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  • Remington 870

    Votes: 120 48.0%
  • Mossberg 500

    Votes: 130 52.0%

Remington 870 or Mossberg 500?

20K views 154 replies 102 participants last post by  Schirmer77 
#1 ·
Choose.
 
#121 ·
No idea why anyone would buy a new shotgun from either company, just plain foolish. There are hundreds of both on Gunbroker made 25-35 years ago.
 
#122 ·
I bought an 870 Police Magnum a few years ago. I understand that they are built seperately from other models, but this gun is absolutely perfect. It shot a smorgasbord of ammo from day one and never a problem.

I took it apart after about two hundred rounds just to inspect. All of the machine work looked flawless, fit and finish was first rate and the wood was nice. I wouldn't hesitate on another one.
 
#123 ·
I vote for the Mossberg 500. I have a Persuader model with the heat shield and 8 + 1 capacity. Great ergonomics and solid quality

Sent from my HTC U12+ using Tapatalk
 
#125 ·
I bought a 500 Springfield(aluminum receiver, box store branding) back in the time when steel shot became necessary for waterfowl. 1977 I think or '75 ? Eventually cut that barrel down to 20" and had it threaded for screw in chokes. Also have a 28" barrel with screw ins. Gun has been used for home defense, quail hunting, deer hunting, goose, duck and anything else huntable. Cant count the number of shots- thousand. Did replace the extractor springs. Cant complain. Also have an 870, had it for years, cant complain about it. Feels tighter and stiffer than Mossy which almost feels like an autoloader. Prefer the safety.
Id buy either one if I needed a new one.
 
#126 · (Edited)
I posted earlier and own several copies of each brand. The Remington has a steel receiver housing and the Mossberg is aluminum alloy. A magnet ignores the Mossberg.

I am a proponent of using the long guns to poke and club an opponent rather than to blast him at close range with a shotgun. There's little hope of survival from a close range shotgun blast. I'd rather beat the snot out of an intruder and a solid steel receiver makes a better club.

So....the Remington gets my vote with the solid steel receiver.

Flash
 
#127 ·
I posted earlier and own several copies of each brand. Thought of one more difference that we haven't discussed. The Remington has a steel receiver housing and the Mossberg is aluminum alloy. Compare them for yourself. A magnet ignores the Mossberg.

I am a proponent of using the long guns to poke and club an opponent rather than to blast him at close range with a shotgun. There's little hope of survival from a close range shotgun blast. I'd rather beat the snot out of an intruder.

So....the Remington gets the edge with the solid steel receiver.

Flash
The steel vs. aluminum receiver argument really doesn't hold water. Both guns have an identical lockup with the bolt lug locking into a steel barrel extension. The steel on the Remington receivers is soft and also heavy compared to the Mossbergs. Remington receivers--being soft steel also rust quite easily...unlike alloy receivers.

Lest you think aluminum is inferior as a receiver material...every AR 15 on the planet has an alloy receiver and the 5.56 Nato cartridge operates at 55,000 psi not in the lowly shotgun lup pressure ranges. So how crappy can it be? LOL. Besides--a Benelli M4, M1, and M2 all have aluminum receivers.

All a receiver in a shotgun does is hold the trigger housing, control feeding from the magazine and serve as a rail for the bolt to move into and out of battery....heck...Benelli even makes the Nova pump gun receiver out of plastic over a steel shell frame for contact points just like a Glock frame...
 
#128 ·
I own em both and like em both for different reasons. My 870 fighting guns are all Police models. Police trade-ins to be exact. One I sent off to Wilson's Combat for conversion to a Border Patrol model...highly recommended and on an old Police model less expensive than you might think. Its slick as snot... I do own an old 20 gauge 870 Wingmaster pump gun with a 28" barrel but its one of my favorite dove guns...my daughter uses it often.

I prefer the Mossberg 590 over the 590A1 which I consider too heavy... The lighter barrel of the 590 just points and balances so much better...ymmv

Bought a Mossberg Maverick 88 a while back and its been a really fun reliable gun. Best $200 I've ever spent on a shotgun..... Its got all the features of a 500 except the safety is on the triggerguard and the fore end is made a little differently. So what. You can get them on sale for $180 at Academy from time to time. American made in Eagle Pass Texas.
 
