Remington 870 VS Mossberg 500/590

Psst! Ithaca Model 37. (shh....) :rockOn:

(I have a nice 870 too...)
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specs:
-early 870 Express magnum that isn't magnum marked.
-no J lock.
-anodized aluminum trigger group.
-Remington 870P furniture.
-Parkerized and duracoated field grey.
-20" cylinder bore bbl with rifle sights.
-Choate steel mag tube extension.
-Uncle mike's lefty safety. (I'm a lefty).
 
Another vote for the Mossy.
I have/use both, and I just like the functioning of the Mossy better. Seems to cycle more smoothly than the new express (it's about on par with my old wingmaster), and I like the slide release and safety locations better than the 870. Either one will do you, like posted above: Try 'em both and see what "feels" better.
 
I have a 21" 870 magnum with IC and rifle sites its the parkerized model, Ibought it 14 years ago and have not had a single problem with it. I chose the 870 mainly because I like steel recivers and the simplicty/durabilty of the 870. I like it so much I'll never considered replaceing it.
 
THe key to that statement bobc is the "14 years ago" part. IMO, the old 870's are twice the gun that the new "Express" models are.....doubly so with the 870 Wingmasters. I dunno...I've had half a dozen 870 expresses go through my hands in the last year, and they all seemed...well...."cheesy" compared to the older 870's I have.
 
Remington makes a tougher and more solid feeling item but Mossberg has better controls and seems to operate more reliably and positively than *recently* built 870s. I also find the Mossberg seems a LOT lighter than a similarily configured 870 than what the listed weights suggest. I wouldn't recommend the 870 unless you plan on using for a starting point for a lot of custom work or can get an older one.
 
870P said:
Remington makes a tougher and more solid feeling item but Mossberg has better controls and seems to operate more reliably and positively than *recently* built 870s. I also find the Mossberg seems a LOT lighter than a similarily configured 870 than what the listed weights suggest. I wouldn't recommend the 870 unless you plan on using for a starting point for a lot of custom work or can get an older one.
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That's the biggest load of CRAP I've ever heard.

Most of the 870 work I'm done is on Expresses, and other than the finish and plastic trigger group, they are no different from the earlier models!
 
RePete said:
That's the biggest load of CRAP I've ever heard.

Most of the 870 work I'm done is on Expresses, and other than the finish and plastic trigger group, they are no different from the earlier models!
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I have to agree. Both Shottys are very good and both have done "cost savings" measures to their models which are reflected by the slight differences in materials/finish etc... Both are good solid SG's. YOu need to try them out aka rack them and check release & safety positions and see how comfortable they are to yourself. I like Mossys because out of the box every single one comes up to shoulder perfectly for me (and only me!). Now I just need to practice with it more..... Too many disciplines, not enough time to shoot them all well.
 
RePete said:
That's the biggest load of CRAP I've ever heard.

Most of the 870 work I'm done is on Expresses, and other than the finish and plastic trigger group, they are no different from the earlier models!
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Express, Wingmaster or P, they're just not as well made/fitted as the older ones.
 
RePete said:
Sure they are, it's just a mindset that people have got, so they are crap, which is BS!
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Go compare a recent 870 to an old model with the same round count, no contest. My 2003 vintage 870 will never be as smooth and crisp {even after straightening the action bars and polishing the working surfaces} as the old models were virtually out of the box. Just as even the old 870s aren't as buttery smooth and positive as the old Model 12s and other designs built back when skilled touch labor was cheap.
 
870P said:
Go compare a recent 870 to an old model with the same round count, no contest. My 2003 vintage 870 will never be as smooth and crisp {even after straightening the action bars and polishing the working surfaces} as the old models were virtually out of the box. Just as even the old 870s aren't as buttery smooth and positive as the old Model 12s and other designs built back when skilled touch labor was cheap.
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I don't have to, I've recently built 2 combat shotguns for clients, based on new Expresses. One had been fired about 50 rounds and the other never fired.

They were as good as any earlier model Express and as good as my '79 vintage 870 Wingmaster.

Most 870's are as smooth as any other shotgun I have handled and fired.
 
I have a newer (2006 made) 870 express. The finish is cheap-ish (well it seems to not like any form of getting wet or moist) it is extremely reliable.
Short stroking seems to be a big problem reliability-wise and when people don't rack the pump as firmly as they should, you can't blame the gun for not working like it should.
I'd be very interested to fire a 590! :)
 
mr00jimbo said:
I have a newer (2006 made) 870 express. The finish is cheap-ish (well it seems to not like any form of getting wet or moist) it is extremely reliable.
Short stroking seems to be a big problem reliability-wise and when people don't rack the pump as firmly as they should, you can't blame the gun for not working like it should.
I'd be very interested to fire a 590! :)
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The newer 870s seem more prone to short stroking though, I find the older 870s, the Mossbergs and most of the other pumps i've tried practically pumped themselves compared to what you could get away with recent 870s. I found that working a 590 as vigorously as my 870 demands will kick that hull out almost ridiculously hard. Also the 590 and others seemed far less sensitive to premature rearwards foreend pressure.
 
Shortstroking has NOTHING to do with the gun and EVERYTHING to do with the operator.

People tend to blame something/everyone else for their problems and woes instead of owning up to THEIR mistake.
 
RePete said:
Shortstroking has NOTHING to do with the gun and EVERYTHING to do with the operator.

People tend to blame something/everyone else for their problems and woes instead of owning up to THEIR mistake.
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I haven't experienced a short stroke jam in a long time, that wasn't intentional, which BTW is a lot easier to induce on these newer 870s than older examples and other designs. I might not have a problem running my shotgun but seeing folks used to other designs shoot it {or my friend's consecutive serial numbered example} suggests that the mechanical margin of error is lower.
 
woh!? i seem to have started a pretty heated debate here. i can't really comment on whether or not the new 870's are as good as the old because mine has seen many speed and hanging clay matches and is far from a new shotgun...but...when comparing the two new models in the store...the Mossberg did feel like a more solid shotgun. The stroke of the pump action felt more solid and the locking more posative. So...I think i'm going to go with the Mossberg 590 this time. I'm still going to hold on to my short barrel for the 870 incase I decide to get another one some day.

Thanks for all the input...but feel free to keep fighting over this...its awesome!
 
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