Mossberg 500 vs remmington 870 vs dominion arms grizzly
- Thread starter Pat Rowan
- Start date
I say Mossberg 500. I have never owned an 870 myself as I have seen the problems my friends have had with theirs, such as extracting problems and extremely stiff springs in the mag tubes, even after 5 years of constant use. I have never had even one problem with my Mossberg. I also don't like the ergonomics and feel of the 870. The placement of the safety and slide release is just a pain in the ass for me. Everything about it seems awkward to me, but I attribute that to me having grown up using Mossberg shotguns and learning on them. They are good right out of the box and dont need any tinkering to make them smooth and efficient. YMMV
No problem, you just need to wait for a few more people to chime in before you make your choice. My experience is only one amongst many, some other folks may have more insight into it than I.
If you have to decide between a Remington 870 and a chinese copy of the 870, get the genuine Remington. If you really wanted a shorter barrel, you can buy an aftermarket replacement.
I would, however, recommend the Mossberg if you're actually going to USE the gun in the field and on the range, rather than just dressing it up with accessories. I've got around 1000 rounds of various 2 3/4 and 3in ammo through mine, and it has cycled everything flawlessly. The interchangable chokes in the 28" vent rib barrel work well, and you actually get 3 different ones with the gun. If I am correct, you only get 1 with the 870 express. Fit and finish on all parts is good, especially for a 300 dollar gun. As well, I never did like the slide release on the Remington. In case you're unaware, the slide release on the Mossberg is located behind the trigger guard where it is very easily accessible without moving the shooting hand, while the Remington slide release is forward of the trigger guard, kind of out of the way and requiring the shooting hand to be moved away from the firing position. As well, the safety on the Mossberg is a sliding safety switch mounted on the tang (One of two plastic pieces on the gun, and there is a 'mil spec' metal replacement if you so desire). This safety is much friendlier to lefty shooters and can be more easily actuated with the hand in the shooting position compared to the crossbolt safety of the 870.
I've used my Mossberg 500 for clays, upland, and ducks, it has performed flawlessly since I've owned it. It's the only firearm I have that I bought new (So far!
), its simple to disassemble and clean (even if you need three hands the first couple times you reassemble it) and I'd buy another tomorrow.
I would, however, recommend the Mossberg if you're actually going to USE the gun in the field and on the range, rather than just dressing it up with accessories. I've got around 1000 rounds of various 2 3/4 and 3in ammo through mine, and it has cycled everything flawlessly. The interchangable chokes in the 28" vent rib barrel work well, and you actually get 3 different ones with the gun. If I am correct, you only get 1 with the 870 express. Fit and finish on all parts is good, especially for a 300 dollar gun. As well, I never did like the slide release on the Remington. In case you're unaware, the slide release on the Mossberg is located behind the trigger guard where it is very easily accessible without moving the shooting hand, while the Remington slide release is forward of the trigger guard, kind of out of the way and requiring the shooting hand to be moved away from the firing position. As well, the safety on the Mossberg is a sliding safety switch mounted on the tang (One of two plastic pieces on the gun, and there is a 'mil spec' metal replacement if you so desire). This safety is much friendlier to lefty shooters and can be more easily actuated with the hand in the shooting position compared to the crossbolt safety of the 870.
I've used my Mossberg 500 for clays, upland, and ducks, it has performed flawlessly since I've owned it. It's the only firearm I have that I bought new (So far!
), its simple to disassemble and clean (even if you need three hands the first couple times you reassemble it) and I'd buy another tomorrow.
Thanks gyates very helpfull. I was leaning towrds the mossberg but saw that the remmington is in the same price range. I do want to dress it up a bit but I also want to be able to go on bird hunts and such.
What do you guys think of Dexter question? I was leaning towards that one as well just cause of the price. But I dont want a gun I need to mess with all the time. I just want to go out shoot and for an extra $100 seems worth it.
thanks again for the input.
What do you guys think of Dexter question? I was leaning towards that one as well just cause of the price. But I dont want a gun I need to mess with all the time. I just want to go out shoot and for an extra $100 seems worth it.
thanks again for the input.
To answer the Mav question, I love mine. It has taken over the role of main shotgun. I got it because I didn't want to abuse my Mossberg 500 too much since I shoot a lot, and I haven't been able to wreck the Mav yet. It has been 3 years, I have put between 2-3000 rounds through it and haven't had one jam or extraction failure. These things were made to go through hell and work on the other end. If money is a factor, I would recomend the Mav. People like to say, "You get what you pay for." but the 88 givess you considerably more than you pay for.
Here is a pic of mine, still looking brand new after all of the abuse it has been through. I got the short barrel so I could gopher plink with slugs and buckshot, but it still performs very well when skeet/bird shooting.
If you want to dress it up like I did, go with a Maverick 88. it works perfectly as it is, it just gives you some extra bread to buy ammo or furniture. If you just want an out of the box standard shotgun, you may as well go with the Mossberg. Both are pretty much the same, I just prefer the safety and slide release placement on the Maverick, hence why it has taken over as my go to shotgun.
Ya it's a good gun. All it is is a Mossberg 500 with it's base components made in Mexico rather than the US. Still assembled in the US though. The only other difference is a cross bar safety where as the 500 has a tang safety. As far as I've heard there aren't any issues with them that any other gun wouldn't potentially have.
