[Lvl21nerd]

so i hear the new 870 expresses are of particularly poor quality these days

i have also heard the Mossy 500 isnt a terribly great shotgun (though i like what i have seen from it)

can anyone substantiate either claim, and shed light on which would be the better selection?

[i plan on trying to find an old, like pre 1980 870 before buying new of either listed]

[dak0ta]

Get the one that fits you the best and you like the ergos. Having owned both an Express and current M500, I like my M500 over the Express, but would also like to have a 870 wingmaster too. I like both.

[the rifleer]

They both are going to go click click bang out of the box, garenteed. for a very long time the Remington was the best on the market for the price, but there have been many complaints lately about extraction issues, which i have experianced first hand with a friend's 870.

The mossberg is kinda like your grandpas old truck on the farm. Its a little bit of a cluncker and isn't real pretty, but it starts everytime when you need it to and doesn't hiccup.

It you must get a Remington, get a wingmaster, they are still good guns. They actually machine them to certain specifications.

[Avenger29]

When it comes to defensive guns...you could go with an 870P or Wingmaster, both still good quality. Plenty of used 870s out in the wild, too.

[evan price]

Mossberg 500 isn't a terribly great shotgun? Really? News to me.

[natman]

The Remington 870 Express is slightly more expensive than a Mossberg. It is a bit smoother out of the box. This is easily fixed if you know how to disassemble a shotgun and know how to use a gunsmith's stone. Once broken in, a Mossberg 500 is a very reliable shotgun.

An 870 Wingmaster is very well made and finished but will cost as much as three Mossbergs. Not really comparable.

[rc601962]

Funny you mention it. I am driving today to take my new 870 express back to the gunsmith for the problem it has extracting rounds. About 15% of the time, I have to slam the gun on the ground to extract the round.

If I could do it again, I would not buy the 870.

[AcceptableUserName]

they're both good guns. period. most people really have no idea what theyre talking about.

they say, "i hate mossbergs. theyre junk. ive owned a mossberg 500." OR

"i hate 870s. theyre junk. ive owned an express."


they just really have no idea. ive owned and used a bunch of each, and quite a few here have owned and used a TON of each. an 870 express is not an 870 police magnum just like a maverick is not a 590a1. honestly when it comes down to it, the cheaper offerings may have their problems but 9/10 theyre easily fixable and the USUALLY the amount of problems you continually have with a pump shotgun will reflect your ability to maintain, modify and operate the gun. it's usually all on you.

buying new, I'd go with Mossberg everytime for sure. I think Remington's retail prices are off base for what you get.

Going used, at this point I'd get a Winchester 1300 Defender or an 870 Police Magnum or Wingmaster and convert it. This is because I own 2 Mossbergs already. I like all of these guns and really once you know how to use and maintain them, it just comes down to personal preference.

[anheiserglock]

Just picked up a NEF Pardner Protector for 219 bucks. Yes, Its a clone of the 870. The fit and finish is amazing. I am totally in shock how good it shoots,
(200 rounds this weekend, so far). the thing is a beast. Perhaps you may want to consider one?

[Dave McCracken]

Either. Both work....

[jlv08]

If I had my druthers, it would be an older model Express, and most definitely the Mossberg if the older Express is not available.

Ideally, An older wingmaster can be had for the price for a500 Mossberg new if you beat the thickets.

The 870 Wingmaster is the stuff when your talking shtoguns.:)

[rc601962]

Actually, they both can be made to work. There is a very high probability a new 870 Express will have extraction problems out of the box. If you like DIY projects, get the 870.

[zoom6zoom]

Wouldn't even consider buying one of these new, when there are so many on the used marked so cheaply.

[Nick5182]

I've got a remmy 870 express I got about 8 years ago, and got another this past Christmas. Like the rifleer said, they'll both go bang out of the box. I really don't see quality difference between my two 870's (maybe the quality issue started before I got my first 870). From my experience, the 870 express' action is much tighter and smoother out of the box. However, all guns need to be broken in and the more they're fired, the smoother they'll run. My first 870 has nearly 3,000 rounds through it and runs flawlessly. My new 870 only has about 100 rounds through it and runs flawlessly. My older 870's action is still tight, but is much, much smoother than the new one. And, like dak0ta said, just pick them up, shuck the actions and see which feels better to you.

[swampboy]

Funny you mention it. I am driving today to take my new 870 express back to the gunsmith for the problem it has extracting rounds. About 15% of the time, I have to slam the gun on the ground to extract the round.

