Need Help deciding HD Shotgun

Then there you go. for all intenets and purposes, the Mav 88 and the Mossy 500 are the same gun. Some slight differences, the safety being one, and the construction of some parts in Mexico (for the Mav88).

All three are great guns. I'm more of a Mossberg fan, and I own the Mav 88. My stepdad is a Remington guy, and I've shot his 870. for the life of me, I can feel no real difference once you get past the safety.

If you prefer the Mossberg 500, get one. You can usually find them with a couple barrels. The 18.5" barrel is what they consider their HD gun. Get one with a full stock, and do yourself the favor. The ones without a shoulder stock are not easy to master.

Buy what you like best based on your experience with the different makes/models. If possible, get some trigger time with all of them before you decide. Talk to family/friends who shoot to see if you can go with them to shoot theirs, or look for a nearby range that offers rentals. What a bunch of strangers say on the net means less IMHO that what your own hands tell you.

fwiw,

lpl

You can't go wrong with either one. I have an older 870 18 inch barrel. One of my sons is a lefty so I will be buying a Mossberg too as the saftey on the Mossy works better for him.

I haven't had any experience with Remmington in the past couple years, so I do not know anything about the problems they are experiencing, but just from all the bad feelings lately, I would say either Mossberg or pre-2009 remmington, just to be safe. Safe is what you aim for with SD/HD guns, right?
I voted for the short Mossberg 500 because of that.

I voted for the MOSSBERG MAVERICK 88! I challenge you to find ANYBODY that has one that either doesn't like it or has had a problem with one.

How the Hell can you go wrong with a $200.00 SHOTGUN?
Yes, some parts are made in Mexico, assembled in TEXAS, but you won't find any complaints about this shotgun.

I originally wanted a REMINGTON, went to ACADEMY SPORTS, the ones sitting on the rack had RUST! (and this is an "environment" controlled store) Turns out, their finish has issues (newer models).

If you want a REMINGTON CLONE, that actually has 100% satisfaction by the owners, get an INTERSTATE ARMS DEFENDER OR H&R PARDNER PROTECTOR, they are made in a REMINGTON factory in China by a company that make arms for the Chinese military which are on-par or better than American Made.........

But don't take my word for it, do research on-line of people that actually OWN these Chinese Shotguns as opposed to REMINGTONS.

Granted, Remington has sold some 5 million 870's, and there's a reason for that, but I think their American quality has suffered in recent years, I would prefer a MOSSBERG if you want American......like you, I prefer the Mossberg "safety", also.

For reviews go to "Buds", make an "educated" decision before you plunk down your hard earned money.

Go Mossberg!

is it worth spending an extra $50 on getting the 18.5" barrel as opposed to the 20"

Click to expand...

Just my opinion but no. I have the 20 inch. Works great with IC or mod choke.

If I do go Mossberg, is it worth spending an extra $50 on getting the 18.5" barrel as opposed to the 20"

If you ever plan to use the shotgun for anything except HD, it might be. You can't put a standard field length barrel on the version with the long magazine tube, but you can on the short magazine version.

Other than that - no reason to spend more money on the shorter barrel.

lpl

Get the one you like best. I don't care for Mossberg's safety and prefer Remington. That's a personal decision. Either will serve you well. I use the Remington Marine Magnum because it's indestructible.

I prefer semi autos for all my defense guns, be they shotguns, handguns, or rifles. I know that might be out of your budget because some semis cost double or triple what some of those pumps cost. With exception to something like the CZ 712 Utility or Mossberg 930 HD model.

There are a good few threads on the matter of user error in pump operation vs. modern semi auto reliability. Have a look. Anyway, after researching the topic for years, I decided to employ a gun that will do all that work for me.

I'm wrong-handed so I prefer the Mossberg. I would not feel undergunned with any of the other choices.

Just my opinion but no. I have the 20 inch. Works great with IC or mod choke.

Click to expand...

A 20" mossberg, threaded for chokes?

I've always had Remintons 870, and the Wingmaster.
Only Mossberg I've fired was my bosses maverick and the thing just felt so cheap I was disgusted with it. I haven't tried the other Mossbergs so I can't comment on those. All of the remingtons I've had have always felt good ergonomically and the overall feel and felt recoil was excellent. My current 870 Wingmaster is so used it cycles like butter and is as solid as a tank. Remingtons have always worked for me so why change.

I'd go for the Mossberg Field/Security combo. Otherwise get a used Wingmaster.

Have you looked at the Mossberg 930 SPX. 7+1. Just picked one up at Bud's. Very impressed so far

Check out Benelli, Browning, Winchester, Ithaca for pump actions.

I would get a used but not abused Wingmaster or Mossberg 500.

Make sure the barrel is at least 18" if you get a police surplus

870

Synthetic stock 20" Browning BPS 12 ga with 7+1 capacity. All my shotguns are Browning BPS, so operation in the dark and half asleep is like falling off a log.

Any shotgun can fill this role as long as you can operate it effectively and hit what you aim at under the worst possible conditions. That's critical in HD.