Mossberg 500 or Remington 870?
- Thread starter Jack Bauer
- Start date
Jack Bauer
New member
Here's an update...
Today I was able to check out the Winchester Defender 1300. All I had to do was hold it and I was sold. It's very slick handling, the pump action is very smooth and I really like the wood furniture as opposed to the polymer of the other guns I've tried. I haven't had time to take pictures yet, but will post when I can.
Thanks for all the advice and good comments (oh, the Mossberg is still coming home next week, too!)
Today I was able to check out the Winchester Defender 1300. All I had to do was hold it and I was sold. It's very slick handling, the pump action is very smooth and I really like the wood furniture as opposed to the polymer of the other guns I've tried. I haven't had time to take pictures yet, but will post when I can.
Thanks for all the advice and good comments (oh, the Mossberg is still coming home next week, too!)
Gary... good find on that Win 1300! They are nice guns and not that easy to find anymore. And a thumbs up on the wood furniture as well... it's a gorgeous combination with blued steel! (As you can see below... I love that combination myself.) The black synthetic "tactical" look is so popular now and everywhere you look, but does little to excite me... I'm old school and prefer wood and bluing.
It and your new 500 Persuader will make a very fine pair of shotguns.... make some pics for us!
Speaking of the 500 Persuader (I totally love this gun!) I decided to go with a 13" LOP (from 14.5" with the synthetic furniture) and at the same time get some wood to dress it up! I've been looking for awhile and just happened to bump into a generous fellow (on the web) who had just removed a brand new wood set from a new 500 Bantam. He offered it to me for $35 including shipping. Fantastic! Of course I stepped right up and agreed. Though not a "fancy" stock set... I still love the look and the feel. And the 13" LOP makes shouldering more direct and snappier and makes the gun shorter and feel a bit more nimble.
It and your new 500 Persuader will make a very fine pair of shotguns.... make some pics for us!
Speaking of the 500 Persuader (I totally love this gun!) I decided to go with a 13" LOP (from 14.5" with the synthetic furniture) and at the same time get some wood to dress it up! I've been looking for awhile and just happened to bump into a generous fellow (on the web) who had just removed a brand new wood set from a new 500 Bantam. He offered it to me for $35 including shipping. Fantastic! Of course I stepped right up and agreed. Though not a "fancy" stock set... I still love the look and the feel. And the 13" LOP makes shouldering more direct and snappier and makes the gun shorter and feel a bit more nimble.
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Jack Bauer
New member
Now that is Sweet! I'm thinking I may look for some wood for mine when it comes home...
Gary... in this photo, you can see the difference in size made when going from the synthetic tactical stock set on the 500 to the Bantam wood set.
These are my most used shotguns. I did remove the heat shield on my 590... as it adds unwanted weight/bulk and I'm just not that tactical.
I'm a confirmed Mossberg believer!
These are my most used shotguns. I did remove the heat shield on my 590... as it adds unwanted weight/bulk and I'm just not that tactical.
I'm a confirmed Mossberg believer!
James R. Burke
New member
I had a Rem, but none of the others. If it is just for H.D. I would probably go for the cheapest provide it worked good, and fit good.
therealdeal
New member
I wanted a remington 870 police magnum a yr or two ago because thats what my agency uses. It turned out my buddy in training was at the ONE location in America that issued the mossberg. I Love the mossberg500. As before mentioned, the saftey is in a much better spot but mainly it fits 7 in the tube and one in the chamber. 8shots before reloading is great.
