Remington 870 vs. Mossberg 500

[gmcem50]

Ok, I can't decide. It's for HD; to stand in the corner of the closet or the safe. Which one is better? I don't know jack about shotguns.

[blkA4alb]

oh gosh..talked about to death. look at the other threads in this section. 500 or 870 its all personal choice, both are great and will serve you wonderously. (personally i say go for the 500 )

[Omega13device]

Flip a coin and you'll be happy with your choice. They are both good.

[socalsteve]

Hanlde a cycle both (when unloaded of course) check the safty and slide release ... which "fits" you better...thats your answer

And don't forget FN also.

[asintado]

Or you could buy both of them. They're affordable enough.

[Rumpled]

I have both.
Do you prefer a tang safety or a trigger guard safety?

[gmcem50]

oh gosh..talked about to death. look at the other threads in this section. 500 or 870 its all personal choice, both are great and will serve you wonderously. (personally i say go for the 500 )

Actually, I DID pick the 500 for myself. I asked the question because my business partner is new to guns and wants a pump shotgun for HD and some guys (me) are sying 500 and others are saying 870. I don't know enough about them to advise him. Mine works great, but I guess the 870s are great also.

BTW, I did look through the other threads and there wasn't anything about 500 vs. 870 that I saw.

[blkA4alb]

Actually, I DID pick the 500 for myself. I asked the question because my business partner is new to guns and wants a pump shotgun for HD and some guys (me) are sying 500 and others are saying 870. I don't know enough about them to advise him. Mine works great, but I guess the 870s are great also.

BTW, I did look through the other threads and there wasn't anything about 500 vs. 870 that I saw.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=29166

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=30281

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=30636

[capitol]

This is a Chevy vs Ford type debate. I own both and if I had to choose only one I would go with the Rem 870.
It racks smoother and seems just a lil tighter built. I abuse the heck out of my Mossy 500 and it keeps asking for more.
With that said you wont go wrong with either one as an HD firearm.

Oh if you want a step above both the Rem Express 870 & Mossy 500 buy a 870 Police model. Better finish, stronger springs and a metal trigger guard.

[Justang]

I went through this too when I bought my first shotgun. I held both and shot both. Really, there is no major difference. I went with the Mossberg because my dad had one, I liked where the trigger was, and one of my friends in the Navy fires them all the time and said they were good(all though they have the 590's.). I ended up with it because it was on sale at the time for $160.

Since I've had it, I've never had a problem with it. Rack, fire, rack, fire, it just keeps going. As stated above, there are smoother racking shotguns, but this didn't bother me much. I'm glad I got this gun.

I have now put a Knoxx Copstock on it. It's a collapsable folding stock with a pistol grip. I used to just have it as a PGO (pistol grip only), but it hurts to shoot it. Now with the Copstock, it's fun to shoot PGO.

Here it is how I bought it.


Here it is with a PGO:


Here it is with the Knoxx Copstock:
unfolded

folded


It now lives under my bed as my HD weapon.

I have yet to shoot a slug out of the gun with the copstock on it, but on Knoxx's website they show a guy shooting a slug out of a PGO shotty with one hand.

870 vs Mossy... heck, I'm sure both are awesome guns. I just happen to have the Mossy... actually I have 2 of them.

[slick_711]

They're both great shotguns for the $$$, in my opinion you really can't go wrong with either, and I've shot them both extensively. My personal preference for HD or combat/tactical situation is the 500; but that is solely based on ease of cycling, I dislike removing my finger from the trigger guard to cycle the 870, especially if it was that dreaded HD situation. Whereas w/ the 500 you can cycle it with your middle finger and keep your trigger finger @ the ready. That's the only major difference I've ever noticed, the quality is there with both.

[asintado]

You can also split it down the middle and get a Winchester 1300 Defender.

[glen avon]

I don't think it's ford v. chevy, as those cost about the same. more like snap-on v. craftsman, given the price difference.

I have some snap-on tools. I have many more craftsman. are snap-on better fit, finished, polished, made, etc.? of course. will I notice the difference? sure. but I don't need the difference, the difference rarely if ever bothers me and the difference is not worth the cost to me.

[marklbucla]

The big differences:

500:

Lighter Receiver
the magazine tube is open and exposed for easy loading
You can't easily replace the spring and clean the mag well
Harder to strip and put back together
about $75-100 cheaper
you can't change the mag capacity easily
Safety on top
Action release at the rear of the trigger
Trigger is heavier

870:

Heavier Receiver
You have to push through the carrier to get to the magazine tube
Springs are easily replaced
easy to strip and put back together
more expensive than a Mossberg 500
Mag Capacity is easily changed (With a Dremel)
Safety on the side
Action release at the front of the trigger guard
Trigger is lighter

I've got both the 8 shot persuader and the 870 express. Overall, I feel like the 870 has way more options, but I've been happier with my 500. You might also want to consider the Mossberg 590 vs. the 870 Police.

[Ryan HBC]

I played this game. I think the 870 is a superior shotgun. It seemed to be a little more solid. The Mossberg came off a little cheap and rickidy.

I must say though, "Mossberg" is a much cooler name.



Remmy 870
Surefire Forend
Tacstar side saddle
Choate pistol grip stock