Remington 870 or Mossberg 500

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Even here, as hard as we try, a significant number of people seem to just read the thread title and then post. Sorry, but it seems to be in intertubes thing.

Congratulations on the new shotgun, I hope it serves you well for years to come. Do be careful with it, you don't want to have an ND with anything but especially not a shotgun. Any new shotgun needs wear marks more than it needs any other accessory, so shoot it as often as you get a chance. As Dave McC used to say - BA/UU/R. Buy ammo, use up, repeat.
 
I know this is about the Remington 870 and the Mossberg 500.......but any shooter (especially if your are on a budget) should take a hard look at the H&R 1871 Pardner Pump Protector. Receiver made by Hawk Industries...in yes China. Robust and reliable. Barrel made by Remington. Assembled by Americans.

Here is what I like about the Pardner Protector;

1. Steel Receiver.
2. Metal Trigger Guard.
3. Heavy Walled Barrel.
4. Positive Cross Bolt Safety.
5. Effective Recoil Pad.
6. Sling Swivel Studs Installed.
7. Robust Reliable Action.
8. 5 + 1 Capacity.
9. Composite Stock
10. Reasonable Price.

I've been testing mine with various loads and have the results posted at www.facebook.com/PardnerProtector

One thing that really impressed me was how perfectly the barrel is regulated. Throws slug to point of aim at 25 yards.:)
 
How many are fired?
Upwards of one million? Half million? One hundred thousand?
Just curious.
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It's not a high round count as stated, but rather only 3000 rounds. I don't know why anyone would consider that a high round count, but I've seen it referred to just as that in many posts all over the place. I know the OP has already made a purchase, but I'll still throw in my two cent opinion which is that the Mossbergs are guns that generally work and last, but are still the absolute lowest quality pump guns made.

I sometimes think those giving opinions on them have never owned or used finer pump guns like the model 12, Ithaca 37, or 870 wingmasters etc. I also don't know why people keep referring to the 500's safety as a tang safety as it's not near as convenient or as fast as a tang safety. The best aluminum framed pump in my opinion was the 1300, but I do still have one of the Mossberg 500's and intend to keep it and use it until it or I breakdown whichever comes first.
 
but any shooter (especially if your are on a budget) should take a hard look at the H&R 1871 Pardner Pump Protector.
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I had a guy try to give me one (in a trade) that he hadn't even used, but I wouldn't take it because of where it was made. I have since regretted not taking it as I don't think I've ever heard anything negative on these guns other than the fact that some folks find them a bit heavy.
 
That model 88 is a sturdy performer. Practice with it and enjoy it, take good care of it and keep it clean and it will last a lifetime.
 
"you are wrong, its not snob value. its what works for the large amount of shells fired. if the gun would last shooters would use it. and the shotguns are put out on bid, if five guns pass the tests the government takes the lowest bid. not dancing on a pin,just stating a fact,the moosbergs are not used at the clay games, do you think shooters would not use a less costly gun if it worked as well as a gun that cost more? you can,t make a moosberg into something its not by just saying it is. eastbank."


Can you not spell? Or is it part of that snob factor that you keep calling Mossbergs "Moosbergs"? As far as "games" go most guns that are used in games i.e. IPSC make lousy carry guns. I would much rather rely on my Mossberg than some fancy game gun.
 
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Fishbed77

The 590A1 is a great gun, but it's still a 500. The action is standard 500 !

Uniquedot,

I have used and fire many rounds in 870s, great guns, love em!. Was my police issue weapon for 18 years. I have used the Ithaca M37, it was my issue shotgun for several years til I got an 870. Had a lot of feeding and ejection problems, was not reliable. When in the Army in the 70's I got to use the military Winchester M12 beat up but serviceable.

All that said I have also owned a shot a Mossberg 500 now for a few years now and can find no fault with them. Don't see why they won't last every bit as long as an 870.
 
There is a bit of a disconnect here. You cannot be reliable and made to last and be the "absolute lowest quality made". That crown belongs to Smith & Wesson, Kessler, or Noble shotguns.

Regardless of competitive shooters, the gritty conditions of field work are a superb test of the usefulness of any shotgun, and the 500 just plane works. Rise up on a flight of ducks or geese in freezing, wet, muddy conditions and take one or two. Do so consistently for years. Judge the equipment accordingly. I don't care if others don't like them. It matters more to the peppered duck that the shotgun didn't freeze or gum up from gumbo mud in a Louisiana rice paddy.

Said Remington worked, too, but it rusted easily.
 
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if you drop any firearm in the mud it will need cleaned and how many shells do you shoot in a day duck hunting,10-20? for that amount i could get by with a smith&wesson,noble or kessler. i have shot my 870 over 600 rounds between a good cleaning and it took all of 15 minutes to clean, take the barrel off remove two pins,drop the trigger group,pull the beech block and clean and reassemble. we will just have to agree to disagree. ford,chevy buick, pontiac they will all get you accross town, take your choice. eastbank.
 
