870 or Mossberg?

Better shotgun

  • Remington 870 express

    Votes: 108 52.2%

  • Mossberg 500

    Votes: 99 47.8%
  • Total voters
    207
I can tell you this much if you would hand the 2 guns in this poll to a true machinist that could study each design and funtionablility of parts and what will last longer, the machinist would say 870 hands-down.
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Laugh all you like Brad but I spent 20 years of my life as a tool maker (glorified machinist) and I can tell you that it has nothing to do with the purpose at hand. I've owned a Mossy 500. How many lifetimes will it have to last before it qualifies as good enough for home protection? We aren't talking combat here. Home protection. The odds are better that you'll kill yourself by slipping and breaking your neck than a 500 failing in a typical home defense situation. Its a decent shotgun. Not military grade but close. Nobody is saying that the 870 isn't a great shotgun - it is. It's just not that much better that it's a must have in a typical home.

By the way the military buys Mossy 590s now. That would be my choice if I had to go into a bad situation with a pump. The 870 would be my second choice, and I wouldn't feel at all naked with a Mossy 500.
 
Well your from California, you have an excuse. :D

Just kidding.

The 870 has stood the test of time. That is why over 9 million of them were sold. Repeat buyers on a lot of them, and word of mouth has spread the word. A national poll would reverse these numbers in a heartbeat. ;)
 
saying a Mossberg is better in any way just isn't true, it'd be like saying a Ford is as good as a Mercedes, the only way it would be better is if it was stolen because you wouldn't lose as much
 
saying a Mossberg is better in any way just isn't true, it'd be like saying a Ford is as good as a Mercedes, the only way it would be better is if it was stolen because you wouldn't lose as much
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You need to patent that phrase or send it in to Remington.

They just might use it in an ad. :D
 
Brad, Don't even try to toss me in a coolifornia bus!... we will scrap!:D
But for me an express is a fry cry from a wingmaster. How many threads of stuck shells in an express chamber since I joined? Can't tell you but more than a dozen by a ways... How many inoperable 500's? None, unless you count the guys that over torque the stock bolt and it won't let the trigger group out.
I take that back, there was one broken barrel mount lug but from the images it appears they torqued the barrel screw too tight in an attempt to close the required gap.
Don't get me wrong... the Rem 870 is a solid platform. But they took the same steps to cheapen down the WM as mossberg did on my Maverick 88 (finish on mine is nice) to compete with the 500 but it is still more.
My point is both are venerable, solid hunting or HD/SD arms. And mine went near 2 decades and several thousand rounds without a tear down.:o
Then when you factor in the excellent lay out of the controls, Mossberg is the only choice for me.
Brent
 
Trigger happy, What model Mercedes pick up are gonna bring to work?
21MercedesEClassPickup2.jpg

Will dog box fit? And is it on a good solid drive line capable of handling the ruts and roots in 4 low? How much id the replacement starter, alternator and water pump...
Oh yeah, part for part the mossberg is cheaper to keep running if something should need replaced, upgraded or swapped...
From stocks to barrels!:rolleyes:
we can do this all night:cool:
Brent
 
870 express

I recently acquired a 20 ga 870 express synthetic 18" with extended magazine. Needed 20 ga to protect damaged rotators. At the time of purchase, this combination was either (1) cheaper through Remington and/or (2) only available from Remington. Remind me, what does Mossberg offer with this combination of features for ~$300?
 
You got me there... I always felt 6 rounds of 20 gauge from my 18.5 inch barrel will handle 5 intruders (first guy gets 2 com unless I know he has company). I never really thought to plan for more than 5.
If I need more I have shells for that, a 12 guage, a .30-30 and multiple .22 offerings...
Brent
 
I have nothing against Moss 500's. They will work if you don't mind the cheaper parts and rattling forearms. I like my 835 because it shoots better than most any other shotgun on the market with the .775 backbore barrel. It will throw some awesome patterns that very few turkeys will ever want to meet. But I'll take my 870 Express over any Mossy anyday of the week for the better made gun. It simply put is a better quality gun that fits better, feels better, looks better, and works better without all the extra rattling features that the Mossy's have. :D
 
The rattling is a tactical feature... You don't even have to shuck the action to make an intruder crap his britches! Just jostle and jiggle the gun and any good criminal will know that is a Mossberg 500 in the hands of a redneck guy who ain't about to let his prize 21 inch B&W TV set with chrome rabbit ears be stolen by a punk...:D:eek:
 
I have both and have carried both at one time or another as a duty shotgun. I do prefer the safety on the Mossberg being right under my thumb. The 670 seems stronger built and easy to find aftermarket stuff- but in a tight spot, that thumb safe on the Mossberg wins hands down, in my experience. My NEXT shotgun is gonna be a mag fed semi auto with banana clips.... :)
 
I can tell you this much if you would hand the 2 guns in this poll to a true machinist that could study each design and funtionablility of parts and what will last longer, the machinist would say 870 hands-down.
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What a hoot! Funny coming from a Remington fan, especially since Remington refused to enter the military shotgun test because they suspected they would lose.

That being said, aside the irritation I have with 870 fanboys and their delusions, EITHER the Mossberg or will work fine for you. My preference is for the Mossy because of the superior location of the safety and slidelock and the lighterweight alloy receiver. The Mossberg is very similar to the Browning BPS actually. That being said, I've carried a 14" Remington at work in the past and I won't hesitate to do it again. It works well but I prefer a lighter longarm.

Almost any US made (HS, Win, Ithaca) and many foreign shotguns will work well also. Basically, a 12g pump is a 12g pump. Learn to use it and shoot it a lot.
 
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Actually I'm a Moss 835 fan when it comes to throwing some mean patterns at turkeys. ;)

It shoots very well, that is why I bought it. But even I can look at a gun and take them apart and tell you which is the better built gun.

The 870 smokes the Mossberg pump shotguns.
 
If you're thinking about a 590A1 model another thing to consider is that you can only get the 18.5" and 20" barrels that came on them. Whereas the 870's you have a lot of different offerings as far as barrels go.

But if you're going for HD and don't plan on doing anything but HD then the Mossberg would probably suit you just as well as the 870 as the others have mentioned.
 
Yod, A simple mag tube and spring swap to a 5 round 500 type allows any 500 barrel to be used;) Or modifying a 500 with A-1 trigger group and safety button gives you a 5+1 with the cool stuff in the receiver...
Brent
 
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