Remington versus Mossberg

[Mike in Reedley]

Mossbergs have a reoccurring problem, where the shell stops come loose and cause the gun to jam. The steel shell stops are peened into place in the aluminum receiver. Once they come loose, you can't get the aluminum to hold them in place.

I shoot shotguns competitively every weekend. Other than the annual visit from a dove hunter or two, you NEVER see Mossbergs being shot regularly in competition. There's a reason Mossberg is pronounced Mouse ****. So if you want to use the least expensive pump made for self defense, well you're only betting your life.

Just to make sure I cover both sides of the isle, new Remington's have huge quality control issues. I won an 870 3 1/2 Express and after two trips back to Remington and a new barrel, it still wouldn't extract steal rimmed shells. The last two Remington Model 7's (one mine and they other my buddy), would not chamber a cartridge until we had the extractors refitted.

 

[hangnoose]

I HAVE MY ASBESTOS SUIT ON NOW,SO HERE GOES.

I'm afraid the 870's like 1911's and Harley Davidsons have such a loyal, almost rabid, following that owning anything else is heresy, regardless of what the facts may be. I think I'll hop on my rice grinder and go for a spin now.

 

[Rayocam]

I myself is an avid 870 cult follower! Here is my Wingmaster..

 

[foggbird]

Both

I have a 500 in my car trunk as a defensive arm and a Wingmaster in my truck as a spare for hunting. So I won't complain about either. That said, when I switched the fixed choke 870 barrel to a barrel that used RemChokes, it was noticeably heavier and affected the forward weight. I prefer the fixed choke barrel but need the RemChoke barrel for steel shot. I also prefer the older Wingmasters as they seem to be better built. Note that these are preferences, not criticisms. Both the 870 and the 500 will serve the needs of the vast majority of shooters.

 

[NuJudge]

I don't have any experience with the Remington 870, but I have lots with the 1100. I also have a lot of experience with the Mossberg 500. I shoot the Mossberg better than any other shotgun I have. The Mossberg seems to let me get away with less lead than any other shotgun I have. It also has what seem to be more optional equipment than Remington: I even have a muzzleloader barrel for my 12 gauge 500.

My 12 gauge Mossberg 500 simply does not break parts. Its only flaw is that, with steel headed cases, it sometimes ejects both the spent case and the new cartridge at the same time.

 

[deriter]

Only an opinion

I have owned an 870 Wingmaster, 870 express, and now own a Mossberg 500. The Wingmaster was more pleasant to look at. It functioned well. Now I have the Mossberg 500 and it isn't so much to look at, but it works. I do like the safety on the Mossberg better. Other than that, as someone stated earlier, I very seriously doubt that there are very many on this forum that could wear out either of these. That's not to say no one, but most won't. If they were used in competitive shooting every week for years, there may be one proven to be the better. I would be very interested in seeing the number or rounds it took to show the winner. Just my opinion.

 

[steelerfan]

I have 2 Mossberg 500 pumps, a 12 gauge & a 20 gauge that I've owned for over 45 years & they're still going strong without a problem

 

[Terry]

I am partial to the Remington, might be because that's what was issued to me in LE for 20 years. Both are excellent guns though and I would feel comfortable with either.

 

[Barrie]

I also had a 870 Wingmaster a few years ago with a 30" barrel with full choke on it. Just could not miss at the Turky shoots with this gun and was disqualified after 3 wins at every meet I went to with it. Not able to shoot the 12 gauge guns anymore due to some health issue;s but I really loved the 870 when I owned it.

 

[hkcavalier]

Mossbergs are really the only choice for lefty shooters, out of the box.

Accessories tend to come out for 870s first, then the 500/590s. Don't ask me why...

 

[Pondoro]

Incorrect. ALL 870's have steel receivers Milled from a solid billet.
I'm a Remington guy, but the Mossbergs are fine guns in their own right. I know there are over 10 Million 870s. Maybe 11 by now.
Kind of a Ford vs Chevy question.

Do I need to go check my 870 Express with a magnet?

... I did check my 870 Express with a magnet, the magnet stuck to the receiver....Steel it is.

 

[Biggfoot44]

M500 are lighter. Personal judgement on the Lighter to carry v Less Recoil tradeoff.

M500 have tang safety. As a right hander I like that, for left handers, or a gun to potentially be used by right or left handers , a major advantage.

To really side step the debate, the Win M1200/1300 is the best thing since sliced bread.

 

[brokugin]

I had a mid 70s production 870 that was a nice gun. Until a few months ago I had two older model 500s. Now I'm down to one - my small game and home defense gun. I prefer the tang safety on the 500 because I grew up shooting doubles and expecting the safety to be there. When it comes down to ordinary use, I don't think one has an advantage over the other. You say potayto, I say potahto.

 

[RILEY31]

I have had a Remington 870 a Mossberg 500 and curently have a Winchester 1300. The Wichester 1300 is head and sholders over the others.

 

[2hawk]

I've got a couple of 590s. Safety and bolt release locations work well for me, and I like that the lifter is up- easier to keep fed. And, who hasn't ever wanted a bayonet mounted on their HD shotgun?

Better light/forend on it now, but this was an effective cobble.


But, my Benelli autoloaders are my real favorites.

 

[GunarSailors]

I prefer my 870. Fortmanns makes a left handed safety for something like $16 (I am a lefty) a GG&G follower and a +3 magazine extension and I think it's the best thing since sliced bread. And for what it's worth, a company called S&J Hardware makes a bayonet lug/magazine clamp for the 870.

 

[nrz]

As I learned trap/skeet/clays, I learned focus on the bird, not the sight! In trap, I really don't have much to do with the front sight at all, and a mid bead would be just a distraction. I shoot a Beretta, and the gun fits me right and my hold is consistent, break em' just about all the time... .

Fun shotgun debate, definitely a bit of a Chevy vs. Ford deal. For my self defense shotgun, I also had my mind made up pretty quick once I handled a Mossberg; I chose the 870... Just felt and handled better for me. I've had no regrets with the 870, good gun.

Actually, my first pump (for hunting) was a Browning BPS, it's a very nice quality gun.

You're right on all accounts. But some people prefer to have it and I don't think it really hurts being there (and some might say for new shooters it's easier to learn with it). That being said the gun I use primarily only has one site at the end of the barrel.

And I want a Browning BPS as my next gun!!

 

[BigBill]

I prefer older Winchester pumps but my maverick 12ga. Pump is nice.

 

[GatorFarmer]

First riot gun that I ever bought was a Winchester 1300. It cost $200 at Walmart back in late 1992.

It was the only 1300 I ever owned.

It did not work out for me.

I picked up the latest 500 today. It will suffice for the role of shotgun to have a shotgun. Just to engender more hate, I may take the stock off and put on a pistol grip for a while.

 

[surfgun]

Either work. Simple matter preference that in the end does not amount to a hill of beans. American made pump action 12's are like rental cars. Anyone will do.