Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 for HD?

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I have a maverick 88 (think cost reduced mossberg 500). I do not know how many thousands of shells it has seen, but it has been nothing other than stone cold reliable for me. It has been completely underwater and after a quick cleaning and oiling it kept going. Mossberg works fine for me, but I would not hesitate to get an 870 if I saw one for the right price.
 
Double barrels have been doing defensive duty for centuries. No reason they still can't, if the shooter is up to it. Take a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhgwHQCJwWw . The whole DVD is worth while, IMHO, those are just highlights.

I'm not sold on the Double Defense, no need for all the rails, and I don't care for single trigger double barrels. One of Stoeger's double trigger SxSs will work, and doesn't cost any more.

Given a choice between a pump and a double, I'll take the pump...
 
Decide where you like your slide release and safety and then get the one that fits those criteria. If you have no preference to the locations of those then flip a coin. They are both good choices.
 
Really, it boils down to personal preferece and what you like. I have 870's, an M500 and an M590 and I would have no problem with any of them. Just replace the plastic safety button on the Mosssberg and avoid the Remington J-locks. Of course, this is if I was looking at buying an older or used gun. If I was buying a recent manufacture shotgun, I'd probably lean over towards Remington. Mossberg in the past few years has been distracted into making fantasy knife style shotguns where Remington has kept a more serious head on their shoulders. I would rather buy a defensive gun from a maker that takes this sort of thing seriously rather than a maker that would be more concerned that a muzzle brake or weed whacker handle is installed. Love my older pre-crack head Mossbergs but I wouldn't buy a new one these days.
 
Did the Mossberg 500 every find it's way to South East Asia during the struggle in Viet Nam? It was designed 1961 so could a field version with cut down barrel have been brought over or sent over?
 
pistol grip - 870, traditional stock - moss 500.

I much prefer the safety on the 500 on a traditional stock. I have a 500 and i love it.
 
Did the Mossberg 500 every find it's way to South East Asia during the struggle in Viet Nam? It was designed 1961 so could a field version with cut down barrel have been brought over or sent over?

The first Mossberg military contracts didn't come along until 1979 IIRC. There were no GI Mossbergs in Vietnam for which I can find any records.

Mossberg started producing security and police shotguns early along in its history but was something of a latecomer in approaching the military market. See the manual at http://www.mossbergs.com/manuals/500 MILS_500M MILS.pdf ...
 
I had a Mossberg 590A1 with a traditional stock, and front rifle sight/rear ghost ring. I still have the Remington 870 Tactical with the pistol grip stock, and a bead sight, drilled and tapped receiver.

I prefer the 870 Tactical because of the pistol grip. I also like that the 870 Tactical is drilled and tapped, and the barrel has a bead front sight...no snags.

That said, the 590A1 now is offered with the identical pistol grip as the 870 Tactical. Still don't care for the rifled sights of the 590A1. The fit and function of both was equal, and equal quality.

Fire both, take the one that fits you physically.

Geno
 
I have to agree with what people are saying about the Mossberg 500. I owned an 870 previously, and recently bought the 500. It's lighter, it does indeed load easier, and the safety and release are in very ergonomic positions. I wouldn't go back to the 870 at this point.

Additionally, Mossberg seems to offer a lot of variants to suit personal taste. For example, Remington puts out a very standard Express 870 whereas you can get 500 Cruiser/Persuaders with different stock/barrel configurations.

The 500 I bought is cruiser/persuader with a short buttstock (13" LOP). The tag was labeled "HD" for home defense. It's a shorty shotty. With the 18.5" barrel, it's dainty enough that my wife will likely be very comfy using it with low-recoil shells. Also, my wife is a lefty and the ambidextrous safety is a really big plus. I was thinking I may have to do the his/her thing with shotguns. This will save me some dough.
 
The Mossberg 590 A1 in 18 inch barrel is also very good, they can be have around $ 470 at budsgunshop.com . These have the ghost ring rear sights and front post.
 
Another Mossberg 500 advantage is that it can fire 3" shells standard...I believe the 870 doesn't.
 
False. 870's have been 3" standard for years, the only 2 3/4" shotgun Remington makes that I know of is the 1100.
Click to expand...

Ohh ok...I did not know that, thanks for correcting me...
 
Although early guns had one rail Mossberg 500 is basically dual rail version of old Remington 31. The Remington 870 is superior more modern design. Try to look for blued Police 'Wingmaster' (sometimes 'Wingmaster' name is replaced with 'Police Magnum')with short barrel those were the best of the bunch.
 
The 870 wingmaster is one fine shotgun. The 870 express is not in the same ballpark as the Mossberg 500 or the 870 Wingmaster. The express shoots just fine. But it's made of the cheapest components on the planet.
 
The 870 express is not in the same ballpark as the Mossberg 500 or the 870 Wingmaster

Must be true, the Int3rw3bZ say it all the time.

My experience differs however. While I have yet to buy ANY 870 new in the box so far in my 40 years of shooting them, I have yet to have any trouble with the several older model Express guns and the couple of newer (post magazine tube dimples) Express guns I have bought used through the years. I shoot one or another Express more than any of the other shotguns here, and if I were going to have problems with a shotgun it would seem likely to be with the ones I shoot most. But so far, no problems.
 
I have yet to see an express that had an adequate stock on it. Once I decide to keep a shotgun I take it to competent gunsmith for fitting. Hard to fit a composite stock or a 13.5" wood stock, unless you have a very slight build. Most gunsmiths want a 14.5" stock minimum, 15" is preferred. Not to mention the express receiver has the same finish as rough sandpaper.

In Feb 2012 I sold a mid 70s Wingmaster with a skeet #1 barrel and an overbored trap barrel for $750. I put up a sign at the local gun club one weekend. The next weekend I had a buyer for the gun.

I have yet to see a used express bring over $300, no matter how many extras the gun had.
 
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