If I could do it again, I would not buy the 870.

Look in the chamber. There's a very good chance that there's a rough "overspray" in there from where they put that "finish" on the 870. A couple of minutes of fine steel wool or Scotch-Brite wrapped around a wooden dowel on an electric drill usually fixes the problem.

[rmfnla]

The Mossberg's receiver-mounted safety sold me. My 500 is for HD and I didn't want anything that could be remotely confusing in a stressful situation.

I suggest replacing the plastic button with a metal one and you're good to go!

[MCgunner]

For me, it's strictly a matter of the 500 having better ergos, especially for a left handed shooter.

And, I think you read the internet too much, or, maybe not enough. Chat on these boards long enough, you learn to ignore things. :D

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // Which ever is on sale if you don't have a shotgun already.

I would suggest many rounds through them to smooth them out, then it will be a coin toss.

No problems with the 870 Express Tactical w/ Ghost Ring Sights I bought in 2009. I prefer my Wingmasters and have owned Mossys but the sale price + Remington rebate + $10.00 off store coupon + 12% off for a scratch on the mag tube, well .....how could I say no to the 870 Express.

I'm glad I bought an 870 with 3" and choke capability, I also bought a used 30", VR, double bead barrel to make it more versatile, the color is a little off but tools are tools.

[JNewell]

I wish we could harness these repeated threads as an alternative energy source. They seem to generate all kinds of heat, probably due to the large amounts of friction that they create.

I like the Win 1300 suggestion. Clean copies are still available for mid-200s, even in the over-priced Northeast, and it's a very fine and reliable shotgun for which factory parts support is still readily available.

[JNewell]

The following is IMHO/YMMV. Several folks posted along the following line:

The Mossberg's receiver-mounted safety sold me. My 500 is for HD and I didn't want anything that could be remotely confusing in a stressful situation.

I suggest replacing the plastic button with a metal one and you're good to go!

For me, actually owning and using the 500s, I found the tang safety to be very un-ergonomic. I had to shift my firing grip to use it. I much prefer the rear safety used by Remington to the top safety used by Mossberg and the front safety used by Winchester.

[batex]

In my area, used 870 expresses and mossburgs are extremely common. The pawnshops are full of them. If you search carefully, you can often find an older 870 express that differs only from a Wingmaster in finish. Look for the machined extractor (as opposed to MIM) and also the ball and dentent barrel/mag tube cap.

I guess what I'm saying is that for the price of a new one, you could probably have both guns for not much more and likely of better quality than new guns.

Just my 2 cents.....

[evan price]

The last three Mossberg 500's I bought were all under $100 each OTD and needed nothing more than a good detail strip and clean/lube job. One needed some un-Bubba-izing but had all the parts for that in the junk box- and that one was only $80 otd...
Try to find a working 870 for that price.

[okc-zee]

I own both...an 870 express and a mossy 590A1...I know this will always be a ford/chevy thing...As for me though,I don't care much for the way my 870 has performed...it's 2 years old and I don't use it much anymore because of many of the said problems others here have stated they have with theirs...I imagine sometimes it may be the luck of the draw when you buy something...that being said,my mossy has been flawless and a pleasure to shoot...If I had to buy another of either it would be the mossy for me hands down...just my .02...

[Hunterdad]

I have owned 2 mossbergs. One was a 500A and the other was a 535. I had nothing but problems with them. I also own a 1972 870 Wingmaster and as we all know they are above and beyond the 870 express. This is the best shotgun I have ever owned as far as function and fit and finish. I have not owned or shot a newer 870, but a buddy of mine has one that was made in 1998 and it is a tank. It has been used to break up ice and also as a boat oar. It has never jambed or had anything replaced on it and I wouldn't be surprised if it has 30,000+ rounds through it.

So I say, get an older 870 or Wingmaster.

[RatDrall]

My wife shoots a newer 870 Express, it works perfectly. We've kept it oiled and no rust on the finish in the last year or more that we've owned it.

[rmfnla]

The Mossbergs aluminum receiver never rusts... ;)

[JNewell]

The last three Mossberg 500's I bought were all under $100 each OTD

For a working shotgun made in the US, that is an outstanding price and value.

[UserM4]

My 870 used to jam. I had to break it in. 500's are definitely more reliable right out of the box. Take it for what it is. If your heart is set on a 870 than get it and shoot the hell out of it. If you want a 500, rest assure that it'll work from day one.