[Kenshin]

What the title says...

[Black Majik]

Strictly Remington for me.

I just bought another Wingmaster today for a project home defense gun. :D

[Fred Fuller]

The 'Big Four' didn't attain that status by building trash. Any one of them should prove reliable and should easily outlast the original owner given proper care. My personal preference is for Big Green, my dad shot an 870 and I always looked forward to getting my own. Differences in design, control layout, familiarity and fit will determine who likes what, it is wise for noobs to try as many flavors as possible before buying their own.

lpl/nc

[Dave McCracken]

870, but.....

A trained, cool hand is abso-freakin' deadly with any of the Big 4. The shotgun is not the weakest link. We are....

For new shooters, I recommend that you try all of the Big 4 and get the one that feels best.....

[Wags]

I'll never replace my 870's, but the Ithaca Mod 37's fit me like a glove. I use the Ithaca's more these days than the 870's. Cut my teeth on the 870 and have been more than pleased.

[LeonCarr]

Good 'ol 870, but the Ithaca 37 is very nice. I think LAPD stills uses them, but I am not sure.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

[foghornl]

I have shot all of them at some time over ther years, and the Mossy just "fits" me better than the others.

If looks were all that mattered, though, give me the Classic 870 Wingmaster.

[Darkmind]

I'm going to say Mossy 590A1 because I have more training with that shotgun platform than any other out there. Meaning I can employ it better and faster and I can do just about any repair work that may need to be done.

[tuna]

I'm staying with my Wingmaster - she is a beautiful classic lady from the 60's and has never done me wrong.

However, I do keep a 37 in the safe, for training others or a backup, I really like that it is friendly to left or right handers (I'm a rightie, hand wise and politically, but you never know who wants to learn to shoot and a side ejecting gun may put off new shooters).

Mossies are nice, I like the ones I've shot, but not enough to buy.

I'd still like to pick up a used (duh) Winchester 12, if I can find one cheap enough in 16 ga. that is still in good condition.

[sm]

OLDER is my preference in 870, 37 , 1300. Never warmed up to the Mossy, never saw many around here anyway growing up.

If Win was smart - they would bring back the 1300 in 28 ga and .410. 1300 in all 4 gauges took a LOT of prize monies and trophies back in the day in Skeet. Misseldine did.

[SapperLeader]

I love my 870's, every time I pick up a new or old winchester 1300 Im impressed, and I always really liked the 590's with the thumb operated safety. Im sure if I had a chance to fondle a ithaca Id like it too. Shotguns are just fun and cool, pick one from one of the major manufactors, and start shooting ammo through it. Its not that complicated really, just do it :D

[sendtoscott]

Is the Rem's reliability edge, if it actually exists, more along the lines of "it can take being used as a club to crack skulls better than the Moss or Win"? I read forums like these, and there are always posts saying a one brand or another would be the only one to fail in a shooting class while the others shot fine all day.

[Black Snowman]

I wanted an 18" barrel for my 11-87 for HD but ended up getting a Mossy Persuader becaue it was cheaper. Fun gun and it's worked so far.

[Bear Gulch]

Bear in ming the defender is the cheap short barrel version. I truly love the black shadow which is a syn stocked pump. I can get it muddy in the duck blind and not worry. I also think that the machining of the winchoke beats the stuffing the 870 expresses, although the fit of the wingmasters is nice.

[Eddie]

BERETTA :neener:

[Smoke]

870 followed by 1300, followed by ....Nova :what:

Smoke

[Greymoor]

My 870 has done all that I have asked of it flawlessly. I'd have to go with that!

[Zach S]

I like the pre-disconnect Model 37s, pump-shooting is fun:D The capactiy is a turn-off for me, I know there is (or was) a 7+1 model, however I've never seen one. I love the way a 1300 cycles, just doesnt "fit." Had an 870 a while back, but due to lack of fundage and it being backwards I sold it. I thought about a LH pump, but didnt want to re-learn how to handle an 870 in the event I was shooting someone else's SG. The Mossbergs fit me much better than the other three, and the controls are laid out better for my left-handedness due to my dominate left eye.

Based on the limited experiance with the other three, and the posts I read here, all four are fine SGs that I wouldnt mind owning (and I probably will at some point), however the Mossberg works best for me.

[Nuts590]

as my name implies I'm a Mossberg person. If I needed a 5+1 capacity shotgun for public display/hunting I would most likely go with a Remington 870 or 11-87. Mainly because Remington has an accessory/replacement aftermarket that can be found almost universally.

[ruger357]

870.

[TrapperReady]

I voted for the Winchester, as much of my hunting is done with Model 12s. I'm used to the layout of the Winchester controls. Remington would be a close second, but when I take out my 870 I sometimes miss the first bird flushed, due to a safety still firmly on "SAFE". :banghead:

I'd hate to have that happen in a more serious situation.

[Waffen]

For some reason I am a lot more comfortable with a 1200/1300 in my hand than an 870. I do like the 870 a lot though!

[mjb]

I have a Ithaca 37 Police Special with the "slam fire" capability. I also have a Winchester 120 pump. Both Winchesters and Ithacas are good. Remingtons are also a good shotgun, but you can keep those Mossbergs. They feel like they are made out of recycled pop cans.