Big 5 Sale: Moss 500 Persuader, Combo or Rem 870

[dubious]

Ok guys I'm stumped on choosing a shotty at Big 5's sale this week, maybe ya'll can lend a hand. I basically want an HD shotgun with a short barrel, but each of these deals has ups and downs. My Big 5 doesnt charge for FFL, so that's another $30 off.

Deal #1 Mossberg "Security" $250 (I think that's the 500 Persuader, yes?)
8 Round Mag, Black Synth Stock, 20" Barrel
-This is basically what I want, and this is the only deal with 8 rounds.

Deal#2 Mossberg Combo $250
7 Round Mag, Black Synth Stock, 18.5" Barrel AND 28" Vented Rib Barrel
- This deal has less rounds in the mag but comes, with two barrels. I could always sell the bigger barrel or trade it for a rifled slug barrel I think.

Deal #3 Rem 870 Express $280
Nice Wood Stock, 7 Rounds, 28” VENT RIB BARREL, MODIFIED CHOKE TUBE
- I basically like the feel of this shotgun more than the moss, but I dislike the loading button and safty. Also it only comes with a long barrel which is pretty useless to me in my heavily forested surroundings.

Ok... so whadya think?

Dubious

 

[1KPerDay]

I think you've already made your choice against the Remington. You don't like the loading button, safety, or barrel length.

If the extra barrel in option 2 is desirable to you, buy it. If not, go with option 1.

Now if only all the world's problems were this easy to solve.

 

[dubious]

Yeah, but all told I'd really rather have the 870 with the shorter barrel, even though I think the mossberg is more ergonomic in its buttons. But i guess your right, I've pretty much ruled out the 870 because of the long barrel.

 

[1KPerDay]

They're pretty easy to cut off, and you can get a beat-up barrel on fleabay for $50...

But the safety isn't going to change, nor the loading button...

 

[MrAcheson]

Make sure the mossy combo isn't a short rifled slug barrel and a long smooth bird/sporting barrel. I've seen some of the combos set up like that.

 

[dubious]

Do you guys know if the Mossberg Security (Deal #1) has a removable barrel I can later attach others to?

Also I think I found out the 870 has a 5 round mag, which pretty much rules it out for me.

 

[Ron James]

I'm just curious, where in the world did the term shotty come in use for a shotgun ? shotty sounds like something that happens when you blow your nose? I've seen this several times, was there a movie or something that called a shotgun a shotty?

 

[dubious]

I don't know where it came from... I may have picked it up from forums. It seems like a pretty obvious nickname though, plus the "teee" sound is far easier to pronounce than "tgun" sound. There's a word for that in linguistics, but I can't remember what it is.

 

[1KPerDay]

I believe the technical term is a glottal fricalicious stop.

 

[XeRoFuN]

Originally posted by dubious
Do you guys know if the Mossberg Security (Deal #1) has a removable barrel I can later attach others to?

Also I think I found out the 870 has a 5 round mag, which pretty much rules it out for me.

Yup. That's the exact Mossberg 500 8 shot I got at Big 5. It does have a removable barrel (all the ones you listed do). However, if you ever want to go down to an 18.5" barrel, you would need to change out the mag tube and spring as well. I ended up deciding to go the 18.5" route for home defense (and use the 8 shot for range use). If you want to stick with your 8-shot, they do make barrels specifically for that mag tube here: http://www.maverickarms.com/pages/barrels.htm (go to the bottom of the page). Maverick shotguns are made by Mossberg so barrels are interchangeable.

 

[sixgunner455]

Personally, I'd get the combo, because it's seems the most versatile. You get the short barrel for defensive use, turkeys, whatever you need a short barrel for, and a long barrel for using on clays and doves and other stuff like that. Seems that way to me, anyway. You do give up one round to the dedicated defensive style magazine tube, but you gain some practical versatility, which would be important to me if I were going to have one shotgun do a lot of different things.

 

[dubious]

Well, fate decided for me... it was the Security 8 round model. I actually was settled on the combo model for its versatility and potential to teach me more, but when I got to the store, it turned out they only had 1 in stock and it was pretty darn rusty inside for a new gun. The bolt face was discolored and other parts in the chamber had distinct rust. It probably would've been fine after some cleaning, but I went for the security. What it lacks in versatility it makes up for in tube capacity! I can always get another barrel or another shotgun someday.

Thanks for your help, and feel free to keep the discussion going for other people contemplating the same deal!

Dubious

 

[MRGAMBOA]

I picked up the combo today. I bought a similar combo back in 2002. It was a Mossberg 500 pump combo as well. The only difference between my two shotguns is the weight and forearm. It seems like the forearm and the overall weight of the shotgun is smaller than the one I bought back in 2002. That shotgun is now with my sister. She asked me for it a year ago and have not seen it since I also picked up the Savage .30-06.

PS: WOW, it took me over three years to actually post here

 

[1KPerDay]

Post ho.