870 Marine Magnum or Mossberg 590a1?

[gleaner26]

I trying to decide between the 870 Marine magnum or Mossberg's marine cote 590-a1. I haven't had the best luck with Mossberg. I had one come from the factory with tool marks on the safety and trigger and the barrel would still move around even when it was tighten down with the mag end cap. It was a 590a1. A friend of mine had a brand new 590 that came from the factory assembled wrong. The 870 seems like a lot of money seeing that's it's just an express model with the nickel finish. Which one should I go with?

 

[LANDMAN4389]

I'd rather have a Remington than a Mossberg but that is just my personal preference.

I would do the following:

1) Buy a plain jane 870, convert it to 18-20" barrel with extended mag.

or

2) Purchase one of the Remington Talo edition guns (look on gunbroker)

Send it off to Walter Birdsong to have coated in black or green T. Same finish FBI uses, as well as Navy I believe.

Probably save some money that could be put toward accessories or ammo.

 

[gleaner26]

How dose a modern 870 MM compare to a modern 870 police model?

 

[lobo9er]

i dig the 590 bayonet lug . when your camping out it doesnt suck to have a 12ga spear

 

[postalnut25]

I would take the Mossberg for three reasons.

1. I prefer the tang safety over the crossbolt safety

2. The placement of the bolt release button is easier for me to reach on the Mossberg.

3. We use 590s in the towers at the prison I'm working at currently. They get neglected and they still work

Just my two cents.

 

[pikid89]

i would totally dig the 870 MM if it came with rem choke...that said i would still get an 870 of any flavor over a mossberg

 

[/k/anadian]

The only 870 I'd get would be Police Magnum or Wingmaster. You'll get a thousand old guys coming in and talking about how 870s are the best and Mossberg are cheap junk, but it just ain't so, especially not current production Remington and Mossberg guns.

Remington's quality control has seen a dip. Mossberg has been consistently good. Mossberg 590A1s have no plastic parts. Remington Express and variants have many plastic parts, as well as many cast parts. Then you'll get the people that say that Mossberg's receivers are aluminum and that's crap compared to steel. Aluminum is lighter and just as unlikely to fail, like steel. It also naturally resists corrosion. They're both super reliable, and I'd even say that the mossberg has an edge on reliability due to more clearance space (NOT TOLERANCES, LEARN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CLEARANCE AND TOLERANCE) and two extractors/blade ejector versus the 870's single, smaller extractor and spring ejector.

In b4 flame. Deal with it.

 

[gleaner26]

I want a 870 police but no one can get them around where I live so I think the 590A1 would be a good second choice. I've heard about how Remington's QC has had a little trouble in the last year but then I had trouble with Mossberg as well as my friend. However I don't hear or read that other people are having trouble with Mossberg so maybe my friend and I just got a hold of two lemons. I guess I will try Mossberg again, I mean what are the odds I will strike out a second time in just a year and a half.

 

[bushmaster1313]

The Mossberg rattles around a bit.
The 870 feels more solid.
Try them both out and see which one feels better as a matter of personal preference.

The better one for you is the one you will practice with more!

 

[/k/anadian]

@Gleaner26: What was the issue?
@Bushmaster 1313: Next time you handle a mossberg, open the action and try to see if it rattles. They only rattle as there needs to be a lot of room between the forearm and the barrel since the barrel gets thicker at the chamber. Explained at minute 2:17 in the video.
http://unlimitedshootingworks.blogspot.com/2010/09/details-about-590a1.html

 

[bushmaster1313]

When I said rattle I meant that the pump handle seemed loose on my 590A1
That said, I think Mossberg is a great gun made by a great company.

I would not hesitate to rely on a Mossberg in any situation

 

[/k/anadian]

@bushmaster1313: But that's exactly what I addressed... Mossberg shotguns are made that way.

Either way, it's cool. We may just be having a miscommunication where we're saying the same thing but in a different way and it's confusing one or both of us. Carry on, my good man.

 

[Snakum]

I have had issues with Remington lately, including two new 870s last year that needed work and I got ZERO help from Rem CS. But if you Google Mossberg 590 you'll find a few QC issues there, as well. Canted sights (just like a CAI AKM ), seventh-round no-load, etc.

