Remington 870 express or Mossberg 500?
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870
I have one in 16 ga that I have been shooting for more than 40 years. It is like an extension of my arm - I just reach out and touch my target. I have 870s in 12 and 20, too. If it were the only shotgun made in the world, it wouldn't bother me a bit.
I have one in 16 ga that I have been shooting for more than 40 years. It is like an extension of my arm - I just reach out and touch my target. I have 870s in 12 and 20, too. If it were the only shotgun made in the world, it wouldn't bother me a bit.
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964 Posts
I have a Mossberg 590 Defender, 18 1/2 inch barrel, full length tube, pistol grip, heat shield, all the fancy shmancy crap. I really like it, but my brother's 870 is so much smoother to operate. However I would rather throw my 590 in the gun rack in my pickup than Bro's 870, functionally they are equal, it's that the 870 is just to pretty to beat up off roading... ;D
Mike
Mike
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75 Posts
How much for each? and how many shells does each hold? The latter question, if the gun is going to be used for home protection would be my selling point. Plus less reloads if you take it skeet shooting. 
If they're both the same I've heard good things about the 870. A 870 12ga is on my list of next purchases.
If they're both the same I've heard good things about the 870. A 870 12ga is on my list of next purchases.
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98 Posts
Wow a lot of 870's, anyone have any reasoning why they prefer the 870? other than just because? I have both and honestly they are pretty much equal in the way they handle and fire besides the Mossberg safety being in a much better spot. I see a lot of which are preferred but not a lot of why (besides Ooben's response) and then "Theyre just plain stonger and shoot better to boot!" how so? I find them as I said equal in quality and they both go bang when they need to and neither is more accurate than the other IMHO, it is after all a shotgun.
I think it would be best to go to your local shop and handle each and make a decision on which one feels better in your hands because either one will fill the bill equally and one is as reliable as the other. I do like where the Mossberg safety is located better than the 870 and the Mossberg will likely be a bit cheaper (in price only) but if my pops asked me to go out hunting for deer it would not matter which I grabbed on the way out the door, the same goes for a HD situation.
Nietz
I think it would be best to go to your local shop and handle each and make a decision on which one feels better in your hands because either one will fill the bill equally and one is as reliable as the other. I do like where the Mossberg safety is located better than the 870 and the Mossberg will likely be a bit cheaper (in price only) but if my pops asked me to go out hunting for deer it would not matter which I grabbed on the way out the door, the same goes for a HD situation.
Nietz
I believe the Mossberg 835 is ever bit of the gun the Remington 870 is. The main difference I could find is the 870 is more widely used and has more aftermarket junk you can buy for it ....if you chose.
I saw a nice Mossberg 835 tactical turkey on gunbroker......nice gun
I saw a nice Mossberg 835 tactical turkey on gunbroker......nice gun
sold guns for 40 years, The Remington 870 was considered the cadillac of the pumps back in those days with the Mossberg 500 being the poor mans gun.
We sold hundreds of Mossberg 500's and never ever had one come back, never had one issue ever. We sold alot but nothing like the Mossberg 500 alot of Remington 870's Your were realy something if you owned an 870 or the Ithaca Model 37 pump.
That was years before the benelli's and others came into our market.
Today, give me an Ithaca Model 37 any day of the week. IMO one of the finest pumps ever made..
We sold hundreds of Mossberg 500's and never ever had one come back, never had one issue ever. We sold alot but nothing like the Mossberg 500 alot of Remington 870's Your were realy something if you owned an 870 or the Ithaca Model 37 pump.
That was years before the benelli's and others came into our market.
Today, give me an Ithaca Model 37 any day of the week. IMO one of the finest pumps ever made..
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4,181 Posts
I have the Rem 870 Police model. Built like a tank, a beefier version of the civilian Express and priced as you would guess, quite a bit higher. I would not give it up for anything. For home use, the Rem 870 Express is more than adequate, ditto for the Mossy 500.
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I don't have a Mossberg pump, but I do have a bolt action .410 Mossberg that was my first gun ever. My dad gave it to me when I was about 6 and he was dragging me out at oh-dark:30 in the morning to go duck hunting with him. You'll never hear me say anything bad about Mossbergs.Nietz said:
I've shot dozens of different shotguns - pumps, autos, over'n'unders and side-by-sides - and have never shot as well with anything as I do with my 870s. I could outshoot my father with his Browning Sweet-16 and my brother with his 1100. My old man retired his Sweet-16 and got an Ithaca over'n'under that he loved and I couldn't hit the side of a barn with.
