. But in 2026, does the M1911 still hold up as a quality defensive arm?

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.