Remington vs Mossberg vs Winchester vs Ithaca?

[Mark Mags]

Hey gang,

Looking for some clarification here. And let's be clear, I am NOT asking which is best/worst etc...

So...let's get started: I am a Remington fan, and have a understanding of their lineup and what I would pick for what. The other brands mentioned, I have no idea.
My question is then: what would be the comparable to the Remington models listed:

Remington 870P, Wingmaster and V3?

Assume these are NIB and want to buy now. So the "older Ithaca 37 is a gem if you can find one..." doesn't apply here. I have $###x dollars in my pocket and I can't find a new Wingmaster at the store, but they have a Mossberg ###, buy that instead?

Keep in mind, these are all OEM, 2.¾ and 3", out of the box good to go, nothing done to improve them. I have watched comparison videos and buddy was doing a Wingmaster vs a Cooey break open single shot...ok, bit of a stretch, but you get the idea...

Thanks for the time.

 

[Butcherbill]

It would come down to a few points for me with those choices, all of which make good shotguns. Aside from how each one fit when shouldered which would be first and foremost on my list.

Bottom load and ejection vs bottom load and side eject.
Lifter style.
Cross bolt safety vs tang safety.
Availability of aftermarket upgrade parts and different barrels.

 

[Brutus]

The bane of Ithaca has always been and continues to be the lack of add ons if that's your style.

If you are just looking for a no non sense upland hunting shotgun the older 2 3/4 only receivers were hard to beat. And in this simple factory configuration all models of Ithaca comparing to all models of 870 the Ithaca in non magnum receiver was consistently about one full pound lighter. And as of late the newer 28 gauge fills many ladders with yummies.

Another Hollywood factor is that in many instances the Ithaca was front & centre of the cameras: Aliens, Terminator, LA Confidential, Ricochet, featured in Soprano series, X Files series, China Beach series, We own the Night, The Departed, Gone baby gone. Supposedly it was edited out of Clint Eastwood movie Magnum Force the police shooting competition and Clint wielded the full sporter Featherweight in The Eiger Sanction.

Seems to be a movie favorite shorter barrel or otherwise. Longest years in US manufactured pump.actions. Very first dedicated deerslayer shotgun about 1959. Served in two world wars (Edit WW2) probably Korea & certainly Vietnam.

NYPD, Chicago, Detroit, LAPD, LASD.
It's said it's still used by NY state police highway patrol.

 

[Suther]

I know mossbergs the best, so I will stick to them. The closest comparisons I can come up with are as follows:

Rem870p = Mossberg 590/590a1
Wingmaster=Mossberg 500
V3= Mossberg 930

If you want to add the versamax to the list, I would compare that to the new Mossberg 940 JM Pro.