Remington 870 vs Mossberg 500 for a combat shotgun?

Behind the triggerguard is much faster and more positive, even for lefty's who learn how to us
Click to expand...


IF you install the oversized version, maybe so. As it stands, I disagree. I will begrudgingly agree about the Mossberg safety if you have smaller hands/short fingers.

It's all moot though, while I'm a Mossberg guy when it comes down to it, I'll take the Winchester 1300 over both the 500 and the 870 to be honest. I believe it possesses the best features of both. 870's good points (18.5" profile with full mag tube) and the 500's (slide release location is the same but the buttons more comfortable, more rounded trigger guard for gloved hands or big fingers).

The things I do not like about the 870, in this order - relative inability to completely disassemble easily (includes mag tube/extractor/internal parts like shell catch), cost of replacement parts and cost of new factory guns (539 dollars for an 870 Police Magnum w/out extension? Nice gun, but c'mon now...), safety/slide release locations. I believe out of the two companies, Mossberg offers more of what I want and for cheaper, and FWIW it has been more reliable than my 870's. Just so you know I'm not foolin' :

Shotguns I've owned in the past two years, some I still own, some I sold...

Remington :

Rem870 Express 7 shot "riot" model, 3 different ones. 2 with standard full synthetic stock, 1 w/ Folding Butler Creek protector, factory. Wasn't pleased with any of them, to be honest. They'd do the trick, but all possessed the rough chamber syndrome and the finish felt much cheaper than any Mossberg finish I've owned. Did like the action.

1975 Remington 870 Wingmaster, 2 3/4" only, turned "tacticool". Sold long barrel and furniture to a good home, added Hogue Tamer pistol grip and forend, Tacstar sidesaddle, Remington replacement barrel 18.5 and Choate 2 rnd extension. Sturdier than an Abrams tank, very smoothe action, lovely feel overall,...except it jammed. It locked up solid. Sold it. Coulda been fixed with TLC. I've never had a Mossberg lock up on me. If the price was nice, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another of these.

Winchester :

1300 Defender, 18.5" w/ wood stock and ribbed forend. 5+1 capacity. Loved it, but...action is definitely an acquired taste. Some clal the 1300 "glassy", personally if you're used to an 870 and especially a Mossberg, you'll find the action a bit...tough to get used to. Very reliable, highly pointable and good gun overall.

1300 Defender, 18.5" black matte 7+1 capacity. My ideal shotgun. No complaints or anything I'd change except adding a few accessories and the fact I wish I could add a metal trigger assembly and that the disassembly takes some getting used to.

Mossberg, bear with me. This'll get lengthy.

Mossberg 500, pgo cruiser. Parkerized w/ mossberg pistol grip kit. Gun was terribly reliable and built like a tank. However, the Mossberg brand pgo kit is a piece of feces and the hard-as-a-rock feel will turn your hand into mush in seconds flat, even with birdshot! The ergonomics of it, as far as pistol grips go, is nice, because it allows you to use your thumb to activate the slide release. Others make that harder. Great gun, terrible grip.

Mossberg 590 security, 20" barrel, heat shield, 8+1 capacity. Owned 2. Hated them at first. They have a habit of having the mag tube spring bind up, for one reason or another. This is an easy fix, which I didn't know at the time. Replace that spring and you will have a beast of gun. Went bang each and every time. I could drain all 9 shots in around 4-5 seconds tops. Not a single jam/feed issue after mag spring was replaced. They get smoother with use. Would buy and own again, even in the "cheap" blued and plastic tirgger guard/safety button setup. Fantastic gun and offers insane firepower as far as shotguns go.


Mossberg 590 special purpose w/ Ghost rings and matte finish, 20" barrel. Same as above, except I didn't care for the ghost rings and I prefer a heat shield due to my reload methods.