#129 ·
When the time came to buy, I couldn't decide between the Remington and the Mossberg, so I bought both. I prefer the Remington, but can't really tell you why. Also have a Maverick that I picked up for $100 to help someone out. Not a bad gun at all. I told the guy I'd sell it back to him any time for the same price, if he ever wants it back.
 
#133 ·
I used to be the proponent of 870, as this was the first shotgun I trained with. However, over the years I've witnessed the steady decline in Remington quality, to the point where I no longer can recommend 870 as the safe choice. While working part time, behind the gun counter I've seen a share of the issues ranging from corrosion to poor metallurgy on the NIB shotguns. On the other hand, on average the products from Mossberg, while not always problem free, appears to be more consistent in terms of decent quality. So, I took a close look at the design and developed the opinion that it's a better shotgun...for me.
I like the ejector design better, I like the open, unobstructed loading port MUCH better, slide release is faster and more natural than on 870, I like two extractors better...except for the safety design (which BTW works better for many, just not for me) it's a very good shotgun. It's also lighter by a half pound than 870. In fact when I came across Maverick 88 in the store, I looked at the safety and said to myself...bingo!
Cross bolt in front of the trigger guard works best for me. Not only that. Lack of the opening cut for the safety on the top of the receiver and no holes drilled...make for less dust or water getting into the action. I'm a fan now. Great value there.
 
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#143 ·
When I first got out of gunsmith school I worked at a factory
warranty station, one of the guns we worked on a lot was the
Mossberg pump shotgun.

Some things I like about it over the 870, you can change the
mag tube much easier, not something that you have to do
often but if it got dented bad you can fix it.

It's less weight and you don't have to worry about the receiver
rusting, the shell stops are simpler and easier to change.

Parts are usually not too costly.

If I had one with the plastic thumb safety on the top, I would
change it out for a steel or a aluminum one.

We have both and like both.
 
#134 ·
Gun Firearm Rifle Shotgun Trigger
I bought this Mossberg 500 20 years ago...it was well used and abused when I got it. Price was $75. It is a Revelation marked shotgun, made for Western Auto. At some point, the barrel was shortened to 18”, and it was used by a security company.
It’s never jammed or misfired in my use, except for a while back, when the ejector screw loosened. A little loctite fixed that.
It’s the shotgun handy in the house, loaded with #1 buck.
 
#137 ·
If you're going to put a pistol grip stock on it, 870 for the cross bolt safety.

If you're going to run a standard stock, 500 for the tang mounted safety.

Otherwise, having both, I don't think you could document a realistic difference in performance.
 
#142 ·
If you're going to put a pistol grip stock on it, 870 for the cross bolt safety.

If you're going to run a standard stock, 500 for the tang mounted safety.

Otherwise, having both, I don't think you could document a realistic difference in performance.
From post 133

''I came across Maverick 88 in the store, I looked at the safety and said to myself...bingo!
Cross bolt in front of the trigger guard works best for me''

So it would work as good as the 870 with the pistol grip stock.
 
#145 ·
It is an aesthetics thing with me I just like the looks of the Remy better. Especially the rounded bolt... had the missberg 590 m1 sold it cause of that flat bolt... meh
 
#146 ·
I have owned several 870's over the past few decades, and they are good shotguns for either sport, or HD. A few years ago a friend of mine was selling his old mossberg 590, that became bored with. I wasnt looking for a shotgun but he convinced me I needed it. I love this shotgun. It's big, and heavy, but shoots great and is accurate. Head shots with OO are possible at 20 yards.
 
#147 ·
Mossberg...mostly due to the tang safety like my double barrels I use for bird hunting...it's a reflex for me now to thumb off the safety while sholdering the gun. The cross bolt by the trigger guard is something I haven't mastered and it's cost me some partridge when I take my Benelli out for a walk.
 
#148 ·
Remington 870, always. If I had a Mossberg, I'd sell it and buy a Remington (as I have in the past, when I got Mossbergs as part of trades/deals).

I agree that the position of the mossberg safety is a plus over the Remington, but it's the only one and their safeties have a reputation for breaking. The Remington safety may be less convenient, but (a) that design is stronger and (b) it's a pump shotgun, so I don't use the safety.
 
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