However, "because it feels right to me" doesn't give you the information you asked for. So, I really thought about it and the 2 things that make it feel right are balance and how crisp and precise the pump action is. I always beat my brother at getting 2 birds on a covey rise because the action of pumping became part of my aiming technique. As I pushed the pump forward it was a natural draw-down action which gave me much better follow-up shots than just pulling the trigger again on an auto. I'm sure it is just being so used to the gun, but when I snap the pump forward I am on target. About 20-25 years ago I went several years without shooting. Then some friends asked me to go trap shooting. I was a bit worried that I was so rusty than I would embarass myself. I powdered the first rock. Not "broke" it, powdered it. I shot an entire box of 25 shells and did not have one complete miss. I did only chip a couple of rocks, but never a complete miss. I even shot backup to several guys and would catch rocks after they had missed them.
There is no other gun I have ever shot that I can say that about. That's why I like the 870.
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83 Posts
I have an 12 ga mag 870 Express I use as my go-to gun for birds. It's a plain jane tool. (I have a Winchester 1300 slug gun for deer in Iowa.) My buddy criticized the Express all the time while we were duck hunting, and thinks I need a Browning like his.... One day I got tired of his diatribes regarding my choice of scattergun. I turned to him, and plunged my 870 into the water and mud. I then shook it out and asked him to do the same to his precious Browning....
The fact is I get just as many Mallards and Sprigs... Pheasant are always down... They are fine guns, at a cost that is small. I am fast and I am accurate with it. I certainly do not cry if it gets dirty! I've now had mine for 20 years, and it has never failed me.
As far a a defense weapon? I have used my Remington to that effect... There is no more a noticable and characteristic sound than a homeowner racking one into the pipe for someone in the dark. ("THWOP!") A perp knows there is business at hand. My father has a defense setup on an 870 as well. Effective.
The fact is I get just as many Mallards and Sprigs... Pheasant are always down... They are fine guns, at a cost that is small. I am fast and I am accurate with it. I certainly do not cry if it gets dirty! I've now had mine for 20 years, and it has never failed me.
As far a a defense weapon? I have used my Remington to that effect... There is no more a noticable and characteristic sound than a homeowner racking one into the pipe for someone in the dark. ("THWOP!") A perp knows there is business at hand. My father has a defense setup on an 870 as well. Effective.
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4,181 Posts
Knoxx recoil reducing SpecOps, Surefire light, Wilson Trak-lock tritium ghost rings, Mesa Tactical shotshell carrier (fitted for LH use), Wilson magazine extension (+1). The Knoxx is worth every penny. Also available for the Mossy so you are not wrecking the thread - I recommend for either one.bonsgirl said:
http://www.knoxxrecoilsolutions.com/technology/SpecOps/SpecOps_FAQs.php
http://www.mesatactical.com/index.php?id=56
http://www.surefire.com/Remington870
http://www.wilsoncombat.com/sa_traklock.asp
http://www.wilsoncombat.com/sa_mag_extensions_qd.asp
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743 Posts
sounds like the 870 is the winner by consensus. The Mossberg is cheaper(combo 12 and 20 gauge), then the 870, both are nice looking guns to me. I borrowed a 870 from a buddy, loved it, but saw the Mossberg and was just wondering if you get what you pay for.
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484 Posts
I'll sift through the personal opinions for you...
the 500's barrel is attached via a thumb screw integral to the barrel. This means a mag extension on a 500 is a difficult proposition. The 870 has the normal barrel attachment via welded ring over the mag tube with a cap.
The 500 has the option for a muzzle loading barrel; effectively giving you a gun for EVERY use. Barrel options for the 870 are pretty much the same minus the muzzle loading barrel
870's action feels a bit more smooth/refined
Both are generally regarded as highly reliable.
Get whichever one you like the most and fits best into your budget.
the 500's barrel is attached via a thumb screw integral to the barrel. This means a mag extension on a 500 is a difficult proposition. The 870 has the normal barrel attachment via welded ring over the mag tube with a cap.
The 500 has the option for a muzzle loading barrel; effectively giving you a gun for EVERY use. Barrel options for the 870 are pretty much the same minus the muzzle loading barrel
870's action feels a bit more smooth/refined
Both are generally regarded as highly reliable.
Get whichever one you like the most and fits best into your budget.
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