Mossberg 500 Mariner, 20", 7+1. Apparently a discontinued model now. In some ways, my favorite Mossberg I've owned. Sturdy as hell, smoothest action I've had in a Mossberg, zero issues. Needed funds and sold. Would buy in a hot second again if the price was right.

Mossberg 590 Mariner, 20" barrel, same as the above 590's except the finish and action were better. I believe the Marinecote really improves the action. If I don't get one of these or another 1300 as my next pump shotgun, it'll be a 590a1 Mariner 6-shot and I'll add an extension.

Mossberg 500 ATP, 18.5" heavy (I think) barrel, 5+1 capacity, rifle sights, old style flat stain wood stock and forend. Made the most beastly rack sound I've ever heard. Literally a Chik-CHAK every time. I believe due to the wood. Great gun all around, not my favorite Mossberg I've had but would trust my life to one provided it'd been gone over carefully and kept up. Age and use is a factor with these guns. I believe it was some kind of South American milcontract gun or something. Regret selling, in a way.

Mossberg 590a1, 6 shot, heavy barrel and mtl trigger assembly and safety button, 3 dot Glock sights. Um...the last word in a combat pump, in my opinion. Never selling. Only mod coming is a Mesa Tactical 6 rd sidesaddle and a replacement heavy barrel w/ bead sight as I prefer bead to any sight on a shotgun. May change out the Speedfeed set for a Riot Wood set.


Mossberg 500, 18.5", 5+1 with pistol grip Hogue Tamer set. My house gun. Rests against the wall next to my bed, almost out of sight, 5 in the tube "cruiser ready". Dead reliable and brutally fast. I can empty a tube of standard power 00 buck fairly accurately (within reason, it IS a PGO) in 3-4 seconds tops. Zero malfunctions, although my old style 6 3./4" forend is rubbing/contacting the barrel slightly. Only mods are a Tacstar sidesaddle, Mossberg brand heatshield, switching out the forend for the new longer style and adding a quality green laser at some point.
 
I like the both and the winchester 1300 20ga I sold liked it as well just wish it was a 12ga.

I can see where the Mossberg is easyer to load in a high stress deal then my Winchester would have been.

I would take either one and think they both will get the job done. If the Mossberg sucked so bad why are they still making them?

I own a 500 and cant wait to put led down range soon and that will happen Christmas weekend.
 
Quote;
OlympicArmsFan
Senior Member

If the Mossberg sucked so bad why are they still making them?

----------------------
Not only are they still making them, in 2007 Mossberg led the industry in shotgun production, and if you include Maverick's separate total, Mossberg was by far the production leader. So apparently Mossberg is more than holding it's own in the marketplace...

http://www.shootingindustry.com/Pages/SpecRep02.html

I have a couple of Mossbergs, but more than a dozen 870s (yeah, I'm a fan). And IMO, anyone who claims the Mossberg (or Maverick) isn't a tough, reliable shotgun just isn't being objective.
 
TxGun thats what Im saying if they where crap they wouldnt be doing or selling guns still after all these years.

I think they both are good and will serve anyones needs and in combat Im not picking up my 12ga to go into battle with its my AK or AR with the 12ga being used in some way shape or form.
 
mossberg 590

mossberg_590_2.jpg
 
Both are good solid guns but I prefer the 870, the Mossberg is lighter and for what I do most (shoot trap) the 870 is best. For home defence (witch I hope to never need to do) either is fine. My idea of a shotgun for home use is as a barricade weapon with a handgun the primary. JMHO : Bill
 
I always thought the Mossbergs were cheap pieces of crap. But then I bought two Mossberg Mavericks for my two sons and they both used the heck outa them. So, I took notice.

In the meantime, I was using the heck outa my Remington 870 and to be honest the Remington’s been a better gun. Through all the hard use, it’s never failed to fire, even in the worst conditions.

I've also shot the Mossbergs lots of times; because, they are lighter. The Mossys are synthetic and my 870 is wood. But, where I really notice the difference is the field stripping and cleaning. The 870 is so easy to disassemble and clean compared to the Mossberg that it's unbelievable. When you disassemble the Mossy it comes out in a dozen pieces and is hard to reassemble. Not the Remington.

