you won't be disapointed by either the mossberg 500 or the 870. the 500 combo is nice because you have a 28" vent rib for birds and clays and the 18.5" for HD and it's right around $200. the 870 is alittle more flexible in that if you want you can just add a tube extension, wich you can't do with the mossberg.
Need help picking a shotgun
- Thread starter TKE404
- Start date
Le tme deviate from the masses, and warn against the Mossberg. I have one, and its a serviceable gun. Serviceable. The 870 is a much smoother and well built gun, and the price difference in negligable. The Mossberg is loose, and feel like ten miles of dirt road shucking the forearm, whereas the 870 seems to glide.
The Mossberg will work, but the 870 will work better. Me, I am an autoloader guy for birds.
The Mossberg will work, but the 870 will work better. Me, I am an autoloader guy for birds.
sparkysteve
New member
While I like my 870 OK. I really like my Browning BPS. It costs a little more, but I think it's worth it.
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=011B&cat_id=012&type_id=211
If you go with the 870, I recommend the Wingmaster. It's got nicer wood and a blued finish that's much easier to clean.
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=011B&cat_id=012&type_id=211
If you go with the 870, I recommend the Wingmaster. It's got nicer wood and a blued finish that's much easier to clean.
WSM MAGNUM
New member
Remington 870 Express 12ga. 
Just a couple of facts to clarify. There is a HUGE difference between a 870 Wingmaster, and a 870 "Express". The Wingmaster is superior in every single way you can possible think of, including the component parts each is made of.
The Express Model has:
A plastic trigger group.
The dimples in the mag tube and the new style plastic magazine retention system, EXCEPT on the extended magazine version, which does NOT have the dimples.
A rougher finish inside and outside, with machine marks and some burrs left.
A rougher, bead blasted blue job.
A less polished bore.
A two piece barrel. (not 100% sure about this)
Hardwood or synthetic stock, with a sporting-length fore end and pressed-in checkering.
The Defense version has 18", Cylinder bore barrel, with a bead sight.
Some Metal Injection Molded (MIM, another word for cheap die cast) parts, like the extractor.
Has the locking safety button, although Remington MAY have discontinued it.
The Wingmaster has:
An aluminum trigger group.
The old style magazine retention system.
A much smoother finish inside and out, no machine marks or burrs.
The Wingmaster gun receives a higher level of inspection and finishing.
A fine, commercial polished blue finish.
A polished bore.
A one piece barrel.
Walnut stocks with the famous "Bowling Pin" finish in gloss or satin. and better checkering.
Wide choices in barrel lengths and choke options.
No use of MIM parts, the extractor is milled.
The Wingmaster is the full top-of-the-line commercial Remington pump gun, and is priced accordingly. The Express is a "bottom of the line" budget gun. A Mossberg 500 fits in above an "Express", and below a Wingmaster in quality. I own and shoot both a Wingmaster, (1970's vintage purchased new), and a recient Mossberg 500. I have extensively handled an "Express" and found it's action to be nowhere as smooth as the current production Mossberg 500's, and off the chart poor when compared to a Wingmaster. Remember, we are talking about 3 different guns here. You cannot compare an "Express" to a Wingmaster by saying "It's an 870". You must define which because of the totally different levels of quality involved in the production of each. This little tid bit of fact is neglected to be mentioned far too often. Bill T.
The Express Model has:
A plastic trigger group.
The dimples in the mag tube and the new style plastic magazine retention system, EXCEPT on the extended magazine version, which does NOT have the dimples.
A rougher finish inside and outside, with machine marks and some burrs left.
A rougher, bead blasted blue job.
A less polished bore.
A two piece barrel. (not 100% sure about this)
Hardwood or synthetic stock, with a sporting-length fore end and pressed-in checkering.
The Defense version has 18", Cylinder bore barrel, with a bead sight.
Some Metal Injection Molded (MIM, another word for cheap die cast) parts, like the extractor.
