Home Defense Shotgun: Mossberg 590 or Remington 870

[s9601694]

But i also used to have a 18.5" barreled Mossberg 590A1 (model 51517)

I sold it to fund another project.. I learned the hard way NEVER to sell a gun. I miss that mossberg, it was so bad ass

I am going to one day buy the exact same model back.

 

[Hunter125]

My circa 2001 Express has many thousands of rounds through it. If I had to take a guess I'd say I'm pushing 9k. I have never had a failure, never had the extractor break. The gun slicked up the more I used it and is way smoother than my dad's Express bought a couple years later. He doesn't shoot it near as much as I do and has never detail cleaned iy like I do. The only thingine chokes on are aluminum cases. Doesn't eject them well, not sure why. So I just buy brass and all is well.

 

[s9601694]

this is my wingmaster. Don't know how old it is, bought it off of someone at a great price. I put a 18.5 barrel, mag extender and a tactical light on it. Has never failed me at the range and I am confident it won't fail me when I need to use it on a bad guy.

 

[Fishbed77]

But i also used to have a 18.5" barreled Mossberg 590A1 (model 51517)

I sold it to fund another project.. I learned the hard way NEVER to sell a gun. I miss that mossberg, it was so bad ass

I am going to one day buy the exact same model back.

s9601694,

I just beat you to it. I picked up this two weeks ago as a Christmas present to myself. So far, it's proving to be a fantastic shotgun. I was glad to find one - it seems like the 20" M590A1s are all over the place, but the 18.5" versions are as rare as hens' teeth around here. The balance of the 18.5" heavy barrel feels just right, and I'm really digging the ghost ring sights - I find them to be every bit as fast as a bead.

I've been a Remington shotgun guy in the past, but so far, I'm finding this shotgun to be considerably better than any 870 Express I've encountered, and every bit the equal to an 870 Police in terms of quality.

Actually, I may like the M590A1 better than the 870 Police, due to the balance and the awesome sights. The only downside at all is the poorly-molded corncob foreend, but I will be replacing that soon with a Magpul foreend and Inforce weapon-mounted light.

 

[Grunt]

Of course, you could just make this simple and own both.



The Mossberg M590 was what was thee standard issue shotgun when I first went into the Marines back in 1988. The Remington 870 is in the same dress when I first came back into the USAFR back in 2004.
Now the Mossberg I think has a better safety location but the plastic button is breakage prone and I swap mine out with a metal version. They are also easier to work on and in some ways are more prone to longer life than the 870. I say this because when I was at Hurlburt Field, we had 10 old 870 shotguns that were some EARLY 870 shotguns! The problem was that the shell catches were replaced so many times over the years that there was very little metal on the receiver left available for future restaking jobs if the catches needed to be replaced. Same goes for an ejector. Just how does a user replace this? It ain't easy and generally requires a trip back to the factory. The Mossberg doesn't have these problems. Another thing I like about the Mossberg is the lifter rides against the bolt. If a shell jumps the catches, the round falls out on the ground. In a Remington, a shell winds up on the lifter. If you have a newer Remington with the flex tab, it's not a big deal. With older guns, you have to take the gun apart or cut a slot in the lifter so you can run the shell back into the magazine tube with a knife blade. I have one 870 that I modified in this manner and it does work but like I said, it's not even an issue with the Mossberg.
Now the Remington does have a more solid feel and not nearly as "rattley" as the Mossberg. There are also scads of aftermarket parts for the 870 as well for the guys that have to modify them. The Mossberg is no slouch in this area as well, but the Remington still has more offerings. If you want to use a pistol grip design, the safety button of the 870 is far more friendly than the tang mounted safety of the Mossberg.
Really, you aren't going to go wrong with either one. Both are reliable, rugged and combat tested over the years. Just go ahead and get both, I did and am very happy with both designs....along with an Ithaca 37, Winchester Defender, and even a Norchester 1897 trench gun if you want a few more options to think about.

 

[gamestalker]

I have 870's that are quite old, and also some that are newer, brand new actually. All of them have functioned without a single break down, flawlessly functioned would be an appropriate description. I did buy a new one back in the mid 90's that had a bad barrel, so I guess that isn't exactly flawless.

On the other hand I've had two 500's, both were decent SG's, but certainly not trouble free like my 870's have been. And the 500's don't have that slick positive feel when you rack a round in, always stiff and rough. I also had problems with the 500's getting locked up if I didn't rack them with enough authority.

Then there is the, which one is easier to break down for cleaning, 870 wins that hands down.

And after market up grades are easy to come by for the 870's, also easy to do your self too. I think I read or heard that more 870's have been sold, than all other SG's combined.

GS

 

[Grunt]

I agree that when it comes to taking down a Mossberg, it's a little more tricky since the shell catches will fall out every time then you have to hold them in place while you put the trigger group back in whereas the 870 doesn't have that problem as these parts are staked in place. However, as I said earlier, a shell catch wears out on a Mossberg, you drop in a new one. Wear out a shell catch on an 870 and you need to restake a new one in place....and there is a finite number of times you can do this! Now the average shooter will probably never have to replace enough shell catches that this will ever be an issue during their lifetime but it still is something that is a flaw in the 870 design in my opinion. Same goes for an ejector. Replace an ejector in a Mossberg is as simple as turning a screw where the 870 is a factory repair job that has to be staked in place.
The 870 is smoother than the Mossberg but that being said, I have a WELL WORN Mossberg M500APT I got years ago that is actually pretty slick these days. It's just a matter of how many cases of shells you are going to run through a Mossberg before they get slicked up. Then again, all of my Remingtons pale in comparison to my Ithaca M37 when it comes to the "slick" department.

