Mossberg 500 v. Remington 870
- Thread starter nsf003
- Start date
- Status
I'll bite.
For me it came down to the location of the safety. I like the Mossberg's top safety. It's easier for me to manipulate with the shotgun mounted and my eye on the front bead. My finger is outside the trigger guard, not searching for Remington's cross button safety. I understand the 590A1 performed pretty well in the Army tests, too.
Oh yeah, and the slide lock release is very conveniently located under the trigger guard, too. Makes it easy (for me, I'm used to it) to mount, sight, release the slide lock to rack the slide, and off the safety all in one motion. The Mossberg slide releases pretty well on firing, too, making follow-up shots a breeze. I shoot a 20-gauge Model 500 with an 18.5" barrel, wood furniture, an AO front nightsight, and a butt cuff.
For me it came down to the location of the safety. I like the Mossberg's top safety. It's easier for me to manipulate with the shotgun mounted and my eye on the front bead. My finger is outside the trigger guard, not searching for Remington's cross button safety. I understand the 590A1 performed pretty well in the Army tests, too.
Oh yeah, and the slide lock release is very conveniently located under the trigger guard, too. Makes it easy (for me, I'm used to it) to mount, sight, release the slide lock to rack the slide, and off the safety all in one motion. The Mossberg slide releases pretty well on firing, too, making follow-up shots a breeze. I shoot a 20-gauge Model 500 with an 18.5" barrel, wood furniture, an AO front nightsight, and a butt cuff.
I own both.
The Remington 870 is WITHOUT DOUBT the better of the two.
A tighter and smoother action, and a heavier barrel are the main differences on the Rem 870 vs. the Mossy 500.
Nonetheless, the Mossy 500 is a fine shotgun, and will do everything you need it to do.
It just may not do it for as many decades as the Remington.
There are lots of accessories available for both guns.
Best.
The Remington 870 is WITHOUT DOUBT the better of the two.
A tighter and smoother action, and a heavier barrel are the main differences on the Rem 870 vs. the Mossy 500.
Nonetheless, the Mossy 500 is a fine shotgun, and will do everything you need it to do.
It just may not do it for as many decades as the Remington.
There are lots of accessories available for both guns.
Best.
Vang Comper
Moderator
Come on guys!!! We all know the Mossy is a boat paddle 
I prefer the 870. The Remington is built a little more solid, with a little less rattle. The internals are staked in a little better on an 870, too. You'll know what I mean the first time you drop the trigger group out of the Mossberg. The bolt is a little more complicated than it should be in the Mossberg, but this isn't an issue since 99% of owner's will never take it out. Don't get me wrong, the Mossberg is still a good gun, but I would take the 870 first. I have two of them, an 870SP in Mossy Oak Break-Up for ducks/deer and another 870 Magnum for home defense.
Jody Hudson
New member
I have had them all and loved them all and shot them all a LOT.
My advice for most, if we are talking home defense, is the Mossberg as the 870 is no longer available with the long mag tube and I find the top safety and the slide release far better on the Mossy and that makes all the difference to me. I also have not found any difference in accuracy, group size or reliability in the two. From working in the gun shop there is far more elitism involved in owning the 870 as it it more expensive and has had a great reputation for longer. I have sold my 870s and now have 3 Mossberg 500s.
My advice for most, if we are talking home defense, is the Mossberg as the 870 is no longer available with the long mag tube and I find the top safety and the slide release far better on the Mossy and that makes all the difference to me. I also have not found any difference in accuracy, group size or reliability in the two. From working in the gun shop there is far more elitism involved in owning the 870 as it it more expensive and has had a great reputation for longer. I have sold my 870s and now have 3 Mossberg 500s.
I bought an 8-shot Mossberg to use for home defense and IPSC shooting and found it to be an excellent gun for those purposes--light and easy to use, functions properly all the time, and looks good. But I sold it and bought a Rem 870 because I wanted to go to more rounds in the magazine and that's too hard to do with a Mossberg. My Rem 870 has a Choate mag extension so I can have 10 rds on board--pretty helpful for IPSC shooting and home defense too. However, the gun is heavier even before these modifications. Since I also carry my shotgun deer hunting from time to time, a little bit of weight becomes a lot of weight when you carry it for several hours a day. Both are excellent weapons and I'd own either. I like the Rem for what I'm doing right now.
