Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 in 18.5 inch

[SDDAVE56]

Why not a Mossberg 590 Retrograde. I really like mine.

https://grabagun.com/firearms/shotguns/pump-action-tactical-shotguns/mossberg-590-retrograde-wood-12-ga-18-5-barrel-3-chamber-7-rounds.html

[BigPimping]

Why not a Mossberg 590 Retrograde. I really like mine.

https://grabagun.com/firearms/shotguns/pump-action-tactical-shotguns/mossberg-590-retrograde-wood-12-ga-18-5-barrel-3-chamber-7-rounds.html

That’s honestly what I’m probably going to do. It’s the path of least resistance

[ar15barrels]

I have 870's and 500's and there's no question that the 870's are better made guns.
Shells sticking in the chamber is from the cheap steel case-head shells and can easily be remedied by polishing out the chamber to better tolerate the steel case-head shells.

[PoorRichRichard]

BP. Short answer: GET BOTH—> a new 500, and an older (pre 2000) 870.

Long answer:
Mossberg seems to have the edge on quality control on guns produced over the last 10-15 years. That being said, I don’t own any 500s that are newer than the mid 80s. All of them are fantastic guns (12, 20 & .410) that give me very little trouble, and have been easily fixable when parts wear out.

I have 2 older 12 gauge 870s (produced in ‘74 and the other in the early 80s) and they are both money. I also have a last year of production 20 gauge they produced on a 12 gauge frame (‘78 if I remember correctly). It was sticky at first, but that’s because the guy who had it before me, (original owner) never shot it, so I had to lube it up and break it in, now it’s my oldest son’s favorite gun.

Remington’s newer guns are hit or miss on quality control. I own an early 2000-teens 20 gauge 870jr that I’ve put well over a 1000 shells through and it’s been a fantastic little gun for dove, and for my younger kids to shoot over the years. That being said, the 4 years I worked for a big box gun shop here in SoCal (‘09-‘12), I saw numerous customer complaints/returns on new 870s, mostly jams on ejection.

I’m a huge fan of both. Over the years speaking with many other hunters and/or pump gun enthusiasts, I will say that 500s tend to wear down and break down fast due to high use (I’m talking 10s of thousands of rounds and hunting abuse as opposed to 870s. In my experience, this is primarily l due to thinner wood on the 500 forearm, and seemingly less robust forearm metal parts on the 500s.

Hope this isn’t more confusing than it is helpful. I love all my shotguns, but I am a pump-junky at heart.

[tacticalcity]

I am sorry to hear the quality control and reliability on the Remington 870 has dropped. There was a day when it beat out the Mossberg 500 series by a country mile on both fronts. Which is about the last time I bought an 870. Of the two, I currently own a Mossberg 500. But it wasn't necessarily by choice. My father gave it to me. I have a "never sell a gun my dad gave me" rule. I found I deeply regret selling guns he gave to me, so I am hanging onto to anything I still have of his with dear life. He's still with us, don't get me wrong, but six years ago he was told he had six months to live. Apparently, he is way too stubborn to die. Way to go, Dad! I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. My local range only allows slugs and I am too lazy to drive a couple hours to an open range. One of these days I am going to have to. I want to see how reliable it is, see how it patterns with the loads, etc. That way I can work it into the home defense arsenal. For now, it's a safe queen.

[PoorRichRichard]

Why not a Mossberg 590 Retrograde. I really like mine.

Dave, tell us about yours/your experience with it thus far. I was looking at these online a few months ago, and they just look bad@$$!

[Grendel Guy]

Ahh yes, the older 870s. My dad bought my Wingmaster for me when I was 13. Still going strong at the trap range. It has a fixed full barrel so I can't shoot steel (the other non-lead stuff is too rich for my blood) to comply with the edict our overlords have placed on us for what we may use in order to take game with the crown's permission.

[SDDAVE56]

My only experience with shotguns prior to, was 28 years with an 870 Police in the patrol cars. Can't say that I used them a lot , other than safety check, loading, unloading, qualifying, and training.

Fast forward to the 590. I was looking for a home defense shot gun. Watched the videos, read the articles, 590 vs 870. Came to the conclusion, you can't go wrong with either one. What torpedoed the Remington was their sketchy reputation today. Mossberg seems to be a solid company, putting out solid products. But what tipped me, was the heat shield.

So far I only have maybe 60 - 70 rounds through my 590, 00 , slug , and some bird. The 590 fires all the time, that's good. I do like where the controls are located, over the 870 . It seems a little lighter than the 870. Fit and finish, no complaints here. Sorry, I just don't have that much to write about , considering my limited experience with mine.

[bigbossman]

I have both the Mossberg 500 and the Remington 870. The Mossberg was bought new at Big 5 sometime in the early 2000's, and the 870 was a consignment rack gun that appeared unused. it is a cheap "Express" model built in the late 1990's.

Both are excellent inexpensive shotguns, and both have brought home a lot of game. I like the mechanics of the 500 better - the thumb safety, the extractors and ejector, and the location of the slide release, Also, a 10 year warranty on a $200 gun is a pretty good deal. I had occasion to use the warranty at the beginning of a duck season a few years back, and while Mossberg had it I needed a duck gun so I bought the 870. While the 500 was in the shop I hunted with the 870, and killed so many doubles with it than when the 500 came back I sold it off. The 870 just fit me better, and with a skeet barrel that I acquired later it became a very effective upland bird gun (dove, quail, grouse).

It really comes down to which one will fit you better out of the box as IMO they are fairly comparable, depending on where you prefer the controls. Also - if either one were to fall out of the boat, I wouldn't be crying too much about it.

[Cowboy T]

Hmm...Remington 870 vs. Mossberg 500: "Ford, Chevy, Dodge."

As others have said, both are good shotguns. For home defense, I would go with the Mossberg 500, with the full-length magazine tube, for exactly one reason: in Mossberg's magazine, you can fit one more 2.75" round, vs. the one on the 870 (870 Synthetic Tactical, specifically). Essentially, it's a 7+1 vs. a 6+1. But functionally, either is fine.

The Mossberg 590 is another very good choice, as others have said. They even have 8+1 versions of the 590.

[madland]

DC7DFCEB-F631-4022-9F82-EEE2E4B1D98B.jpg I have a modded 870 I bought off a fellow Calgunner over 20 years ago. All the Mesa Tactical goodies on it. His safe was overflowing and this one hadn't even been shot yet. He let it go for $400!!
I eventually bought a Mossberg500. Added a few goodies to that one too. Both are solid. I prefer the Mossberg. It's easier to run imho and if I had to take one into a fight right now, that's what I'd take.
My .02

[GunDog]

Why not a Mossberg 590 Retrograde. I really like mine.

https://grabagun.com/firearms/shotguns/pump-action-tactical-shotguns/mossberg-590-retrograde-wood-12-ga-18-5-barrel-3-chamber-7-rounds.html

That'd be my choice were I in the market for a new shotgun. As it is I'm quite happy and more than satisfied with my two 870s; one a Police Magnum and the other an older Wingmaster. The Wingmaster has been outfitted with a shorter 18" Carlson bbl, extended mag tube and Magpul SGA furniture.

[BrokerB]

My 500 has absolutely choked on extraction....but that was after 1,000s of rounds pushed through it. Bought new extractors...and it works. Bought it new with both size barrels at KMart in the 1990s for $150. Used to take in to the trap shooting place with all the old fuds . Got great looks..but I was banging the birds : )

[67Cuda]

I don't own a Remington, but I love my Mossberg 500.

2025-03-06_08-18-41_468.jpg

[Thrashard340]

Mossberg 500 here.