Looking for first shotgun; thinking Remington 870

[sgt-spam]

I've been reading a lot in the shotgun forum, and people seem to really like the Remington 870. I'm in the market for a 12GA.

A local shop doesn't sell Remington, but does sell Mossberg. As I understand it, the Mossberg 500 is approx. equivalent.

They had a 'tactical' model with pistol grip, heat guard, cartridge holder on the stock, 18" barrel, and I'm not sure what else. It felt cheap to me. The pump stroke seemed rough, and in short, I felt like I was handling a toy. It was marked at $390.

They also had a 'standard' model that had a normal stock, 18" barrel, and seemed very no-frills. It was marked $311.

Both were plastic, and felt cheap.

Should I expect the same from Remington? I'm still looking for an 870 I can handle...


Thanks.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Take a look at my video on you tube.

On it is both the Moss 500 (Wife's gun) and also the Rem 870, MY gun.

Both guns speak good and hit very hard with almost equal power.

The Rem felt good in my hands but too fat for wife. The moss is tiny in my hand but I like it because it's a nice gun to shoot. SHE loves it because it's fits to her and solid enough.

What gets me is that Moss can use just about the same slug only in 20 gauge with velocity, hitting power at ranges equal to my 870 for half the cost. The 20 Ga Federal and 12 Ga Federal were very similar. Only the gauges are different.

However, both guns are different in thier locations of safety, barrel length, features etc.

Remington 870 has long history in the United States, the Mossberg 500 series is a very well respected home defense shotgun. It is accurate enough to be used to take down deer as well.

I am not being defensive.

There are many guns out there. You are going to find that the Rem will have a good solid KICK, the moss not so much of a kick sometimes.

There are many other 12 gaugers out there that will do the HD role very well. Benelli, Winchester etc comes to mind.

If you have your heart set on a Rem 870, continue your hunt and have about 700 dollars ready more or less.

 

[C-grunt]

It basically comes down to which one you like best. I like the ergos of the Mossberg better, but I do believe the Remington is probably a little better built. But thats not to say the Mossberg is fragile. Far from it. We used them in the "sand box" a lot when I was in the Army and they worked great.

 

[kb2zya]

bottom line 870 or a 500 both or real good.get what feels good to you.my 2cents

 

[Davionmaximus]

Take a look at the Binelli Nova..

 

[frankcostanza]

To me, the Mossberg 500 feels a little chintzy compared to the 870.
Both are fine guns. I happen to prefer the 870 and its more solid feel.

 

[nekwah]

The mossbeg is a nice gun, like the safety a lot, but i like the 870 overall.

 

[honkeoki]

A Remington 870 in 12 ga. was my first shotgun and I completely love it. I understand those who prefer the Mossberg safety placement. I prefer the way the Remmy feels in my hands.

You can't go wrong, so choose the one that feels best to you.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Handle both before you make up your mind. Get what you like.

Actually IMHO the Mossberg 590 is more the equivalent of the 870. They both have pull-through magazine tube cleanout designs, the 500 doesn't.

Happy shopping,

lpl

 

[SnakeLogan]

As an owner of both the Remington 870 and the Benelli SuperNova, I strongly suggest spending the extra cash on a SuperNova.

 

[mgkdrgn]

Mossy 500 / Rem 870 .... you likely won't be =unhappy= with either one.

With some careful shopping, you should be able to find a good used one of either make, with WOOD stocks, for $200 -$250.

If the "previously appreciated" model has been reasonably well cared for, there is just about no advantage to buying new.

 

[Virginian]

While I heartily recommend the 870, let's say up front that all 870s are not created equal. The Wingmasters have a much smoother finish inside and out than the Expresses and any Mossberg. But all that polishing and good wood costs money. The Expresses have been built to compete with the likes of the Mossbergs price wise. A few components have been made cheaper, and the parts are not as polished, but there is still a nice steel receiver there. It may take a little while to get broken in, but you will not wear it out.
You do not say what your purposes for the gun are. In some uses the fit becomes more important.

 

[matrem]

I strongly suggest spending the extra cash on a SuperNova

Two questions:
1 How much extra cash would that involve vrs a Wingmaster?
2 What would the advantage be over ,even the cheapest 870?

