Mossberg 500 vs remington 870

Ive only handled the 870 on a regular basis over the years with limited Mossberg.

I vote for 870, but if you can spend the extra and get an 870P of possible.

The Express Tactical is a wicked deal of a package and is a good build gun. Price has come down for them here in this area.

I have the Tactical Version with the XS package and like it. No issues so far and lots of range time.
 
I have heard good things about the durability of the 870, only ever owned a mossberg. The thing that pushes me in the direction of the mossberg is the position of the safety and the pump slide release. Both are accessable without much movement of the fighting hand. I'm in the army and in the army we use 870's, I think that has pushed me away from them because the shotguns in the training system are in poor state from hundreds of different soldiers with various weapons handling capabilities using them. Another thing is cost, mossbergs are usually cheaper. The last is weight, mossbergs weigh less.
 
Having never held a Mossberg, I love my 870 express, it cycles well, and for the price, it's not bad.
If I was to buy another one.. It would be an 870 with a shorter barrel, I have the 26" and I find it clunky.. Nice gun though..
 
I like the location of the slide release on the Mossberg a lot more than the Remington, but beyond that I have no real preference. Haven't had a chance to try a pistol grip on a Mossberg, so I'm not sure how I'd like the tang safety on it, but with normal stocks both are fine.
 
It is truly a Ford vs Chevrolet argument - They are about on par, although Remington's Express lines have been suffering from a lack of polishing prior to leavuing the factory lately, and they need to pull their socks up.

I personally prefer the 870's safety location, as that is what I first learned. I can see the utility of having a tang mount a la 500, but it just doesn't feel right to me. One extra shell capacity in the MOssberg is nice. 870 is less complex to strip and assemble.

Poe-tay-toe, poe-tah-toh.

Oh, PS - If you have the finances to afford one of Remington's Law Enforcement or Wingmaster quality shotguns, there is no contest, IMHO! Great devices!! (But spendy!)
 
I own 2 870's and have shot the Mossberg, IMHO they are on par, just what you prefer in your hands. If I was doing it all over again... I'd save the extra money and go for a used Benelli Supernova.
 
I have owned both, currently have the M500. I'm lefty, and both control layouts are fine. For the 870, my left index finger can operate the action release and my middle finger just reaches under the trigger guard to push the safety. Using a jumbo safety makes it even easier. I just didn't like the finish on the express I had, it never rusted, but was just rough and tore up my rags leaving cotton everywhere. So I sold it for a M500 which has been excellent for me. The action really smoothed up faster than the 870. I will add a Wingmaster in the future.
 
personal preference really

NOOOO NOT THIS THREAD AGAIN ARRGHHHH!!

Just kidding. Ive been knee deep in shotguns lately as I'm looking for one as well and heres what I've learned without repeating whats been said

-both quality products, 590a1 and wingmaster variants will give you a better gun but alot of people say these are great value guns even at the lower models

- FIT. go to a store and shoulder both of these. snap it up quickly to your shoulder several times and see which one has you looking properly down the bead/barrel.

-ergonomics 870s and 500s have slide release and safeties in different locations. again, this is where going to a store and checking both of them out will be super handy.

I would also take into account forearm rattle. my friends' mossberg forearm rattles like a cheap baby toy.
 
I doubt if anyone will pay attention, but I can tell you why I chose a 590 over an the 870.

1) The safety position on the 500/590 is more natural, and does not require one to change his firing grip to release.
2) The slide release on the 500/590 can be manipulated without changing your firing grip, whereas the 870's is awkwardly placed in front of the trigger guard.
3) The 500/590 has two extractors the 870 has one.
4) The 500/590 has an ejector that is held in place with a screw and can be replaced by anyone with a screw driver, the 870's is riveted in place, and if it fails is difficult to change.
5) The 500/590's cartridge stops are not permanently installed, where the 870's is stabbed in place making it impossible to clean behind them, and they will tie up the gun if they come loose, and can be a challenge to re-stab.

The biggest advantage the 870 has over the 500/590 is that any 870 barrel can be installed on an 870 receiver of appropriate length, where as the Mossberg barrels are specific to the magazine length. Thus a 28" barrel suitable for waterfowl isn't available for a 590 with an 8 round magazine, but you can take your Marine magnum and install a 30" barrel on it it that meets your requirement.
 
Boomer said:
I doubt if anyone will pay attention, but I can tell you why I chose a 590 over an the 870.

1) The safety position on the 500/590 is more natural, and does not require one to change his firing grip to release.
2) The slide release on the 500/590 can be manipulated without changing your firing grip, whereas the 870's is awkwardly placed in front of the trigger guard.
3) The 500/590 has two extractors the 870 has one.
4) The 500/590 has an ejector that is held in place with a screw and can be replaced by anyone with a screw driver, the 870's is riveted in place, and if it fails is difficult to change.
5) The 500/590's cartridge stops are not permanently installed, where the 870's is stabbed in place making it impossible to clean behind them, and they will tie up the gun if they come loose, and can be a challenge to re-stab.

The biggest advantage the 870 has over the 500/590 is that any 870 barrel can be installed on an 870 receiver of appropriate length, where as the Mossberg barrels are specific to the magazine length. Thus a 28" barrel suitable for waterfowl isn't available for a 590 with an 8 round magazine, but you can take your Marine magnum and install a 30" barrel on it it that meets your requirement.
Click to expand...

^to add to this

-you can install different mag tube length barrels on the 500s by simply swapping out the magazine tube/spring for one thats an appropriate length to match the new barrel. they can be found cheap on ebay or, i suppose, ordered from brownells. the mag tube unscrews from the receiver (another plus - unlike the 870s brazed-in mag tube).

-the carrier tucks up and out of the way on the Mossberg to facilitate much easier loading, and makes it easier to quickly check if there are any shells in the mag tube.

-the receivers are aluminum. the drawback is that you cant easily refinish the entire gun, and having ghost rings/rails/etc tapped into aluminum instead of steel is less durable/robust. i drill/tap my own rear sights/rails, and tapping aluminum gives me the willies. the upside is that its lighter and it wont rust - its a real PITA for me to keep my 870 Express and DA Grizzly receivers rust free, so much so that ive just given up at this point.

-accessories are somewhat harder to find, or they were originally designed for the 870 and then adapted to the 500/590. this sometimes means they dont fit as well - such as the Knoxx stock on a Mossberg.

-the Mossbergs are more suited for ambidextrous use. my g/f is a leftie (but adamantly tries to use RH guns) and she complains about the slide release and safety on an 870.


personally, i prefer the 870 because it has by far the largest aftermarket/takeoff/used parts market.
but if someone were to take away all my 870s and replace them with equivalent Mossbergs (590s please ;)) i wouldnt lose sleep over it - theyre both great platforms.
 
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