[Aaryq]

You'd reccomend a Remington 870 or Mossberg 500. Everyone does. Why? I know from all of the internet chatter that they are great but I would just like to hear why you think they're great.

[glockman19]

Both are great. I personally have the 870 18"

[Old 112]

One reason, out of several, I have 870s is when it comes to my shoulder I do not have to cant my head much, if any, to be looking right along the top of the rib. Old 112

[New_geezer]

Both guns are pumps. Pumps have a wide range of virtues, chief among them;

- Very versatile. The design allows them to be used as is, or easily modified to be suitable for just about any HD, hunting, or sport purpose you'd have for a shotgun.

- Easy to operate

- A time proven design of great reliability

- Pumps are the cheapest multi-shot, shotgun you can buy, and among the cheapest firearms overall

- Readily available in different sizes for different sized shooters, Pumps allow a minimum investment for new shooters to see if they even like guns

There are many good examples of pump guns available besides the 870 and 500. These two have simply been around for a long time and have proven their durability and worth over time. Their designs and mode of manufacture keep them economically profitable to produce. They both have a wide range of accessories to modify the basic gun to suit any purchaser. Parts and repair service are readily available just about everywhere, as are good examples of used guns for reduced cost. The fact that these specific model pumps have remained popular among serious sportsmen for decades is enough to recommend them as sort of the default option for newbies.

[copaup]

My personal preference is the 870. Its what I carry in the squad car and what I own at home. There is nothing wrong with the Mossberg, I just like the 870 more.

[RevolvingCylinder]

They're common slide-action shotguns. They're the most versatile and fit a variety of roles. You can easily turn it into a powerful rifle(rifled barrel), a fowler, a turkey harvester, clay buster or a defensive weapon.

[ugaarguy]

They've both got extensive track records for reliability and effectiveness in Police, Military, and Sporting roles. They're user friendly in both operation and maintenance. They're widely available and inexpensive to boot. They just flat work.

[Avenger29]

why you think they're great.

Because they work and are proven. Both are excellent SGs, and if I could combine features from both I'd have the One Perfect Shotgun.

Best of the 500:
Control Placement: Slide release and safety in easy to work and sensible locations
Shell elevater: Skeleton elevator that is up when bolt is closed makes it easier to load without pinching fingers
Standard Magazine Capacity: 5 round mag capacity: 1 more round than the 870

870 Advantages:
Steel Receiver. Some will argue that the Aluminum receiver is not a weakness, but "overbuilt" and "steel" just plain make me happy
Accessory adaptability: If it is made for a SG, it is made first for the 870. It is also possible to add a magazine extension easily.

And throw in the rotary bolt and the fast, smooth action of the Winchester 1300, and you would have an absolute winner in my book.

I own all three SGs, and these are the features I appreciate the most.

[Dave McCracken]

Because they work. Under any circumstances, conditions or mission.

Because they handle a wide spectrum of ammo, from 3/4 oz trainers to 2 oz Turkey Whackers. And slugs.

Because in very close to a half century and over 60K rounds of 870 ownership, I've had two small parts fail and close to zero glitches.

Because like many others, I can simulate full auto fire with one and get good hits.

Because like AKs and GMs, they're reliable, durable, simple and effective....

[kellyj00]

well... parts for the 870 are easier to come by... but I've never heard of one break, so take it with a grain of salt.

The mossberg 500 would be my preference since I had one a while back and gave it up (financial problems) and recently picked up a 870 with 20" and all kinds of mall ninja goodies tacked onto it...bought it at a gun show, the price was right and I took the cheapo flashlight off of it and put it in the truck, works good for reading maps.

Anyhow, get the 500. Around here they're cheaper, they have bigger mag capacity. I've only seen one failure with a mossberg...broken extractor. it's a $4 part.

shot thousands of rounds through the 500, shot thousands through 870's over the years and hundreds through a benelli nova. Frankly, the benelli 'feels' better than the 870 when shooting clays, but for home defense they're probably all about equal...except the mossberg holds more ammo.

And, pretty please, don't strap a bunch of mall ninja garb to whatever shotgun you get before you sell it.... we all still laugh about the 'tactical light/laser' combo that came on the 870 I bought that's barely bright enough to be used as a map light.

[Taurus44]

I've used and owned Mossberg 500s and Remington 870s since I was a kid. I've never had an issue with either, and I've put them through hell. As for which I would recommend... I guess it'd be whichever of the two you like most. ;)

I currently own a Mossberg 500 12ga, Remington 870 12ga, two Remington 1100s 12ga, an Ithaca 37 Featherweight 12ga, a Winchester 1200 12ga, Sears & Roebuck 16ga and a few assorted single-shot shotguns in assorted sizes (.410, 20ga, 12ga). So I have no bias or brand loyalty.

[jakemccoy]

In my short shotgun experience, I've had the opportunity to shoot with both. I ended up buying the 870 Wingmaster. However, I probably would have been equally as happy with the 500. I'm very pleased with my 870 and have no regrets whatsoever.

