In Defense of Mossberg Pumps

How did you refinish your Mossberg stocks? Do you have a thread that outlines the steps on what you did DHART?

I am an 870 guy at heart but there are a few Mossberg ideas I wish Remington would incorporate. I like the non-staked shell latches for ease of service and refinishing of the receiver. I like (on the 20" 590) the barrel support ring which eliminates the need for a mag clamp. I like how the lifter stays up when the bolt is closed. I also like how the mag tube is screwed in rather than brazed on.

I don' think anyone mentioned this difference. If you pull on the fore-end to hold the shotgun tight against our chest, the 870 can be pumped immediately ater taking the shot while the Mossberg requires a forward shove on the fore-end, after taking the shot, before you can pump. Alternatively, you can mount the Mossie against your chest by pulling with your strong hand and pushing with your weak hand, then the extra step is not needed. So the 870 may be more intuitive.

If you pull on the fore-end to hold the shotgun tight against our chest, the 870 can be pumped immediately ater taking the shot while the Mossberg requires a forward shove on the fore-end

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You've got that backwards here. Unless you are **REALLY** pulling back on the fore-end of a Mossberg the bolt will release immediately after firing. The 870 requires a gentle nudge forward to release. If you examine the function of the action bar locks on both shotguns it's obvious why this is the case.

Miked7762 said:

You've got that backwards here. Unless you are **REALLY** pulling back on the fore-end of a Mossberg the bolt will release immediately after firing. The 870 requires a gentle nudge forward to release. If you examine the function of the action bar locks on both shotguns it's obvious why this is the case.

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This. I've never owned an 870, but I know Miked7762 is correct as far as the Mossberg is concerned. My dad introduced me to shotguns with a Mossberg 500 fifteen years ago, and now I own one too. I've never experienced that "forward shove" on the Mossberg. Maybe it exists on the 870, I can't say for sure - but it doesn't exist on the 500.

The main reason I prefer the Mossberg (aside from the top-mounted safety, which I prefer - and I've never seen break), is the slide release. On the Mossberg, it's behind the trigger guard, which feels natural and makes sense. It doesn't require the user to move either of his hands to engage it. On the 870, it's very awkwardly placed in front of the trigger guard.

Try as I might, I can't even imagine why any person with only two hands would prefer that.

Bobson said:

...the slide release. On the Mossberg, it's behind the trigger guard, which feels natural and makes sense. It doesn't require the user to move either of his hands to engage it. On the 870, it's very awkwardly placed in front of the trigger guard.

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I agree. That's probably my main gripe about the 870.

Bobson said:

I've never owned an 870, but I know Miked7762 is correct as far as the Mossberg is concerned. My dad introduced me to shotguns with a Mossberg 500 fifteen years ago, and now I own one too. I've never experienced that "forward shove" on the Mossberg. Maybe it exists on the 870, I can't say for sure - but it doesn't exist on the 500.

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Maybe the "foreward shove" issue is not there with the 500. It does exist with my 590A1. I just double checked on it. If I'm pulling on the foreend when I fire, I have to push slightly forwards on the foreend before I can pump.

duns said:

Maybe the "foreward shove" issue is not there with the 500. It does exist with my 590A1. I just double checked on it. If I'm pulling on the foreend when I fire, I have to push slightly forwards on the foreend before I can pump.

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Just curious. Try it again: Pull on the fore-end when you fire, then instead of pushing the fore-end away before pumping, try just holding the slide release.

Bobson said:

Just curious. Try it again: Pull on the fore-end when you fire, then instead of pushing the fore-end away before pumping, try just holding the slide release.

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OK, did that. I pulled on the foreend, pulled the trigger, action stayed locked, pressed the slide release, action unlocked.



In actual usage, I have employed two methods:

1. (i) Maintain forwards pressure on the foreend before firing, (ii) fire, (iii) pull pump back immediately.
2. (i) Pull on the foreend before firing, (ii) fire, (iii) ease forend slightly forwards, (iv) pull pump back.

Method 2 involves an extra movement. Method 1 involves holding the gun in a less intuitive manner but allows more rapid firing due to elimination of one of the movements.

This is my 590A1. I fitted a Mesa Tactical stock and pistol grip. I discovered that I have to remove the stock and pistol grip to remove the trigger group. On the 870, you can do it with the stock and pistol grip on.

The other slight disadvantage I found is mentioned in my posts just above -- the action does not unlock upon pulling the trigger if there is a pull-back force applied to the foreend.

I don't regret buying the 590A1. It feels solid and I think it will prove very reliable and durable. I love the ghost ring sights. The two quirks I mentioned are not deal breakers for me.

....forward of the trigger guard...

!?

Mine must be defective, the safeties are at the rear of the TG. The slide release is forward.....

Sorta a problem, too, for me on 870s, the safety, a crossbolt, is at the rear of the trigger guard and my finger can and HAS kicked it on while shooting. I shoot lefty. My Winchester's safety is forward of the trigger at the front of the trigger guard out of the way of my shooting finger AND a few years ago I found, miracle of miracles, a left hand safety conversion for it at Numerich arms which it now wears making me much happier. Such a conversion on an 870 would help us lefties a lot with that gun. I prefer my Mossy, anyway, though, for other ergonomic reasons than the safety.

BTW, I think the discussion you're addressing, Dave, concerned the slide release, not the safety location, on the 870.

Originally Posted by Bobson
...the slide release. On the Mossberg, it's behind the trigger guard, which feels natural and makes sense. It doesn't require the user to move either of his hands to engage it. On the 870, it's very awkwardly placed in front of the trigger guard.

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Hey RaceM,
Another way around Mossberg's long LOP is to purchase an after market adjustable pistol grip stock. I bought an ATI for an 835, that I won at a sportman's fund raiser, for $69. I set it up for turkey hunting, but found that it makes an excellet slug gun for deer hunting also. By the way, someone was bashing the ported barrel on the Mossie's...the ported barrel I find reduces recoil slightly and more importantly seems to reduce muzzle climb; both important factors when hunting for obvious reasons. I happen to own Remington 870's, a Ted Williams (Winchester 1300), Mossberg 835 and a Mossberg 500. They have all performed flawlessly and none of them has ever failed me in the field. I personally think that they all are good guns; the only difference I have noticed is that the Ted Williams can cycle faster and smoother than any of the others; it is also the most accurate when shooting slugs. Outside that they are all solid shotguns and I say that with many many hours in the field hunting with them.