So, tonight, I was looking to add another tactical shotgun to my arsenal; because, I sold my Benelli Nova tactical in February. I checked out the Mossberg and then the 870. The Mossberg had a cheap looking shroud over the barrel, and it just didn’t feel right. So, I bought the 870. Besides, it had a two-round barrel extension and only cost $315. So, I went for it; and, I'm sure I’ll be happy as time goes on.

Here's a great review:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqkeKwRmWFY
 
Last edited:
You call the very sturdy and well built heat shield on the Mossberg 590 "flimsy"?

Interesting that you brought up the +2 extension on the Remington. The 590 comes standard with +4!!
 
No, I called it a "cheap looking shroud" over the barrell. I know it's a heat shield, but I don't think it's at all neccessary. In fact, I'll go out on a limb here and say it downright unnecessary in most of the applications it will be purchased for. After all, how many rounds is someone going to be sending downrange at a perp in their house. :rolleyes:

The 590 comes standard with +4!!
Click to expand...
So, according to the Mossberg's website the 590 is a 9 shot gun. According to Remington's website, my new 870 will do 8 cartridges. I guess the + 4 means just 4 more than the 500. And, BTW, my gun doesn't have that ugly heat shield on it. :p
 
Last edited:
I say, get one of each. That's my answer when folks debate over which guitar is better, a Les Paul or a Strat. Each one is great in it's own way, yet different from the other.
I'm working on getting an older 20ga 870 to leave original. Maybe later on, get a 12ga Mossberg, and maybe add a couple extras to that.

JP
 
guitar - I had to field strip those two Mossberg Mavericks until I am sick of them. I like a gun that is easy to field strip and clean and that NEVER breaks down. So far, in my experience, that's the 870. Perhaps that's why the 870 is the best selling shotgun of all time.

But, I'll take your great advice under consideration - thanks. :)

I've got to admit though - this one sure is cool...

50440.jpg
 
Last edited:
Know what's funny?

Mossberg is leading the pack this year!

And the mossberg comes down in *gasp* TWO MORE #$%ING PIECES. Pieces that are user-replaceable without destroying the gun, and can be replaced and infinite number of times without destroying the gun! People who say they are hard to put back together have to either have no hands, or have the mental capability of a peanut. Those two extra pieces are the shell stop, and shell interrupter. Which you can clean behind now. And if they break, they can be replaced more than once or twice, since they aren't staked in place (and there's only so much metal in that area to stake with)

And they offer the Mossberg (both 500 and 590) in many different configurations, MOSTLY WITHOUT THE HEAT SHIELD. And they sell their military and police guns to civilians, to boot!
And unlike Remingtons, they don't choke on bulk walmart birdshot.

I don't see military contracts for Remington 590s. Do you?
 
Ishida - I know Mossberg makes a great shotgun. But, I duess I just can't shake the reputation they had as cheap shotguns years ago. I like this one:

50591.jpg
 
Last edited:
Mossberg has been extensively purchased by the military for far longer than Obummer been in office...

Brent
 
Remington 870 is constructed better. Even though the finish on the express line is crappy at best, the parts and workmanship are better than the 500.

Despite its rough construction, A Mossberg 500 will still fire every time you pull the trigger. Besides, a Mossberg 500 is more user friendly, especially for a lefty.

That being said, either will be fine for a combat shotgun, especially since they won't be seeing much use (unless you shoot clays or competitions).

But if I had a third option...I'd prefer a 590 over both of the above.
 
When was the last time you used a shotgun for combat as a civillian? My guess is never.
Click to expand...
I personally never have... But having a gun with combat capable design and combat compatible features makes me more comfortable knowing I could, if need be, engage with my 500. Anyone anytime anywhere... It took much practice and planning to feel I was ready to do the same.
Brent
 
I always thought the Mossbergs were cheap pieces of crap. But then I bought two Mossberg Mavericks for my two sons and they both used the heck outa them. So, I took notice.