[plexreticle]

I've owned both. I like the 870 for the aftermarket barrel selection. I like the 500 for the twin action bars and thumb safety.

[Taurus 617 CCW]

Rem. 870 all the way! Most proven design I've ever seen. Some of the cheapest and easiest parts to replace in the event that something should break.

[Fred Fuller]

Pump shotguns are as American as apple pie. They don't cost an arm and a leg. Most jurisdictions don't have any qualms against someone owning a fowling piece and keeping it at home.

The 870 has been around over 50 years, and is the finest repeating shotgun design put in production so far. Some folks quibble about where the controls are. The controls are perfectly accessible and do what they are supposed to do. Some people quibble about not being able to pull the forearm back the instant the hammer falls, since the design requires the forearm to be bumped forward a bit to unlock upon firing. It's a feature not a bug, recoil will do the unlocking in a properly handled 870.

The 870 is the Energizer bunny of shotguns- it goes on and on. 870s wear in, not out. They are as reliable as anything mechanical can be, given a reasonably intelligent operator and good ammunition. They are easy to field strip, clean and reassemble. They are easy to fix in almost all cases in the event of rare small parts failure. A couple of assemblies (a spare triger plate assembly and a spare bolt assembly) properly fitted to the gun in advance will fix 95+% of what is likely to break on an 870, and those repairs can be done in the field in minutes with almost no tools and no skills beyond field stripping and reassembly.

870s are the most modular of shotguns- in minutes a gun can go from a specialized home defense weapon to a claybird buster/wingshooter/small game getter/varmint eliminator, a big game gun, a turkey gun or a waterfowl gun. This can be accomplished with two or three barrels and a small kit of accessories that are easily mounted or dismounted as the job at hand requires. Given the variety of ammunition a shotgun can fire, there is no other firearm that can perform so many tasks as well.

I've been shooting various 870s for almost 40 years now. There are a few firearms designs that are as reliable, but none I know of that are more reliable than this American classic. When it's so easy to buy an 870 if you need a general utility shotgun, why look for anything else?

lpl/nc

[spartan55]

If I had to choose between the two listed it would be the 500 all the way, However I'm a big Winchester fan so the 1300 would my first choice.

[toivo]

I have an 870 in 12-gauge and a 500 in .410. They are both pretty much idiot-proof, and that's important for an idiot like me...

[foghornl]

I'm a Mossberg guy, so I'll always recommend those first. The Mossy and Maverick 'fit' me better (factory box-stock) than the Remingtons.

I don't hunt like I used to, but it always torqued off my brothers that I put just as much game on the table with my $106 Maverick (1990 vintage) as they did with their much pricier 870 & 1100 Remmys. {One brother is of ahhhhh 'lesser physical presence', so he really likes the recoil reduction of the gas-operated 1100}.

Nothing wrong with Ithaca or Winchester either, just not my cup-o-tea.

[gunzrfunz]

Got mine used last year for $170 and I love it. Works flawlessly and is next to my bed every night. Someone said the Mossberg holds more, which I thought was a stupid comment since some come from factory with 4 shell magazine, others with 7 ..but magazine extensions even that playing field. Mossbergs feel "plasticky" to me. So, my recommendation is 870.:neener:

[Gunsmoker]

Because "everyone" owns one and people like to recommend their own stuff.

Check out this thread I made earlier...

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=276751

I specifically asked for shotguns except for the 870 and a handful of people still recommended the 870. Talk crap about your specific 870 and people will flame you.

yup, this forum and others out there have a thing for the 870.

[Superreverb]

When I first got heavily into digital photography (more "therapy" than "hobby") "pro-sumer" digital SLR's were still pretty new. I had a choice: the "new" Canon 10D or the "new" Nikon D100. Both above the $1500 mark for the body only.....

I went to a local Penn camera (I was uncormfortable making a $1500 - $2000 investment via mail order) and tried them both out. I shot pictures, looked at them on my lap-top, tried different lenses, etc., etc.

I finally settled on the Canon. It just felt better in my hands than the Nikon did. That was about the only difference. Great cameras, both of them, but I was more comfortable, ergonomically, shooting the Canon.

My old 10D still takes great pics and I'm still pleased with my choice. Once in a while, though, a friend will ask me to take some pics of him and his family with his Nikon (yeah, he's a Nikon guy...go figure). The pics always turn out great - his D70 is a good camera for the money. Still feels weird in my hands, tho.....

Oh - wait. This was about shotguns, wasn't it? ;)

Ed

[Avenger29]

I specifically asked for shotguns except for the 870 and a handful of people still recommended the 870. Talk crap about your specific 870 and people will flame you.

I'll be the first to admit the 870 has some flaws. Control placement and the shell elevator position are two of my biggest gripes. The slide release particuarly gets my goat, as it is awkward to get to (taking firing hand out of position to actuate). The shell elevator is also annoying. I have pinched myself many a time, and the Mossberg is just easier to load.

But I love the steel receiver and the wide, wide range of accessories to play with. And the simple construction.