Essentially the same gun, but if you're looking for a field gun you're probably just as well off to go with the 500 over the Maverick. For the little bit of extra money you get wood stocks and the three choke tubes (Mod. Imp. Cyl and Full) whereas the Maverick only comes with one.
With regards to not wanting to beat up the 500, it's not exactly a Perazzi.. It was meant to go out in the field. I do not like plastic on guns, and IIRC the choke tubes would make the cost of the two equal, so I went with the 500.
Also, I shot an older Maverick before (1 action bar) and it seemed to kick harder. However, that may have been because the stock didn't fit me as well.
Here's mine:
I personally like a 500 better. That being said, the 870 is also a great gun as well.
The weakness of the 500 is the trigger group. It is plastic and can break if hit hard (aka dropped onto a rock which hits the trigger guard just right...). Everything else is great from the solid double action bars to the shell lifter. Add in that you can get a new 500's with three barrels for under $500 (They were $425 CDN last year or so when I last looked).
If you are looking for ability to add on accessories and make it more "tactical" I'd say the 870 is a better choice, with the Mossy 590 hot on it's heels.
The weakness of the 500 is the trigger group. It is plastic and can break if hit hard (aka dropped onto a rock which hits the trigger guard just right...). Everything else is great from the solid double action bars to the shell lifter. Add in that you can get a new 500's with three barrels for under $500 (They were $425 CDN last year or so when I last looked).
If you are looking for ability to add on accessories and make it more "tactical" I'd say the 870 is a better choice, with the Mossy 590 hot on it's heels.
Why buy a copy when you can own the original, much copied Wingmaster? Was my first gun in the late 60s and put mine thru all kinds of crap. They are tough guns. Mossberg doesnt do it for me and a Chinese copy leaves me looking for the EE to get another 870. Currently have a BPS Trap model I have not tired of yet but might just get another 870 for something I can hunt without worrying about all the pretty wood and engraving. For the few dollars difference and the abundance of used Wingmasters it makes me wonder why a lot of people buy new. Never ever ever seen one worn out or even not working for that matter. I have heard good things about Mossberg pumps but then if its the only gun you have ever shot then that changes it up a bunch.
mossberg 500. i also have a m590 and m590a1
my mossberg 500 has not been cleaned since I got it,it was also a practice camo job for somebody so I got it cheap, but brand new at p&d . I go fly fishing way up in the mountains and use it for bear protection. it has been tossed on rocks and I dont mean gently I mean thrown from 30 feet onto large rocks, not gravel! when I can no longer hold onto it in the fast current when I submerge it and used as a crutch to wade through a river, ive dropped it in mud and left it out in the rain. still feeds and fires every round put in it.
the M590 series that I used? they just did not hold up like the 500 in the wet conditions and rusted over night. but the 500 is painted not parkerized. but both just kept on going.
mossberg 500 is an under rated shotgun. when you go to feed shells into it and see wet sand covered shells still feedng well you know its good. to this day the only cleaning it has had since new is the action open being rinsed out in a creek after I fell in the mud.
I trust this gun with my life.
my mossberg 500 has not been cleaned since I got it,it was also a practice camo job for somebody so I got it cheap, but brand new at p&d . I go fly fishing way up in the mountains and use it for bear protection. it has been tossed on rocks and I dont mean gently I mean thrown from 30 feet onto large rocks, not gravel! when I can no longer hold onto it in the fast current when I submerge it and used as a crutch to wade through a river, ive dropped it in mud and left it out in the rain. still feeds and fires every round put in it.
the M590 series that I used? they just did not hold up like the 500 in the wet conditions and rusted over night. but the 500 is painted not parkerized. but both just kept on going.
mossberg 500 is an under rated shotgun. when you go to feed shells into it and see wet sand covered shells still feedng well you know its good. to this day the only cleaning it has had since new is the action open being rinsed out in a creek after I fell in the mud.
I trust this gun with my life.
Je$u$ Cripes man!, just clean that poor shotgun already!
And after you've done that please post a youtube vid of yourself throwing your Mossberg off a 30 foot cliff. By the sounds of your adventures and exploits you need to be in some form of a movie. An older gentleman (Now 79 years old) at our gun club wore out his 870 Wingmaster.
He bought it brand new in the 60's as well and used it for EVERYTHING. Turres, ducks, upland.. But what really did the job was trapshooting. He literally shot thousands of rounds of trap with that shotgun in the 70s and 80s, winning provincial competitions over and over again with his pump gun. Finally a few (read 10-15) years ago he finds he just can't hit anything with the gun. Pattern is useless on paper too...
He took the gun to a gunsmith, and found that the barrel was literally worn out. (From full to cyl or something of the like.) A new barrel from Remington and it's shooting like new again. As of right now he wants to start to 'get out' of trap shooting. He's got his BT99 up for sale so that he can go back to shooting his 870.
There's no doubt that the 870 Wingmaster beats the Mossberg with regards to fit, finish, and smoothness in operation. However, with the Mossberg retailing at $289, the 870 Express at $359, and the Wingmaster at $699 the Mossberg is definitely underrated and offers great bang for your buck.