"elitism involved in owning the 870"
Jody, you almost made me shoot hot java out of my nose with that! You're killing me! LOL!
My vote does go with the 870 by the by. I bought two used ones in the past year. They both had the silly mag tube dimples which were easily removed. They both now sport factory extensions.
I have handled but never shot a Mossy but it felt, well, less sturdy and just a tad sloppy to me. Now perhaps it was just this one Mossy but it was a very low mileage model and I would not expect it to tighten up.
I have no problem with the safety release on my 870's. I find them far easier to pop off with the second joint in my finger than reaching up (an unnatural postion IMO) for the Mossy safety.
The Mossy slide release is in a nicer place though.
Mike the elitist.
Jody, you almost made me shoot hot java out of my nose with that! You're killing me! LOL!
My vote does go with the 870 by the by. I bought two used ones in the past year. They both had the silly mag tube dimples which were easily removed. They both now sport factory extensions.
I have handled but never shot a Mossy but it felt, well, less sturdy and just a tad sloppy to me. Now perhaps it was just this one Mossy but it was a very low mileage model and I would not expect it to tighten up.
I have no problem with the safety release on my 870's. I find them far easier to pop off with the second joint in my finger than reaching up (an unnatural postion IMO) for the Mossy safety.
The Mossy slide release is in a nicer place though.
Mike the elitist.
Elitism, Joey? I guess you never ran across a Purdey owner, huh? Or one Ljutic owner I can think of.
Owning an 870 or several even doesn't make me an elitist. Owning the best is often the best choice...
And, the one used 500 I owned briefly did everything I wanted it to. BUT, I doubt it would have kept on doing that all these years. It rattled pretty good in near new condition inside.
Being an ex C&O security shotgun, it was dinged up on the outside but near new inside.
All in all tho, the 870 will outlast the 500 etc, under heavy use.Nothing outlasts the 870, based on actual use.
After about 4K of trap rounds in the last year, my TB is just getting broken in.
After 8-10K of use in my HD 870, mostly heavy loads,it's tight as a Swiss Watch.
After a lifetime total of rounds fired in various 870s, I cannot recall one single glitch, even with abused agency 870s.
Snob, elitist? No. Biased? Yes, 40 years of perfect performance will bias anyone....
Owning an 870 or several even doesn't make me an elitist. Owning the best is often the best choice...
And, the one used 500 I owned briefly did everything I wanted it to. BUT, I doubt it would have kept on doing that all these years. It rattled pretty good in near new condition inside.
Being an ex C&O security shotgun, it was dinged up on the outside but near new inside.
All in all tho, the 870 will outlast the 500 etc, under heavy use.Nothing outlasts the 870, based on actual use.
After about 4K of trap rounds in the last year, my TB is just getting broken in.
After 8-10K of use in my HD 870, mostly heavy loads,it's tight as a Swiss Watch.
After a lifetime total of rounds fired in various 870s, I cannot recall one single glitch, even with abused agency 870s.
Snob, elitist? No. Biased? Yes, 40 years of perfect performance will bias anyone....
nascarnhlnra
New member
Both are aewsome guns in my opinion I own a Mossberg 590 security model and am very happy with it. I like the ten year warranty from Mossberg. Remington has an excellent reputation from years past but I have heard from some that the new guns aren't as high quality as the old ones the express series anyway I also heard that Remington no longer has their own service dept they use service agents now. However I haven't heard of either make needing much along the lines of service.You can't go wrong either way ! Buy what fits YOU best.
Jody Hudson
New member
Sorry... didn't mean to offend anyone with the "elitist" remark. Just the way customers have reacted to the Mossy in the gun shop most often.
Certainly the 870 is a fine shotgun, no doubt about that. I just like the 500 top safety better. Can I be out of trouble now???
PS: just reached over and shook my 500 hard, worked the slide and shook it hard in every direction... not the slightest rattle or noise of any kind. Hmmmmm.
Not trying to convince anyone away from the 870 they love by the way.
Although we should probably NOT talk about dimple removal from what I understand... hint.
Certainly the 870 is a fine shotgun, no doubt about that. I just like the 500 top safety better. Can I be out of trouble now???
PS: just reached over and shook my 500 hard, worked the slide and shook it hard in every direction... not the slightest rattle or noise of any kind. Hmmmmm.
Not trying to convince anyone away from the 870 they love by the way.
Although we should probably NOT talk about dimple removal from what I understand... hint.
- Status