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Fishbed77

The 590A1 is a great gun, but it's still a 500. The action is standard 500 !
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It's not a 500. Look at the side of the receiver! It clearly says M590A1!

<Of course I'm aware it's the same action. Hence the smug little smiley! ;)>
 
All that said I have also owned a shot a Mossberg 500 now for a few years now and can find no fault with them.
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My opinion that they wont last as long as an 870 or other steel framed gun is simply based on observation as I have never kept one long enough to see if I could wear it out. First the action bars are pretty flimsy compared to and 870 (and others) which allows the slide action tube and forearm to twist considerably which allows them to contact the frame and wear on it at angles. If you break them down and inspect them you will also note that the bolt lock wears on the inner aluminum frame and there is always aluminum powder and sometimes small chips to clean out of them. The trigger group is extremely simple and easy to repair which is a plus, but I also feel the safety is not as durable as a crossbolt (my opinion only) and it's not as fast as a rear or front mounted crossbolt unless it's operated before the gun hit's the shoulder.

I saw a thread where a guy had the detent ball come out from under his safety when the button broke and it jammed under the shell latch and when he operated the slide it ripped the bottom of the frame off on that side of the gun which would have only damaged a part or scored a steel framed gun.

I do think the dual extractors are a plus on the Mossbergs due to the junk ammo on the shelves of big box stores though. Back in the days of black powder and later on with waxed paper shells dual extractors were almost a necessity, but when plastic shells with genuine brass heads came on the scene the dual extractors lost their appeal. The Mossberg really hangs on to spent shells remarkably well and they are slightly faster to reload which may be a plus to some. I have one now that has the spring loaded action bars which quiets up the rattling, but does nothing for the twisting (Mossbergs have extremely loose tolerances compared to anything else I'm aware of) and I bought a turkey barrel and HD barrel for it and have been quite pleased with this one. I'd like to find an older maverick with a metal trigger group to add a spring loaded action slide tube to due to it's Winchester safety location.
 
It's a Ford versus Chevy type thing. The two biggest differences are the locations of the safety and where the shell lifter resides when you reload. Either is a great proven design.
 
The stocks are made differently. Try both and see which shoots better for you. Either one will give you a lifetime of use with a little care.

Read page one and posted. Then I see you bought the Maverick. Decent shotguns, hope you enjoy it and get many years of hunting with it.
 
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As to longevity, I've a 40 year old single-action bar Mossberg that still keeps ticking with no broken parts. The only thing I changed out was the barrel in favor of one with removable choke tubes for steel shot. The original barrel works just fine still.
 
this rem 870 with a barrel code of CWW is over 63 years old and the only thing added were a barrel with rifle sights and another barrel with RC to shoot trap with. the extra barrels are much newer than the shotgun and fit perfictly. the gun has never had a part replaced or ftf or fte. eastbank.
 

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So, even though he already made his purchase and seems happy with it, I'll just add that I think what can be gathered from this thread is that there really isn't a right answer to the question. Everyone has their opinions and experiences, and either is a good shotgun. When it comes down to it for me, I'm getting a Mossberg because of the safety location and the price that I can get a field/home barrel combo at. That being said, if I could get a Remington 870 Wingmaster for around the same price, I'd have a lot more to think about. I saw it posted once that "870 Wingmaster>Mossberg 500>870 Express" and while that isn't an end all statement, its kind of how I view it based on what I've researched on the Rems and Mossys. Honestly, I'd be happy with any of the three in my hands.
 
Mossberg 500 no doubt about it. I have a 96 with many, many rounds through it. Still performs flawlessly. Plus I really prefer the tang safety
 
I've never had to repair any 870, can't say the same for Mossy's....

Several hard years of use and my 500 was having one problem after another. Same conditions, but many, many more years of hard use, I'm still waiting for anything to go wrong with any of my 870's including a early 70's Wingmaster, maybe some day?

GS
 
As to longevity, I've a 40 year old single-action bar Mossberg that still keeps ticking with no broken parts. The only thing I changed out was the barrel in favor of one with removable choke tubes for steel shot. The original barrel works just fine still.
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Back in 1980 I traded a guy out of a "Revelation 310". It had a C Lect choke on it. I bought a new Mossberg 500 screw in choked barrel for it just for the new steel shot laws. That old gun was SO slick, practically pumped itself. I bought new wood for it that I ran across cheap in Shotgun News. A previous owner had apparently broke a stock or something, stock colors didn't match. I didn't care much for the corn cob fore stock, anyway. Then, I got the hots for a new 500 camo about 1992 which I still have and sold the Revelation. Should have kept it. No doubt it'd still be shootin'. But, I have another Mossy I picked up a couple of years ago, a 535. This one is tight, no slop in the fore end which is one of the gripes some have of the 500s. It's a dandy shooter.

I have to shim Mossberg stocks to get them to fit. They don't fit out of the box for me. Mossberg actually offers shim kits, but I'm cheap, just cut pop bottle plastic and did it by trial and refit.
 
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