In the meantime, I was using the heck outa my Remington 870 and to be honest the Remington’s been a better gun. Through all the hard use, it’s never failed to fire, even in the worst conditions.

I've also shot the Mossbergs lots of times; because, they are lighter. The Mossys are synthetic and my 870 is wood. But, where I really notice the difference is the field stripping and cleaning. The 870 is so easy to disassemble and clean compared to the Mossberg that it's unbelievable. When you disassemble the Mossy it comes out in a dozen pieces and is hard to reassemble. Not the Remington.

So, tonight, I was looking to add another tactical shotgun to my arsenal; because, I sold my Benelli Nova tactical in February. I checked out the Mossberg and then the 870. The Mossberg had a cheap looking shroud over the barrel, and it just didn’t feel right. So, I bought the 870. Besides, it had a two-round barrel extension and only cost $315. So, I went for it; and, I'm sure I’ll be happy as time goes on.

Here's a great review:
Click to expand...



so many inaccuracies it's comical. Neither Mossberg nor the Remington are synthetic. They're aluminum and steel, respectively. I've never heard of a synthetic or wood shotgun, if you see one I'd be interested in seeing it. Both guns, like any shotgun, is capable of accepting a wood or synthetic or Corduroy stock for that matter. I prefer synthetic on my most-used guns because it is FAR more durable and weatherproof than wood, hate to break it to ya. I still like wood, but if I put it on one of my guns it's for looks, first and foremost. As another matter of fact, the wood that's probably on your 870 EXPRESS is probably more synthetic than you think as it's a cheap wood laminate which break faster than anything in my experiences. I've seen it happen personally. I made a post you may have failed to read detailing all the guns I've owned just over the past 2 years alone, and NONE of them have "failed to fire". If you clean and look after your guns that's not likely to happen. HOWEVER, the only ones with mechanical issues have been the Remingtons. LOL @ your disassembly theory. You know why the Remington doesn't come out in a dozen pieces? Because you CAN'T fully disassemble it like you can the Mossberg. All you're doing on the Remington is pulling out the slide and bolt assembly. jeez pay attention. Do you think that the Remington just has less parts? haha. The Mossberg might be "hard to reassemble" for Corky from Life Goes On maybe, but I found it pretty easy even the first time I did it. The "cheap looking" (yeah, the goffy muzzle brakes on the 870 tac's are TOTALLY classy!) heatshields on the Mossberg give the gun added weight to both lessen the recoil and keep your hands from getting burned when doing rollover reloads on the range.

You should probably do a little fact checking before they get past your internal QA sensors.
 
Here's what I think !

:rolleyes: I own 4 mossberg 500s & 1 590 besides two 870s ( one trap & one express ) ,I can tear the Mossbergs apart in my sleep cause I've done that alot and they have their good features ,but cost is the big selling point.
The oldest 500 is a '73 model and has been shot alot .

The Mosssbergs have alot of minor problem over the years,cracked stocks with the hardwood they use ,my oldest one has walnut and no problem.

Ejection is the biggest with a weak mag spring plus this company doesn't seem to polish the chambers as well as the 870s are .You'll never see them Mossbergs 500s at trap shoots .I've spend money correcting this ,but keeping the chamber clean solves this ,was told this by a gunsmith and I got to admit that he was right .

Got to admit that I still shoot my Mossbergs cause I learn the hard way ,my brother-in -law has one that's a peice of junk but brought another as did my brother who gave his to me free and went with a 1187 Remington now .I got that 500 working again !

I do like my Mossbergs ,but if one was it only ,than it would be an 870 ,as that's more popular at the clay shoots and seems to be more trouble free .:eek:

Just my thought on the Mossberg 500 VS Remington 870 thing !:rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top