By Mike Searson
Mike gives us a first looks at the Mossberg 590A1 Ghost Ring Shotgun in Kryptek Typhon Camouflage.
USA – -(Ammoland.com)- Being a big fan of Mossberg shotguns for tactical use, we asked the company to send us out one of their newer 590A1s smoothbores. Initially this was to compare them to our older shot-gun models, but this one stood out on its own: The Mossberg 590A1 Ghost Ring Shotgun in Typhon Camo.
This looked to be what we refer to as a “kitchen sink model” as it comes with a number of upgrades over the more familiar 500 and 590 series of shotguns.
These are the 18” bbl models with a +1 extended tube to give true 7-shot capacity in a shorter gun. It is safe to say that while you could use these shotguns for hunting, they are designed for a more tactical or defensive purpose.
Mossberg 590A1 Ghost Ring Shotgun in Typhon Camo : The Good
The Mossberg 590A1 with the Typhon Camo comes loaded with extras from the O.F. Mossberg & Sons factory. No brass bead sight on this one, it comes with legit Mossberg Ghost Ring Sights and the 590A1’s unique heavy barrel.
Other standard features on this model include an ambidextrous top mounted metal safety button, non-binding twin action bars, a positive steel-to-steel lock-up, dual extractors, a metal trigger guard, proper sling swivels and an anti-jam elevator for smooth operation.
The stock is a speedfeed type that stores 4 shells internally (two on each side). They are spring-loaded and come out with the touch of a finger. We have been running these stocks on our own Mossbergs since the 1990s. These used to be a costly upgrade for the typical Mossberg. It’s good to see them as a factory item now.
Mossberg’s camouflage finish on these shotguns is known as “hydrographic dipped film,” or water-transfer printing. This process can be used on virtually any material because the film is applied when parts are dipped into a water tank in which the film to be applied is floating. Other manufacturers use it and we have had some experience in the past with these finishes. Some of these have been good; others not so good.
Aside from the finish, the new style forend caught our eye. Finally, a manufacturer is getting it and adding a railed forend to their tactical shotgun models. The forend is plastic and has molded in rails to attach flashlights, lasers, etc.
We ran a lot of Federal 00 Buck through this shotgun with no issues. Patterning is great on these models with the Ghost Ring Sights, because you can actually fire the shotgun more like a rifle.
Mossberg 590A1 Ghost Ring Shotgun in Typhon Camo : The Bad
Some folks like to complain that the 590A1’s receiver is milled from aluminum alloy. So is the lower receiver on an M16 or AR-15 and for increased durability, the bolt locks into a steel barrel extension. The aluminum receiver has never been a problem for those who know about firearm construction.
My only gripe about this shotgun is the coating. It looks spectacular, but I have not had the best luck with these hydro dipped finishes in the past. I prefer Cerakote.
Mossberg 590A1 Ghost Ring Shotgun in Typhon Camo : The Reality
In case it is not common knowledge, the Mossberg 590A1 was the only pump shotgun to pass the U.S. Armed Services Mil Spec 3443E Requirements back in 1990. The heavy barrel was included by a request from the Department of the Navy to prevent deformation if a hatch on a ship were to strike it as well as to dissipate heat. I will take the heavier bbl and aluminum receiver over a lighter barrel and a steel receiver any day of the week.
Now I may not be a huge fan of the coating method, but the Kryptek Thphon Camo looks good and appears to be effective. If I didn’t already have a USMC 21” version and a Border Patrol 14” model in my safe, this would be a keeper.
Mossberg 590A1 Typhon Camo (50775) Tactical Shotgun
- Caliber: 12 Gauge
- Capacity: 7
- Chamber: 3″
- Barrel Type: Heavy-Walled
- Barrel Length: 18.5″
- Sight: Ghost Ring
- Choke: Cylinder Bore
- Stock: Speed Feed
- LOP: 13.875″
- Barrel Finish: Kryptek Typhon Camo
- Stock Finish: Synthetic (Typhon Camo)
- Weight: 7 lbs.
- Length: 39.5″
- MSRP: $705
About Mike Searson
Mike Searson’s career as a shooter began as a Marine Rifleman at age 17. He has worked in the firearms industry his entire adult life as a Gunsmith, Ballistician, Consultant, Salesman, Author and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1989.
Mike has written over 2000 articles for a number of magazines, websites and newsletters including Blade, RECOIL, OFF-GRID, Tactical Officer, SWAT, Tactical World, Gun Digest, Examiner.com and the US Concealed Carry Association as well as AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.
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