 

[gamestalker]

My Brother in law has an Ithaca M37, and I agree those are a fine SG.

I have a old Wingmaster, 2-3/4" chamber, 28" VR from the mid 70's. I can rack the slide all the way back, and with the SG sitting on the recoil pad, barrel vertical, I can't pick that SG up without the action sliding smoothly shut. I've probably got at least 6 thousand rounds through it, mostly trap & skeet loads and dove and quail loads. But it has seen more than just a few turkey hunts over the years too. And since that was the first SG I started reloading for, and considering how inexpensive it was to load SG back then, it has likely had far more than 6k. Which brings to the conversation how well a Mec 600 Jr holds up, and how slick they get with age and use.

GS

 

[Inebriated]

I've never liked Mossbergs. They work, but I don't like them.
Mine: Awaits Inforce WML and Wilson extension. Also, bolt has been polished since this photo was taken.

 

[jimsouth]

I know someone who cycled a round ( slug ) in his 500 in the house - which is really something you shouldn't do - but people do; and it fired into the floor the second the round was racked, and took out about 2 inches of concrete. Jesus

 

[jon86]

I like my mossberg. If I had a remington I'd probably like it just as well.

 

[Fishbed77]

Oops - double post.

 

[Fishbed77]

I have 870's that are quite old, and also some that are newer, brand new actually. All of them have functioned without a single break down, flawlessly functioned would be an appropriate description.

On the other hand I've had two 500's, both were decent SG's, but certainly not trouble free like my 870's have been. And the 500's don't have that slick positive feel when you rack a round in, always stiff and rough. I also had problems with the 500's getting locked up if I didn't rack them with enough authority

...and the last two Remington 870s I've handled extensively (an Express Tactical and an Express Super Magnum) have both had repeated failures to extract due to poor manufacturing. The 870 Express Tactical locked up so bad (on an attempt to unload the shotgun) that it had to be soaked in penetrating oil and completely dissembled to free the live cartridge. I shudder to think of what could have happened in a defensive situation (or with a less experienced user).

That said, most of my experience with Remington and Mossberg shotguns have been very positive, but I am currently very wary of new-manufacture 870s (at least any Express models).

I agree that the action of a good 870 feels tighter and slicker than any Mossberg, and that they are definitely easier to field strip.

 

[oneounceload]

The only thingine chokes on are aluminum cases

Those aren't aluminum, they are steel and not contracting as easily after expansion. The issue has another facet - most of those "brass" ones are merely brass washed over steel, so the same issue can arise

 

[Inebriated]

...and the last two Remington 870s I've handled extensively (an Express Tactical and an Express Super Magnum) have both had repeated failures to extract due to poor manufacturing. The 870 Express Tactical locked up so bad (on an attempt to unload the shotgun) that it had to be soaked in penetrating oil and completely dissembled to free the live cartridge. I shudder to think of what could have happened in a defensive situation (or with a less experienced user).

That said, most of my experience with Remington and Mossberg shotguns have been very positive, but I am currently very wary of new-manufacture 870s (at least any Express models).

It's widely known that the Express guns have lower QC standards than the Police and Wingmaster line. If you can't handle and cycle a few shells before buying, you probably shouldn't buy. I've never seen a bad Police or Wingmaster, but I've seen a couple Expresses covered lock up and others with finish issues.

It's sad that a gun that has existed as the standard for what, 55 years(?) has fallen to the "check it over before buying it" realm, but that's the way it is. Luckily, Remington customer service is spectacular, and will fix your issues.

I have an Express that is flawless. Purchased in 2010, thousands of rounds, no failures. Replaced the carrier dog follower spring with one from a Police model for more positive feeding, but it never had issues before that. It's my favorite gun. I also have a Wingmaster from last year that was, out of box, as slick as my well-used Express. So if it's me buying another 870, I'm probably buying a Police or Wingmaster. MIGHT get a used Express or a new one that's a steal, but even then... police trade-in Wingmasters are cheap enough if finish isn't a concern.

 

[Fishbed77]

Luckily, Remington customer service is spectacular, and will fix your issues.

Actually, in the case of the 870 Express Magnum (my brother's) mentioned above, they apparently could not fix it.

It was sent back to Remington, "repaired," and returned. It still did not function correctly. The shotgun was sent back to Remington a second time. Remington found "nothing wrong" and sent it back. My brother eventually took it to a local gunsmith who reamed out the chamber so it could function properly.


.

 

[MCgunner]

Old Unc, I like that 500, nice, not overly tacticooled, and has sling swivels which I do like on a shotgun. I probably need to buy me an 18.5" barrel as I have two Mossberg hunting guns. Barrels are cheap!

 

[MCgunner]

I'm a Remington 870 owner. It's a good gun except for the finish. The finish is absolute garbage and prone to rusting. I have to wipe it down after every time I touch it, otherwise it'll get tiny spots of orange.

The salt marsh is a rough environment. My camo mossy is easy to keep rustless, very resiliant finish, but then, I like camo. Hey, it's a DUCK gun. The guys I know that hunt with 870 express end up stripping the oil and coating with black spray rustoleum before every season. They're working guns, not pieces of art.

Something I do to my blue/wood guns is use paste wax on 'em, regular old floor wax like Johnsons. Learned that trick right here on this board. It works well. I'll just strip the oil and wax 'em before the season, then wipe 'em down with Corrosion X. I don't know that the trick would work on the 870 express, but I don't know that it wouldn't, either.

If I wanted to hunt the marsh with an 870 express, I'd just do the spray paint thing with it. Yes, they're rust magnets.