ADDED to that, I have seen gobbs and gobbs of posts about 870 issues without seeing too many mossbergs. One nice post(sorry I couldnt find) spoke of how his marine unit used them over and over without rest, with much use, and some abuse in the mud+rain and so-on. mossberg always came thru. my buddy@ work who is Always good to listen to his firearm stories was hunting and dropped it in the water completely submerged. it still worked no problem!?
maybe I would've said 870 if I bought it, but I bought the mossberg500 and thats where I have to side. We shoot the 870@work, but the mossberg is the shotgun for our household
ADDED to that, I have seen gobbs and gobbs of posts about 870 issues without seeing too many mossbergs. One nice post(sorry I couldnt find) spoke of how his marine unit used them over and over without rest, with much use, and some abuse in the mud+rain and so-on. mossberg always came thru. my buddy@ work who is Always good to listen to his firearm stories was hunting and dropped it in the water completely submerged. it still worked no problem!?
maybe I would've said 870 if I bought it, but I bought the mossberg500 and thats where I have to side. We shoot the 870@work, but the mossberg is the shotgun for our household
Snakedriver
New member
Well, I've got one of each in 12 ga. and they both function flawlessly. I like the location of the Mossberg safety better, but then my first shotgun was a Mossberg 500 in 20 ga.. I think we got that gun at Wards for $49 back in the 60's. No telling how many rounds that thing has had shot through it and it's still perfect.
It's pretty much about price and what you want to do with it. Both will serve you well for a long time to come. I will say that the 870 is easier to customize than the Mossbergs.
It's pretty much about price and what you want to do with it. Both will serve you well for a long time to come. I will say that the 870 is easier to customize than the Mossbergs.
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exphys2010
New member
The Mossberg and Remington are both great guns, and I don't feel like you could go wrong with either. I own a Mossberg 500 and my cousin owns a Remington 870. We have both shot eachothers shotguns many times. I personally like the slide release better on the Mossberg, but it isn't so much better that it causes me to like the Mossberg any more than the Remington. The only reason I bought a Mossberg over a the 870 is because it was cheaper when I went looking to buy one, which is the same reason why my cousin bought his 870.... it was on sale for 10 dollars cheaper than the Mossberg 500 when he was looking.
That said, either one will function flawlessly, and I would be 100% confident that either would work in a home defense situation. I have not had the opportunity to test out a Benelli shotgun, so I have little input other than the fact that they are usually significantly more expensive. Hope this helps.
That said, either one will function flawlessly, and I would be 100% confident that either would work in a home defense situation. I have not had the opportunity to test out a Benelli shotgun, so I have little input other than the fact that they are usually significantly more expensive. Hope this helps.
Not sure about the newest 870s, but the older ones were pretty darn good; But that's not the issue here.
The Mossberg has a fine track record and has been around for quite a while.
Since you are only using it for home defense, I think the M'berg would be your best choice. If you want to get cute with it, there are plenty of aftermarket accessories available, too, as well as different length barrels that you can get which make the gun versatile for other purposes.
BE ADVISED, however, that the plastic portion of the sliding safety, while very convenient,is eventually going to break. It's not a matter of "if," but "when." I really don't know why Mossberg never took care of this problem, but there are aftermarket sliding buttons available that are metal, don't break and are cheap.
The Mossberg has a fine track record and has been around for quite a while.
Since you are only using it for home defense, I think the M'berg would be your best choice. If you want to get cute with it, there are plenty of aftermarket accessories available, too, as well as different length barrels that you can get which make the gun versatile for other purposes.
BE ADVISED, however, that the plastic portion of the sliding safety, while very convenient,is eventually going to break. It's not a matter of "if," but "when." I really don't know why Mossberg never took care of this problem, but there are aftermarket sliding buttons available that are metal, don't break and are cheap.
Historyedguru
New member
The Mossberg 590A1 was THE shotgun when I served in the USMC and it is a wonderful weapon. Simple to keep clean, dependable, and unbelievably reliable I have never had a jam or stutter with my own personal 590 in over 15 or so years. I've even got mine in the Marinecote finish which has proven itself living on the coast of Maine for over a decade. Lastly, I do believe they are still less expensive than Remington.
Gary... hey man... what did you wind up with the Mossberg or the Winchester?
Time passes; experience happens; views evolve.
I really love the Mossbergs and have come to love my 870P as well, but in the end, if I had to settle on just one shotgun for defense, I've come around to the Winchester 1300 Defender.
