Mossberg 500 Secruity vs. Winchester Defender

[marklbucla]

I've already read that any of the Big 4 are going to be good, but how does the Mossberg 500 Security with the 20" barrel and 8 shot mag compare to the Winchester Defender? Durability/Reliability, etc...

The Defender is about $70 more in my area vs. the 500. Is it worth the price difference?

[Andrew Wyatt]

I have both, and I prefer the mossberg, because of the safety and bolt release locations. The mossberg is shorter for the same barrel and stock length because it doesn't have a telescoping bolt like the winchester (it's only a half inch or so) the mosberg is also easier to load, because there's no cartridge lifter in the way.


You will want to replace the plastic safety with an aluminum one from brownells, as they wear out rather quickly. (it's just the button, which you unscrew, replace with the aluminum one, and go)

[Dave McCracken]

Users of both are a vocal, effective lot. Go with the one that feels best, unless you're a southpaw. Then, the Mossie has a slight advantage.

[Andrew Wyatt]

Slight, heck. A fantastic advantage. The only reason i don't have an 870 right now is because of the safety.

[BudS]

Both are great home defense weapons- however, the Defender will chamber the Aguila Mini Shells, whereas other shotguns have to be modified for them. The Defender & Mini Shells seem to have been made for one another.

In "full battle mode", my Defender carries 1 in the chamber, 12 in the tube and 10 in the sidesaddle carrier for a total of 23 shells, FWIW.

[Andrew Wyatt]

I've not gotten the minishells to pattern very well in my gun, and they're of questionable reliability even in a defender. Their use is not reccommended for serious work.

[BudS]

Hmmm...Andrew, Aquila mantioned they were for law enforcement and military use when they first came out- you're comment is the first negative I've seen. I guess I need to do some more testing of my own, from 5 to 15 feet, perhaps.

[Andrew Wyatt]

sorry for taking so long on responding, i was working the Swat magazine match.


Aquila minishells, in my opinion, are best left in the box with the flechette ammo, bird bombs, and dragons breath rounds.

They are a neat idea, but the execution leaves something to be desired, as the slugs are not rifled, which limits their range and accuracy.

personally, i think that a properly constructed minishell slug, witha brenneke type slug is the way to go, as it is possible to do a very quick select slug with a fully loaded magazine tube of 2.75 inch rounds.

[243_shooter]

I've got the 500A, not exactly super tactical (wood furniture and such), but it's quickly becoming my favorite gun, never realized how versitale a shotgun could be..

I don't care for the location of the safety, but I love the placement of the action release.

After probably 1k rounds this summer (mostly light target stuff, but a good dose of mag slugs / turkey loads the gun is starting to give me some trouble. About every 5th shot or so the action doesn't unlock, have to push the release to cycle..

Guess I'm going to have to break down and clean it, what with fall turkey starting in 2 days :D

Leo

[Dave McCracken]

Regular ammo is quite effective in trained cool hands. I see little need for the mini rounds, but...

With the assistance of a fellow Moderator or two, I'm working on an idea of lighter HD ammo suitable for non shotgunners to use, Much less kick, adequate power.

Will advise...

[BudS]

...Andrew & Dave....I still haven't found time to check the pattern on the mini shells, due to my weekends being filled up. I don't want the slugs, but I have bought a few boxes of the buckshot loads. Mainly what I'm interested in is inside-dwelling results- outside, I'd resort to my 2-3/4 or 3" buck rounds or slugs.

...and I saw the Rotweillers again the other morning- first time in broad open daylight for awhile. I guess the owner didn't catch them before dawn....:fire: :fire: :fire: :cuss: I'll reserve the magnum loads for THEM;)

[Onslaught]

Users of both are a vocal, effective lot. Go with the one that feels best, unless you're a southpaw. Then, the Mossie has a slight advantage.

But for very minimal $$$, you can get a leftie safety from Winchester for the Defender. I did, and I LOVE it! It cost me $10 or so, and I did the swap myself.

I've owned both, and my personal preference is for the Winchester. The action is smoother (in my hands) and I don't even realize I'm chambering the next round after firing the first... it's like having a semi-auto.

I looked at a Mossberg for a friend the other day. I was turned off by the plastic trigger guard too.

[Andrew Wyatt]

check your defender. they have plastic triggerguards, too.

[Onslaught]

check your defender. they have plastic triggerguards, too.
L-I-B-M-R-DUX :)

Didn't even notice that until you mentioned it. It doesn't look like plastic, and it matches the rest of the rifle's finish pretty well, but a quick tap with the fingernail and voila' a click instead of a ting.

Guess I gotta requalify... I was turned off by the looks of the very obviously plastic trigger guard ;)

Hey, doesn't the 870 have a left-handed safety option too?