Bottom line ... nowadays you'll be taking chances with either. So buy locally and inspect closely before laying down the card. Either one can be a completely reliable and very accurate weapon, or either one can be a POS. Flip a coin.

All that said ... my next shotgun buy will likely be a 590 if I can find a used model with interchangeable chokes or the cost to have a new 590A1 threaded isn't too bad, and I've been a Remington man since the Lord was in diapers.

 

[Pony Express]

between the two, I'd go with the marine magnum. However, if I were in the market for a shotgun right now I would try to find a used wingmaster/police. Those seem to be the best deals in terms of $/quality

 

[whalerman]

There are many good arguments for both. Go with what feels right. I just purchased a 20ga Mossberg in a HD configuration that is very light and handy. See it that is an option that feels right. I've got Remingtons and Mossbergs and I like 'em both. But that 20ga feels perfect.

 

[1KPerDay]

You might want to check and confirm that the 590 in question is indeed an A1 variety. I wasn't aware that they offered the A1 in marinecote. Mine is a "plain" 590 without the metal bits, heavier barrel, or bayo lug.

 

[gleaner26]

Mossberg shows the 591a1 marine cote in their line up on their web site. I was ready to go with Mossberg but now I don't know. The first shotgun I ever fired was a Remington and I loved it. I wasn't all that happy with my Mossberg while I had it. The only reason I am thinking of gettin another one is because I think the 590a1 is stronger and more heavy duty then the 870 MM. That and because of the problems I heard about with Remington's QC. Are there MIM parts in the 590a1? And how much plastic is used in the 870MM? Someone said they use quite a bit.

 

[gleaner26]

I believe I will go with Remington. When I talked to Remington CS the other day the guy said that aside from the mag spring and something with the trigger the 870MM is the same as the 870P. And the gun shop where I buy from said the 870 is still the better option between the two. I will just have the gunsmith break down the 870 and check it over for any problems. They said they would do that for me. What are the main complaints with the 870s right now? People say they have had issues with them but they don't say what the issues are.

 

[GMHAYESUSN]

I would go with the marine magnum 870 and i dont know about the persons experiance who said the mossys the navy used being coated in something other than normal bluing but all the m-500's ive seen so far were just normal 500's

 

[Snakum]

What are the main complaints with the 870s right now? People say they have had issues with them but they don't say what the issues are.

The biggest issues I've had with my new ones - and this is two new 870s bought in 09 - are ...

* The 'sixth round no load' where you get five rounds in the seven-shot tube and it is locked up tight and won't budge. Had two or three people right here on THR experience the same thing, at the same time I was dealing with it. Had to fix it myself as Remington was ZERO help. Their CS has gone to h@ll. Finally figured out that the outside edge of the two-shot mag extensions needed to be more heavily chamfered and smoothed. Problem solved ... no thanks to Remington's worthless CS. By the way, Mossys are experiencing this issue, as well, on their tactical models.

* Second issue is the one that drives everyone crazy who shoots a lot of tactical matches or does classes ... 870s are prone to locking up with cheap, low brass birdshot that we use a lot for tactical drills and three-gunning or classes. No other shotgun brand that I know of does this as reliably as the 870. Drives me effing nuts. *** Remington? You have to polish the chamber with varying grades of steel wool or use a honing setup on a drill to fix this one.

All that said, I am buying another pump in the next month or so and I have come to understand that no other manufacturer makes a reliable 18.5" or 20" pump with a two shot mag extension, ghost ring sights, pic rail attached, and with interchangeable choke tubes. I have to have choke tube selection and almost have to have ghost ring sights on a pic rail (for a red dot when I feel like it). Only Remington's 870 Express Tactical has what I need, and has it under $500. I'd spend closer to $700 trying to make a Mossberg 590 do everything I need it to do. The 870 is the devil I know, so I'll stay with it and I'll grumble about Remington's declining QA/QC and abysmal Customer Service.

 

[OregonJohnny]

If you do end up getting a Remington 870 Marine, feel free to view my 2 threads I started on the subject of my experience with Marine Magnum barrels:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=436616

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=439465

I love my 870 Marine, but the potential issues with the nickel-plated bore is something you should be aware of.