Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 (For new and experienced buyers)

[MCgunner]

Well, when you get right down to it, IMHO, the Browning BPS beats 'em both, very ambidextrous, too. It's a little heavier than the Mossberg, not quite as fast handling, but it's a smooth, smooth operator. To me, though, the Remington and Mossberg are serviceable and well made and will outlast me. I prefer the Mossberg for the ergos. I kinda think of it as a poor man's Browning. It's got BPS features and I really don't care where the fired round ejects from. If I ever get me a Browning, it'll be because I have taken to a lot of goose hunting and want a BPS 10 gauge to replace my H&R single shot. But, I doubt that's gonna happen in the rest of MY life and if I want a pump on a goose hunt, the 535 12 gauge I just bought at a pawn shop for 170 bucks has a 3.5" chamber. It's gonna have to have a GREAT pattern, though, to match the 10 and I doubt a 3.5" 12 gauge T steel can match the 10, most folks with experience say it won't.

 

[snooperman]

Very informative with great pictures. Thanks. Yes, the Browning BPS is one of the best, but I wish they would make it in a light weight though.

 

[MCgunner]

the Browning BPS is one of the best, but I wish they would make it in a light weight though.

That's a big gripe, not that important for a waterfowler, but the weight makes it a pig trying to hunt upland birds. They'd have to use an aluminum receiver to get it lighter. Ithaca did that with the featherlight. I prefer the Browning's safety location, but I hunted with my uncle's M37 featherlight when I was a kid, 16 gauge. That thing was dreamy light and fast and pointed well, fit well.

I'd like to get a new one, but they're way pricey for what they are. I can get a Browning for about what Mossbergs MSRP is. The BPS 10 gauge is about in the ball park with Ithacas, though, 6-700 bucks. It's really not THAT bad considering the built quality of the gun IMHO and the smooth pump, one of the smoothest around, I mean, if you just WANT one. Quality is a step above the Remington/Mossberg standards and it's much lighter than a Browning.

http://www.ithacagun.com/featherlight.html

 

[snooperman]

If they made it in an Aluminum receiver I buy it in heart beat. I like the BPS design even better than my Ithacas.

 

[dak0ta]

Ithaca makes an aluminum receiver gun called the Ultralite.

 

[Virginian]

I think the BPS is as well designed and built as any pump ever, but I prefer the ergonomics of the Wingmaster. I had three BPSs, and not one ever even hiccuped, but I could never grow to love that bottom feeding thru the magazine for a fast fourth shot, or indeed for loading up. Soon as tungsten came along I sold my last 10 gauge BPS, that I had shaved down the weight on considerably, and went back to a 3" 12 gauge. It's not that hard to knock a lot of weight off, if you have access to a machine shop.

 

[MCgunner]

Ithaca makes an aluminum receiver gun called the Ultralite.

Didn't see Ultralite on the site, just this.....



Pretty wood on that one.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I've never owned a 500. But have had my 870 12 gauge since about 1971.

After a great many cases of shells including heavy goose loads and dainty skeet poppers, "Old Trusty" has never ever failed me. Nothing ever broken. No jams, no FTF, no nothing. But I have just about worn the blue off of the receiver with my sweaty grip! Awesome beast of a shotgun.

Course, there may be some 500 shooters out there that can make the same boast.

I'm with you I got mine in 1982 and hunted ducks and the rest of God's woodland critters for the past 3 decades. No breakages , FTF, and ejection issues.

I handled some 500's and they are solid in there own Right.

 

[scramasax]

I've got two 870s both have unknown cases of full power buck and slug loads and have never failed to work. YadaYadaYada same story you can read over and over. They are both late 70s Wingmasters and the only mods are a slot cut in the lifter for double feeds, Remington extension tubes, Speedfeed pistol grip stocks with Surefire first gen. Forends.

The only problem I have with Mossbergs is the safety location if you want a pistol grip.

I have all the spare parts to rebuild both of them when needed.

Great post. The best I have ever seen on these two guns. Could use more like this on other guns. I much appreciate the time and effort put forth.

Cheers,

ts

 

[dak0ta]

MCGunner, they discontinued it in the past year or two. It used to be on the website.

But under the specs it's listed as either made of steel or aluminum. Aluminum refers to the Ultralight, which must be discontinued.

The Model 37 Featherlight®

•A receiver that is machined from a single block of steel (or aluminum)

•Solderless Barrel System : strongest, truest barrel of any shotgun

•A lengthened forcing cone to reduce recoil and shot deformation

•Crisp 4-6lb. trigger pull

•The classic game scene engraving

•Choke threads that are machined true and straight (Briley Chokes)

•Fancy black walnut stock and forend

 

[Scrumbag]

I'd love a BPS... I currently have a Benelli SuperNova which is quite piece of engineering...

Shame Browning don't brink the BPS here...

 

[theCan]

"those two bars" in post 3 are your shell stops. They are the leaf springs which allow/disallow a shell to be pushed from the magazine into the receiver.