Has the locking safety button, although Remington MAY have discontinued it.
The Wingmaster has:
An aluminum trigger group.
The old style magazine retention system.
A much smoother finish inside and out, no machine marks or burrs.
The Wingmaster gun receives a higher level of inspection and finishing.
A fine, commercial polished blue finish.
A polished bore.
A one piece barrel.
Walnut stocks with the famous "Bowling Pin" finish in gloss or satin. and better checkering.
Wide choices in barrel lengths and choke options.
No use of MIM parts, the extractor is milled.
The Wingmaster is the full top-of-the-line commercial Remington pump gun, and is priced accordingly. The Express is a "bottom of the line" budget gun. A Mossberg 500 fits in above an "Express", and below a Wingmaster in quality. I own and shoot both a Wingmaster, (1970's vintage purchased new), and a recient Mossberg 500. I have extensively handled an "Express" and found it's action to be nowhere as smooth as the current production Mossberg 500's, and off the chart poor when compared to a Wingmaster. Remember, we are talking about 3 different guns here. You cannot compare an "Express" to a Wingmaster by saying "It's an 870". You must define which because of the totally different levels of quality involved in the production of each. This little tid bit of fact is neglected to be mentioned far too often. Bill T.
There is a 3rd model of the 870 that I failed to mention, which is the Police Model. It differs as well.
The 870 Police has:
An aluminum trigger group.
The old style magazine retention system.
A much smoother finish inside and out, no machine marks or burrs.
The Police gun receives a higher level of inspection and finishing.
A military-grade parkerized finish.
A polished bore.
A one piece barrel.
Walnut or synthetic stock, with a short police-length fore end.
Choices in different stocks, including Speed-feed, and others.
18" to 20" improved cylinder barrel, with a wide choice in sights, including rifle, ghost ring, and luminous.
Heavy-duty magazine spring.
Heavy-duty trigger-sear spring.
Sling swivel mounts.
No use of MIM parts, the extractor is milled.
Both the Wingmaster and the Police Model are far above the quality level of the "Express". Bill T.
The 870 Police has:
An aluminum trigger group.
The old style magazine retention system.
A much smoother finish inside and out, no machine marks or burrs.
The Police gun receives a higher level of inspection and finishing.
A military-grade parkerized finish.
A polished bore.
A one piece barrel.
Walnut or synthetic stock, with a short police-length fore end.
Choices in different stocks, including Speed-feed, and others.
18" to 20" improved cylinder barrel, with a wide choice in sights, including rifle, ghost ring, and luminous.
Heavy-duty magazine spring.
Heavy-duty trigger-sear spring.
Sling swivel mounts.
No use of MIM parts, the extractor is milled.
Both the Wingmaster and the Police Model are far above the quality level of the "Express". Bill T.
deerslayer79
New member
well.
remington nice,browning really nice,mossberg well not as nice,to look at,but they are tough as hell.I own 3 of them 2 500's and a 835.the 500,s are wearing wood stocks,0ne of my 500's is a 20 and it has been dropped,fallen in water,really nasty water,fell off a hanger out off a 20 foot deerstand,didn't go off,thank god,you get the point.for looks
and good reliability,go with the browning's or remmy's,for sheer amount of abuse that can be takin,mossberg is the stuff,and if you brake them beyond fixin,just get another one,they are cheap in price and cheap in quality.well price.
remington nice,browning really nice,mossberg well not as nice,to look at,but they are tough as hell.I own 3 of them 2 500's and a 835.the 500,s are wearing wood stocks,0ne of my 500's is a 20 and it has been dropped,fallen in water,really nasty water,fell off a hanger out off a 20 foot deerstand,didn't go off,thank god,you get the point.for looks
and good reliability,go with the browning's or remmy's,for sheer amount of abuse that can be takin,mossberg is the stuff,and if you brake them beyond fixin,just get another one,they are cheap in price and cheap in quality.well price.