Remington 870 or mossbe 500/590?

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pistol named Bertha

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Ok guys I need some input or opinions kn which one of these I should go with. It will be strictly for home defense and for when me and my boys have our little make shift 3 gun comps in the back yard. I don't want a pistol grip and I'd like to have at least 7 round capacity. I've been looking hard at the mossberg 590 but don't see the real difference between it and the 500. The 870 is about the same pricewise maybe a lil more but with magpul stuff coming out next year I could make it match my ar. What's your personal experience with either shotgun? Also what about their cheaper counter parts like maverick and I believe its h&r?
 
Try the search function or google it, this question comes up every five seconds.

You want get a definitive answer anyway, they're pretty much equal.
 
There are specific models of the 870 and 500/590 you should be looking at.

For the 870, look at the Wingmaster and Police Magnum, preferably used. For the 590, I believe it's the 590A1. Simply put, they come out of the box more well polished than your typical 870 Express or Big 5 Mossberg 500.

If you have left handed shooters in you family, go with the Mossberg. If not, either will do.

But yeah, if you do a search, you'll find many other answers like mine.
 
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When I was working back in Miami in the 80s, our shop had a contract with Carnivale and Festivale cruise liners to maintain their shotguns, which were Remington 870s and Winchester 1200s, and used for skeet shooting off the fantail by the passengers. These guns were shot thousands of times.

The Remingtons rarely had any issues other than needing a good cleaning. Rarely, a shell stop would break, but other than that, nothing to speak of.

(Winchesters were more troublesome, but that's not the question here.)

Many Mossberg 500s were also brought in by customers, mostly for cleanings, but the only really repetitive problem with them was the plastic safety button breaking. (They were pretty good sellers at the K-Mart, Woolco and other discount stores.) This has been a long standing problem with the 500, and Mossberg knows it, but has never done anything about it. Other than that, they seemed to be very trouble free and durable. (There are aftermarket metal safety buttons available.)
 
Personally I prefer the location of the Mossberg safety (back of the receiver) versus the Remington (trigger guard). To me it's just a more natural motion to use my thumb on the Mossberg.
 
I wouldn't say a 590-A1 is more well rounded... It is simply the "mil. Spec." version... It has the metal safety tab and compressed metal filings trigger group neither of which, in the plastic material, has ever failed me...

It has a thicker barrel making it heavier and more forward weight balance.

It may have the heavier mag spring and should have a metal shell follower too.

You will have fewer barrel options for the 7+ round versions... You are limited on barrel length too... I do not think a 18 inch barrel is long enuff to support the 7 round mag tube but I might be wrong.

Personally I prefer the ease of maint. with polished bluing so the 590 is not for me...

And the funny part... Folks are paying a premium to let the factory skip manufacturing steps leaving rough barrels dipped in bluing which will rust with a quickness compared to polished metal under smooth bluing.

Brent
 
I much prefer the 870 to either Mossberg, especially on a gun that will be used for hunting, or serve double duty. If I were buying a gun to be used only for personal protection the 590 would be a much better choice than the 500.
 
@ Brent

Oops, I meant to say well polished, not well rounded lol. But yeah, to further elaborate on my point, go to a local gun store and test the action of an 870 Express and 870 Wingmaster, that should explain what I am talking about.
 
potato....pototo..... try both and see what works best for you. They both work just fine, personally i think the remington is easier to take apart, but i like the rear safety of the mossberg.... eventually you will probably end up owning both, I did:)
 
Just my personal experience but I was a huge Remington 870 fan many years ago and owned several. Then I had a very bad experience with their customer service regarding a NIB 870 Express Synthetic Magnum and was so angry I sold all I had and switched to Mossbergs, of which we now own three; my wife's 590A1 9-shot with the ghost ring sights and six position stock, a very battered 500 Mariner and an even older and beaten Maverick 88 with SpeedFeed stock and side saddle. All are 12 gauge, all have hundreds of rounds through them (the Maverick might have thousands, it was a police trade in that saw a lot of time at a training range), and not a one has a problem.

So, you choose and see what you like. I prefer the tang safety, the feel of a Mossy and the way they shoot so well. But I used to feel the same way about my 870s, too. It's a Ford vs. Chevy, Coke vs. Pepsi debate.
 
i love my mossy 500 best gun i bought, mine came with a short home defence barrell and a longer barrell, i use mossy for everything from grouse to bear to blacktail. I can shoot at a steel plate at 300 yards and hit it 3 out of 5 time(36x36) tango. i also like the saftey its fast and easy.
 
hogdogs said:
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You are limited on barrel length too... I do not think a 18 inch barrel is long enuff to support the 7 round mag tube but I might be wrong.
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Click to expand...

Correct. The 6 round mag extends to the end of the barrel on an 18" 870. Matches up very nicely actually.
 
JUST got myself one right now. Walked through the door with it :) by one I mean the Mossberg 590 with the door breach and all.

I have 00 BUCK and #6 and #8...anyone know what to load it with for home defense?
 
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