Which one would you buy?

MD

MD

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I'm looking for a 3-inch capable, multi-choke pump. Of the list below, which is the best for durability, reliability, waterfowling and occasional clay shooting?

1. Maverick $209

2. Mossberg 500 Field $279 (with three choke tubes)

3. Mossberg 535 ATS $294 (with three choke tubes)

4. Remington 870 Express $339.00

5. Mossberg 835 Ulti-mag (3 1/2 inch) $349

6. Stoeger P-350 3 1/2 $369 (with five choke tubes)
 
Functionally a Remmy 870 and Mossberg 500 will worke equally well. The mossberg will be lighter and less expensive, the Remington has the edge for long term durability and availability of aftermarket do-dads.

Either will serve well. I've got both and no real complaints for either except that the Remmy is much heavier and the mossy doesn't accept mag extensions.
 
Save up another $100 and go for the Benelli Nova, its a far superior shotgun to any listed above. The finish on new Remingtons is ####e. If you are limited to the choices above I'd go with the Mossberg 835. If you can find a older used 870, go with that.
 
Benelli Nova is not on my list. Alot of ppl like them, and most of those people also like Glock. Personally I like my guns made of metal.

The Remington Express is not polished once machined. It's just sandblasted and parkerized. This is a cost saving measure, nothing more. The components on an express and a Wingmaster are the same parts out of the same bin assembled into the same gun. Difference is the wingmaster has a nice walnut stock, the metal is polished and gloss blued and the cartridge tab and bolt are chromed. Functionally they are equal.

The Benelli Nova SHOULD be much less money than the wingmaster, but it's not. A Wingmaster receiver is machined from solid billet and then all the parts are fine polished and blued. that takes time and adds dollars to the retail price.

Benelli's are mostly made of polymer in a mould. There is not polishing required and they snap together like lego with unskilled labor. It's likely it costs less than half the price the Wingmaster costs to manufacture, yet sells in the same price range. Which do you think will still be valued in 50 years? Have you priced nice Winchester Model 12's lately?

The Mossberg is also all metal, but the receiver is forged Aluminum. Aluminum is cheaper and easier to machine and finish and tool bits last ALOT longer too. That is why the Mossberg is so much cheaper than the Remington.

FWIW, i would look for an older 870 - not because they are better made (they aren't realy), but because the older style magazine can be used with extensions as-is, while the newer ones require modification.
 
The fact is I have an older 870, a 1957, and I agree, the 870 is a wonderful thing. But mine has a fixed choke, no rib and only takes 2 3/4 inch shells.

That's why I'm looking for something more versatile, particularly with the option to change shokes for upland birds and clays, etc. and also have the 3-inch capability for geese.
 
MD said:
The fact is I have an older 870, a 1957, and I agree, the 870 is a wonderful thing. But mine has a fixed choke, no rib and only takes 2 3/4 inch shells.

That's why I'm looking for something more versatile, particularly with the option to change shokes for upland birds and clays, etc. and also have the 3-inch capability for geese.
Click to expand...

They've been making 3" 870's since the 1970's at least. You can get an "older" 870 that's 3" capable. Also, 28 and 26" vent rib remchoke bbl's are easy to come by - just watch the equipment exchange ;)
 
I looked at a lot of those same guns last year and decided on the 500Mossberg. I didn't feel I needed 3-1/2" capability so in the end it was down to the 870, the 88 and the 500. Once you factor in the cost of the extra choke tubes, the 88 is almost the same price as the 500, and I prefer a wood stock which isn't available on the Maverick. My dad bought an 870 super mag (3-1/2") about a year earlier, and as Caboose mentioned, the finish on both the wood and metal of the new 870 express models is crap. Both of these guns have worked flawlessly though (the 870 was pretty stiff to pump initially, but no feeding or jamming issues). For the price difference I think the 500 was a much better deal.
 
I was a hardcore 870 shooter for 20 years....an 870 12 gauge was my first gun. I just purchased a mossberg---I'm very impressed and the value is unbeatable. Just take a look at those gun/barrel combos.
As a left handed shooter, the location of the safety and action release are a nice change from the remington.

BTW - what does FWIW mean?
 
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Claven2 said:
Benelli Nova is not on my list. Alot of ppl like them, and most of those people also like Glock. Personally I like my guns made of metal.

The Remington Express is not polished once machined. It's just sandblasted and parkerized. This is a cost saving measure, nothing more. The components on an express and a Wingmaster are the same parts out of the same bin assembled into the same gun. Difference is the wingmaster has a nice walnut stock, the metal is polished and gloss blued and the cartridge tab and bolt are chromed. Functionally they are equal.

The Benelli Nova SHOULD be much less money than the wingmaster, but it's not. A Wingmaster receiver is machined from solid billet and then all the parts are fine polished and blued. that takes time and adds dollars to the retail price.

Benelli's are mostly made of polymer in a mould. There is not polishing required and they snap together like lego with unskilled labor. It's likely it costs less than half the price the Wingmaster costs to manufacture, yet sells in the same price range. Which do you think will still be valued in 50 years? Have you priced nice Winchester Model 12's lately?

The Mossberg is also all metal, but the receiver is forged Aluminum. Aluminum is cheaper and easier to machine and finish and tool bits last ALOT longer too. That is why the Mossberg is so much cheaper than the Remington.

FWIW, i would look for an older 870 - not because they are better made (they aren't realy), but because the older style magazine can be used with extensions as-is, while the newer ones require modification.
Click to expand...

Claven,

You have some very good points that help understand your choice of shotguns. With that in mind, have you thought of getting a Browning BPS? They have all of the craftsmanship that you describe and seem to be looking for. They are not that expensive ($529 or $549 the last time that I checked at my local dealer).

Still, I do not want to be a pain but I would strongly recommend that you look into the Nova if you have put the Stoeger P-350 on your list. Get the real thing. Once you go black you...ha,ha...just kidding:D

Let us know what you bought.



BT
 
Claven2 said:
The Remington Express is not polished once machined. It's just sandblasted and parkerized. This is a cost saving measure, nothing more. The components on an express and a Wingmaster are the same parts out of the same bin assembled into the same gun. Difference is the wingmaster has a nice walnut stock, the metal is polished and gloss blued and the cartridge tab and bolt are chromed. Functionally they are equal.


FWIW, i would look for an older 870 - not because they are better made (they aren't realy), but because the older style magazine can be used with extensions as-is, while the newer ones require modification.
Click to expand...

I've got to disagree. If you put my 85' Sportsman 870 beside todays Express 870 you be hard pressed to say that the guns were made by the same company, let alone from the same parts bin. I recently purchased a Remington shotgun online. Not seeing a new Remington in the flesh (for years now) I was quite surprised in the difference in fit and finish between the older and newer gun. I sold my Nova not long ago and regret it. The polymer design is genius, a very durable, dependable gun. Its not on the list...:( .
 
3. Mossberg 535 ATS $294 (with three choke tubes)

I love mine. I went for the combo and got a slug barrel with it too.
 
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