Mossberg 500 vs Remington 870 express

[inSight-NEO]

Anyone who knows about pump shotguns can tell you that the 870 is the shotgun that all other pumps wished they could beat. No other pump shotgun will touch them.

That may have been true "back in the day," but regarding "todays" shotguns, I must disagree with your declaration. The Benelli SuperNova, for instance (in my case the Tactical model), is certainly just as strong, well designed and well made as any 870 Express Ive ever seen or handled. In fact, in alot of respects, the Benelli SN is actually superior, IMHO. Is it perfect? Nope. But then again, neither is the Express. Those (who know about shotguns) and who have handled the SNT of mine, always seem impressed.

In regards to Mossberg: The Mossberg 590 (maybe not the 500..dont know) certainly could give the 870 Express a run for its money in the "overall" category, IMHO. Besides, those who prefer Mossberg probably do so due for its simplicity and somewhat different take on various features. Nothing wrong with that....

But, as has been mentioned before, any of these shotguns will last at least a lifetime...maybe 2 or more. It's mainly up to how well the weapon is cared for. To simply gauge a weapon by how well it stands up to neglect/abuse (as many do) is somewhat counter productive. I mean, if one is in the habit of neglecting/abusing a weapon, or anything for that matter, why bother owning it in the first place?

As a final thought: Which shotgun (Benelli, Mossberg, Remington, Browning, etc.) is "better" can sometimes be misleading. To some, "better" could mean all sorts of things. The whole durability stuff aside, things such as features, parts availability and cost, aftermarket support, CS strengths/weaknesses, "feel" and/or "look," etc., etc., ad nauseum, will probably mean just as much, if not more, when it comes to deciding which is "best." To me, the word "best" can sometimes be a very, very subjective word.

 

[CajunBass]

Back in 1976 I bought a Sears/Mossberg 12 ga pump. It was on sale for $99.00 with a 28" modified and a 24" smoothbore, rifle sight slug barrel. I've never used the slug barrel, it gathers dust in the gun cabinet, but with the modified barrel, it's put every deer it's been pointed at on the ground. That thing shoots No 1 buckshot great. It's killed a few squirrels and doves in it's time too. It's jammed exactly one time, and I know for a fact that I short shucked it that time. My fault, not the guns.

Now you fellows who duck and goose hunt probably put more rounds through a gun in one hunt or at least one season than I have mine since I've owned it, but that Mossberg has worked just fine for me over the years. The Wingmaster is a much nicer gun, but I don't know if it's any "better." I don't know much about the express, but I'd guess it's a good gun too.

A few weeks ago though when I went looking a 20 ga. pump, I bought a Mossberg. It seems to be about the same as the old Sears gun. The stock is a little different but that's about it. It'll do the job.