Reasons?
Capacity: with just an 18" barrel, the Winchester 1300 Defender is an 8-shot gun with NO extensions (nor extension brackets) to fool around with. These have a full-length, one-piece mag tube which I LOVE! (Extensions are not my preferred way to gain capacity, therefore my 870P remains a 5-shot, which I'm fine with, during the day.)
Speed: The 1300 action is really slick and quick.
Of course, reliability and durability are a given among all of these models being discussed, or they wouldn't even be in the running.
I still like the controls on the Mossberg the most, but have come to realize that you can get accustomed to the controls on any of these models.
SO, while I sure don't want to give up my 500 and my 590
Nor my 870P
When day turns to night, my primary, go-to shotguns for home defense are these, each (since this photo was made) now equipped with 6P clones housing Malkoff P7 and M60F lamp assemblies, and Surefire Z59 tailtaps.
Amidst all the hoopla surrounding Mossbergs and Remingtons (both great guns!) the Winchester 1300 Defender is an "under the radar" favorite of many who are in-the-know about them.
Here are all three of my 1300 Defenders:
Time passes; experience happens; views evolve.
I really love the Mossbergs and have come to love my 870P as well, but in the end, if I had to settle on just one shotgun for defense, I've come around to the Winchester 1300 Defender.
Reasons?
Capacity: with just an 18" barrel, the Winchester 1300 Defender is an 8-shot gun with NO extensions (nor extension brackets) to fool around with. These have a full-length, one-piece mag tube which I LOVE! (Extensions are not my preferred way to gain capacity, therefore my 870P remains a 5-shot, which I'm fine with, during the day.)
Speed: The 1300 action is really slick and quick.
Of course, reliability and durability are a given among all of these models being discussed, or they wouldn't even be in the running.
I still like the controls on the Mossberg the most, but have come to realize that you can get accustomed to the controls on any of these models.
SO, while I sure don't want to give up my 500 and my 590
Nor my 870P
When day turns to night, my primary, go-to shotguns for home defense are these, each (since this photo was made) now equipped with 6P clones housing Malkoff P7 and M60F lamp assemblies, and Surefire Z59 tailtaps.
Amidst all the hoopla surrounding Mossbergs and Remingtons (both great guns!) the Winchester 1300 Defender is an "under the radar" favorite of many who are in-the-know about them.
Here are all three of my 1300 Defenders:
Sgt.Fathead
Moderator
Mossy
I used to be a solid Remington man. then I had a real problem with an 870 with the factory 2 round mag extension, brand new, and their customer 'service' left me high and dry. Sold ALL my 870s and my 1100 and a 700 ADL at a loss to get rid of them! I have a twelve year old 500A and a two year old 590A1 (and an even older Maverick 88 six shot beater) that have never, ever given me an ounce of trouble.
Mossberg has a customer for life.
I used to be a solid Remington man. then I had a real problem with an 870 with the factory 2 round mag extension, brand new, and their customer 'service' left me high and dry. Sold ALL my 870s and my 1100 and a 700 ADL at a loss to get rid of them! I have a twelve year old 500A and a two year old 590A1 (and an even older Maverick 88 six shot beater) that have never, ever given me an ounce of trouble.
Mossberg has a customer for life.
I don't get people dissin the 870. I beat mine like a rented mule, and it has never failed me. Cleans up with a wet cloth and oil. Rain snow dirt and dragged through the woods all the time. No rust.
By the way. It has an 18 inch Mossberg barrel on it.
The reason I went with Remington is they were used as trench guns by the military since forever, and every cop car I see carries them. That says something. It's so simple, even I can disassemble it and figure out where everything came from and put it back together. I'll never get rid of mine.
By the way. It has an 18 inch Mossberg barrel on it.
The reason I went with Remington is they were used as trench guns by the military since forever, and every cop car I see carries them. That says something. It's so simple, even I can disassemble it and figure out where everything came from and put it back together. I'll never get rid of mine.