 

[Geneseo1911]

I like wood, and the synth. stocks on the entry level guns are always going to feel cheap. The 870 express wood won't look all that great (but not bad either), but will feel much more solid.

The express will also likely feel rough when cycled. On either a Moss or a Rem this will smooth out as the gun is broken in.

I do think the Remingtons (even the express) feel more solid than the Mossberg, but that is just IMO. The Benelli is coming to be considered as reliable as either, but I don't think the extra money gets you much, other than aesthetics.

Depending what you want it for, you may also consider an autoloader. I have a pump (a Win 1300, from when USRA was in business) which I can work pretty well, but find myself wishing for an auto at times when shooting doubles on the skeet range. Of course, for trap, the autoloader would be a liability (bopping you neighbor with empties). You might let us know what your intended purposes are.

 

[sgt-spam]

Thanks for all the feedback.

I like the look and feel of the shorter barrel, so I'll likely be looking for a 'tactical' model.

For now this will be just target shooting, but it will probably evolve into a HD gun.

I don't want to spend more than $400 if I can help it. I also don't want to buy something 'full size' and wind up wishing it was shorter or trying to cut it down.

I figured posts would go about 50/50, so I definitely need to find a place where I can handle both.

Again, thank you.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

My Marine Magnum 870 is 18.5 inches of 12 gauge fun. Magazine extension already included; which helps with, long shells like the 3 inchers. The coating is nickel which resist corrosion and possibly gives us the option to take it to sea if necessary (Moving to the coast is a possibility)

The gun already has a Improve clyinder choke which will take slugs and just about everything else in it's smoothbore barrel. It will not accept rounds specifically built to be fired in rifled barrels.

After firing, it is a simple bore clean, wipe out and wipe down and ready for the next shoot or HD problem. It was about 700 dollars total more or less. From the first moment I picked it up it snuggled into my hands and I was handling a variety of shotguns at the place looking for a good one. Our budget was 1200 dollars total for me and wife that night.

By the time we have shot 50+ rounds through both guns, I have confidence that they will do the job. Buck ammo, Slug or whatever.

At the end of the day when all is said and done, your personal confidence in a weapon you CHOOSE... not what we say you should have... is all that matters.

Who knows? You might want a blunderbus and use that instead.

Most shops will have a variety of shotguns to choose from.

Good luck!

 

[Fred Fuller]

For $400 around here, with a little shopping around, you can get a good used Wingmaster and a spare 20" smoothbore barrel with rifled sights. Or two good used 870 Express guns (I like the older ones, before MIM parts, before magazine tube dimples, locking safeties and plastic trigger plates).

FWIW,

lpl

 

[ironvic]

My first, and only, shotgun is the 870 Wingmaster with a 20" barrel. Mine is marked "EPD" and has a weapon number after the police I.D. It's a police trade-in I picked up at my local gunshop for a little over 200 bucks.

The Remington sports plain walnut stocks with the police style fore end. This thing is smooth and slick, nice finish and I've never felt the need for anything else. I wanted to get a Mossberg last year, but they felt uncomfortable to me in the store. I added a Pachy Decelerator buttpad and Uncle Mike's swivel rings for the sling. The Remmie just fits well and points naturally, nothing else like it for me.

 

[NWdude83]

I went for the 20" Mossberg 590. I liked the ghost ring sights, thought it looked badass, holds 9rds total, everyone and their mom has an 870 so didn't want to be a sheep, and heard your thumb tends to get pinched when loading an 870.

 

[SteveIndiana]

Wingmaster

I have shot, and owned or still own over 50 wingmaster shotguns in every gauge.

Every one of them from my Dad's 1950 original to the latest one, a Remington custom shop 410 Wingmaster Skeet, has never missed a lick, never failed in any way, everywhere from the skeet range, through hundreds of fields for pheasant and quail, duck marshes and also used with a slug barrel for deer.

The ever numerous number of barrels out there, the variety in lengths, chokes or remchokes, vent ribs or not, cantilever slug barrels, even after market hastings barrels.......makes these guns oh so versatile and easy to find "another" barrel for to fit your own wants and needs.

