Mossberg 500 & Remington 870 - pros and cons only
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Boxing Buffalo
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As an owner of a Mossberg 500, the only pro I found with the Remington 870, and even more so with the Winchester 1300, which I prefer greatly to the 870, is the ease of racking the slide.
With the Mossberg, it's not too smooth and pretty herky-jerky. The Winchester 1300 slides like butter and the Remington comes in at a close 2nd.
If I were to do it all over again, I'd still buy a Mossberg for home defense but, for targets, I'll take a Winchester 1300 any day.
With the Mossberg, it's not too smooth and pretty herky-jerky. The Winchester 1300 slides like butter and the Remington comes in at a close 2nd.
If I were to do it all over again, I'd still buy a Mossberg for home defense but, for targets, I'll take a Winchester 1300 any day.
1KPerDay
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I'd choose the 500 because I'm shoot lefty and prefer the top-mounted safety. You can't go wrong with either.
BullpupBen
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Coming from someone who owns both you cant go wrong with either. Both will perform perfectly and get the job done.
The Mossberg is cheaper, both in its price and its feel.
If I could only have one shotgun it would be an 870 Wingmaster no doubt.
The Mossberg is cheaper, both in its price and its feel.
If I could only have one shotgun it would be an 870 Wingmaster no doubt.
Boxing Buffalo
Member
I agree Ben. The Mossberg does feel cheaper with the loosey goosey forend. Compared to the other two major home defense players, the Win 1300 or Rem 870, the Mossberg is the least tight feeling.
Regarding the safety and mag release, I prefer the Mossberg over them all as you don't have to move your hand from the firing position to get to both.
Until you put a Knoxx Spec ops stock on the sucker and you lose that functionality.
Regarding the safety and mag release, I prefer the Mossberg over them all as you don't have to move your hand from the firing position to get to both.
Until you put a Knoxx Spec ops stock on the sucker and you lose that functionality.
I'll tell you why I was asking: I will buy a shotgun very soon for both hunting and bear defense (rabbit and up). I expect temperature extremes to be between -25 C (-16 F) and +36 C (95 F). Since survival situations sometimes require a fast follow-up shot, I have some concerns about a firearm failing me by getting stuck or being slow... I know that at close range Dixie Slugs would be more than enough to change the mind of a charging bear, but have no idea what barrel/choke to use for those slugs... In a hot situation, I won't have time to fire more than 4 rounds, but the "MAYBE" makes me think about Mossberg's 500 or 590...
I've never seen any of these in person, all mine are old but work well and are wood. I went to a gun show a while back and most of the newer long guns for sale were plastic.
Are the fire arms you are discussing plastic or wood?
Soldiersurfs
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So, the real issues we're looking at are:
1) reliability & durability Mossberg pump is in current US ARMY service
2) firing rate & handling speed (safety lock, reload, barrel change...) I cant vouch for others but barrel change on a 500 consists of half racking it and turning a tumb screw.
1) reliability & durability Mossberg pump is in current US ARMY service
2) firing rate & handling speed (safety lock, reload, barrel change...) I cant vouch for others but barrel change on a 500 consists of half racking it and turning a tumb screw.
mossberg pros:
cheaper
better ergonomics of safety and slide release
standard 3 inch chamber
cons:
aluminum reciever (only for the die hards is this a con)
slightly clunkier action (easy fix with patience and some minor gunsmithing knowledge)
plastic trigger housing (again only the die hards find this a con)
870 pros:
wood furniture even on a base model
smoother action
steel reciever
most come with a tapped barrel for chokes (RemChoke)
cons:
more expencive
if you want a 3 incher its even more money
LOP seems short unless you get an even higher dollar model
the safety is a crossbolt style like a bb gun
the slide release is forward of the trigger so you have to take your finger well away from the trigger to reach it
im an owner of a mossberg but i do love both firearms as for reliability neither will ever let you down my friends 870 patterns better than my mossberg but my mossy feels better to me because of the controls but ill end up with an 870 sooner or later allong with a few thousand other guns on the list lol
cheaper
better ergonomics of safety and slide release
standard 3 inch chamber
cons:
aluminum reciever (only for the die hards is this a con)
slightly clunkier action (easy fix with patience and some minor gunsmithing knowledge)
plastic trigger housing (again only the die hards find this a con)
870 pros:
wood furniture even on a base model
smoother action
steel reciever
most come with a tapped barrel for chokes (RemChoke)
cons:
more expencive
if you want a 3 incher its even more money
LOP seems short unless you get an even higher dollar model
the safety is a crossbolt style like a bb gun
the slide release is forward of the trigger so you have to take your finger well away from the trigger to reach it
im an owner of a mossberg but i do love both firearms as for reliability neither will ever let you down my friends 870 patterns better than my mossberg but my mossy feels better to me because of the controls but ill end up with an 870 sooner or later allong with a few thousand other guns on the list lol
Soldiersurfs
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When I say racking I mean cycling the fore grip. To change the barell on a 500 you move the fore grip to the middle (in between locked or open bolt) and just undo the thumb screw at the end of the magazine tube.
LOP means Length Of Pull. Its the length between the end of the buttstock and the trigger
LOP means Length Of Pull. Its the length between the end of the buttstock and the trigger
Soldiersurfs
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Also if price is a factor the Maverick 88 is made by Mossberg and is identical to the 500 except the safety is on the trigger group instead of reciever.
All great, thank you, guys.
If I look again at the purpose listed above, I don't see any reason to just "forget about" any of these shotguns, nor have a problem while another would've have happened to using the other one... I'll just get the cheaper one, and practice a lot.
Thank you.
Hopefully I wasn't the only one who got out some knowledge from this thread.
Sail safe.
If I look again at the purpose listed above, I don't see any reason to just "forget about" any of these shotguns, nor have a problem while another would've have happened to using the other one... I'll just get the cheaper one, and practice a lot.
Thank you.
Hopefully I wasn't the only one who got out some knowledge from this thread.
Sail safe.
throdgrain
Member
Does anyone know the expression deja vu ? 
swampshooter
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Keep in mind that the synthetic stocks on these guns are just plastic and become very brittle in cold weather. Also the new 870 express is not near the gun that the 870 wingmaster is. Not even close. The maverick 88 has a single operating rod, the mossberg 500 has dual opertating rods. Slugs are best fired from an improved cylinder barrel or specialized slug barrel. A good used 870 wingmaster would be your best choice IMO>
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