YES, other manufacturers make similar but when it comes to finding a barrel, do an online search for both........and see how many of each you have to choose from.

Old age has left me prefering the "pre lock" safeties and the chrome carrier versions when I can find them in the version and condition I want but ALL will provide you and your children thousands and thousands of trouble free shots, decades of fun.....and still have a memory filled pump gun to "hand down" to the next generation.

Nothing WRONG with an Express version but..........it just offends my vanity to shoot such an ugly gun, but that IS JUST ME.

I occasionally find one I pick up to RESELL (like the one I have now in cantilever slug version) but while I WOULD use one if I couldnt buy a Wingmaster, I simply dont at this point in my life.

Just IMHO, you cannot go wrong with a Remington 870 Wingmaster if you want a pump gun and while I personally dislike the appearance of an Express....THEY DO WORK.

I did send you an email as well about a few I have for sale WITHOUT barrel so the buyer can find the one he wants OR use an extra he has on.

No, for those perhaps interested, they are not CHEAP but not over priced. Just some to sell for someone looking and would like to pick OR HAS his own barrel for it, up to and including a TB TRAP with killer wood, 12 ga standard with chrome lifter, and a 12 gauge mag with custom stocks.

I have a reference from the local FFL/Sporting Clays range that Im on the up and up plus at this time I have a Wingmaster 870 SC Skeet 12 gauge on gunbroker. Check out my feedback.

Steve

 

[Wagon]

To the original poster: I just bought the 870 HD same model suggested by King Ghidora 2 weeks ago for $330 (+ tax). I am also one of you who only wants to spend the least for a quality product, I have compared this 870 (model 25077) with Moss 590 Cruiser/Persuader and a Nova Pump 18.5" Tactical. I chose this 870 not it feels most comfy in my hands (purely subjective), it also has a highest capacity and has the lowest price tag among the 4 made/models I was comparing -- not to mention the 870 has a steel receiver vs Al alloy in others. Anyway, I just like to share you with my shopping experience.

I think "feeling good" in your own hands is the most important deciding factor... There are many high regards on Nova Pump but it feel too bulky in my hands and it's fore-end is the noisiest among all 4 (while 870 has the most solid feel -- they all are new guns, not used.).

King Ghidora : can you share us your $15 upgrade pls? I really like to keep this SG for long and love to make it a better gun. Also, I have posted in ShotgunWorld some questions about "barrel choice" (or lack of) for upland/field purpose available for my gun. Would you like to shed some light too? Thanks in advance.http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=173148

 

[TheNewbie]

Not too much input to place here other than a few 'minor' things I notice different between my Mossberg 500 (a 20 gauge) and my dad's Remington 870 (a 12 gauge.) The guns are very similar, as I viewed and was told when I made my own purchase, but the Mossberg was cheaper and more in my price range. It's worked very well for me, so far. My dad recently got his Remington and I noticed two differences in it that I didn't really like all that much.

The first is the safety on the guns. The Remington features your traditional style of safety with the small ring right on the back of the trigger guard that can be pressed in and out. My Mossberg has the safety right on the back end of the barrel. Imagine where the hammer would be on the gun if it had one. This clicks back and forward to turn the safety on and off. I prefer this because A; it's more visible when you're looking down your sights, allowing you to tell whether your safety is on or not, B; because rather than fumbling your fingers around the trigger guard you can simply reach your thumb and press it into the position desired, and of course, once again, it's more visible when you're looking down the barrel. I find this important towards gun safety. Instead of having to look around the trigger, tilting the gun here and there, you can simply just look down and tell.

The second reason is going to make me sound a bit stupid, but it is a matter of comfort. I don't know, at the moment, the name of the mechanism itself but on pump actions there's always that 'button' or 'press' point right near the trigger guard that allows you to work the pump mechanism even with a shell loaded by pressing it. On my Mossberg this literally feels like a little button. It's easy to feel and presses nicely. On the Remington it is, instead, a thinner piece of metal sticking out with grooves in it. Personally I don't like the feel of it. Picky, I know, but comfort, I've been told, is as important to firearms and their handling as it is to the clothes on your back.

 

[Texian]

I have shot both and would lean toward the 870...if it came down to price the 500 is cheaper and still a good dependable gun..