870 vs 500!!

[Mike215]

Anyone own an 870 or a 500 of any specific model? If so, why did you choose this gun over the other one, and how do you like it? Unless you have both then tell me which one you'd rather be stuck on a deserted island with. I myself have a mossberg 500ATP. Old police/military shotgun from the 70's, 80's. I went into the gun store, was actually looking to buy an 870 but i was shown a 500. I found it much easier to access the slide release, and the safety. Overall comfortability was amazing to me.

[hogdogs]

The *why* was strictly sentimental for me... My dad gave me his first gun as my first gun... a .410 bolt mossberg.
But upon getting it home I realized the supremacy of the gun for it's ergonomics. The safety and the slide release locations are ideal and the gun overall is a reliable platform for hurling projectiles.
Brent

[JonnyReb]

Know what you mean hotdog, my uncles(mine now)16 gauge mossy bolt fits soo good. Going to take her out one day...

I love the 870's myself. i've had them for 25 years and could take one apart in the dark and have it back together in a jiffy. I can feel it when its away. My 870's part of me.:)

I think it was the steel receiver and double assist arms that first drew me to the rem. Less rattle factor. Others i knew liked their Mossburgs just fine. Good guns either way obviously but it'll always be an 870 for me...J.R.

[USMCGrunt]

I have a couple of both and it's a Ford Chevy thing. However, the Mossberg is easier to work on due to the fact that replacing a shell catch or ejector doesn't require any staking. Other advantages of the Mossberg is a shell lifter that rides against the bolt when the slide is forward making a shell that slips past the catch unlikely to tie up the gun. I had that happen once with my 870 and it required disassembling the gun to get the shell off the lifter. I've since modified the lifter by cutting a slot so if it happens again I can use a knife blade to push the shell back into the magazine. When I get back to the world, I'll probably replace the lifter with a flex-tab lifter that also does a good job of dealing with this problem.
In theory, the Remington's steel receiver should be stronger than the alunimum receiver of the Mossberg however, I really don't see the alunimum receiver of the Mossberg really being an issue anyways. The bolt locks up into the steel barrel so it's not unreasonable to think of the Mossberg being similar to the M-16 in this regard and in 20 years, I've never seen a worn out M-16 upper or a Mossberg receiver either.
If you are going to stay with a conventional stock, the Mossberg has the better control layout but if you go with a pistol grip buttstock, the Safety is going to be more awkward to reach and the bolt release is also going to be awkward to deal with. Here, the 870 has a real advantage.
The 870 also has a more modular advantage than the 870 as well. If I want to extend the magazine or shorten it, it's a matter of replacing the magazine cap with an extended tube and add a longer spring. If I want to shorten or extend the magazine on the Mossberg, it's a matter of changing the barrel, changing the magazine tube and adding a longer spring. As far as aftermarket parts, the Remington used to be the easiest one to get parts for but today other than magazine extensions, I can't think off the top of my head anything offered for the Remington that isn't also offered for the Mossberg.
As far as popularity, both have a good share of supporters. When I was in the Marines, the Mossberg 590 was the standard shotgun. Today in the USAF, I see far more Remington (both the traditional 870 as well as the new MCS 870) than Remingtons. Law enforecement has also been a big backer of the 870 although Mossberg has been making a larger presence in that arena over the years as well.
Like I said, it's a Ford versus Chevy thing and either one is going to work well. They both have different features that are going to be a benefit for that individual that is going to drive a lot of your choices. Lefty wanting a conventional stock? The Mossberg is probably going to be your better bet. Normal handed shooter wanting a butt with a pistol grip? Might want to look at an 870. Either one is going to be a good choice.

[bottom rung]

I have in my safe an old Mossberg 500 with the single action bar. It is pretty rickety. The 870s are so much tighter. Although the 500 belongs to my brother, it originally was handed down to him by grandfather. In his dying days, plagued by dimensia, my grandfather would always tell me the story of how he and a friend accidentally shot a doe. They stuck sticks in its ears to make it look like a buck in passing. He took that deer with that Mossberg 500. It was the first shotgun I ever fired. I think I was 12 and I was shooting slugs out of it. Then I would take the old Slugster barrel off and put on the bird barrel and shoot skeet. So sentimentally, I am for the Mossberg all the way. I think if it were not for my grandfather, I would be buying an 870 because they are so much tighter and quieter than the 500s. Then again, both the 500 and the 870 have gone through hell. Both guns came back.

[hogdogs]

My 500 came with a PGO and I had no problem manipulating any of the 3 controls with my hand touching the grip while not in the fire ready position. I then installed a choate AR type stock and it, too, worked but the traditional stock is suited for all forms of hunting, shooting or defensive use. I know playing with guns is bad but I and my friends used to have "skirmishes" with verified empty arms. we would solo or double up on each other and attempt all kinds of moves to disarm the "good guy"
Brent

[Jseime]

Both are excellent firearms... six of one half a dozen of the other type thing. Either gun has an excellent reputation and I have never seen one or the other fail when the geese are coming in overhead.

I have a Mossy 500 and I'll tell you why, I am left handed. The slide release and safety on the Mossberg are much more ambidexterous than the Remingtons. I also like the way my Mossberg feels, it fits me better than the 870s I have used. I think its better looking too for some odd reason because the fit and finish on the Remintons is a little nicer as a rule. Maybe its because I think a shotgun should look used and abused :D.

[nemoaz]

I have in my safe an old Mossberg 500 with the single action bar. It's been a long time since they had a single action bar and rattled a lot. I can't tell the difference between my Mossies and Remies as far as tightness of the action. I CAN tell the Mossy weighs much less. And the safety is worlds better.

Either are fine guns though. Same for Winchester and many other pumps.

[Dave McC]

Have I mentioned how I loathe "vs" threads?...

Ford/Chevy. Get the one that FEELS best.

And read the archives, please.

[johnwilliamson062]

I CAN tell the Mossy weighs much less. And the safety is worlds better.
The slide release thing is also so much better in my opinion.
All three of these things are very small though, and some probably prefer a heftier 870. I think a lot of it depends on what you start with. Had I had some experience with an 870 before trying out a mossberg I would probably prefer it. As it happened I handled an 870 one day, then used a 500 the next and immediately thought 'wow this is so much lighter/easier."
I don't think the 500 metal is as high of quality finish, so I am a big fan of the marinecote.
I have not bought my HD shotgun yet, but I recently helped a friend pick out a 500 persuader in marinecote and showed how to clean/strip and shoot it. Wow was I impressed. Definitely what I am getting.
For now my H&R Pardner break 12ga can keep the hallway clear.

And read the archives, please.
I would never have learned 500s had the single bars if I this had not been started.

[Katrina Guy]

I have both the Remington and the Mossberg HD models-but haven't fired either yet.
That said, meaning I have no clue as to which one shoots better, I prefer the Mossberg Persuader, reason: controls, specifically the slide release lever is in a more reasonable REACHABLE location for when my life depends on it.
If I were a shotgun hunter I would have opted for the Remington Wingmaster without even looking at any other brand with the exception of a Browning.
SO, the Remington is back in the 870 box, the Mossberg Persuader is loaded and my home defense shotgun for the above mentioned reasons, slide and safety locale. Now that I have a Mossberg and when I shoot if eventually, pending no problems, I will maybe get a Mossberg brand for shotgun hunting if I ever go there. I used to hog hunt but wit a rifle and handgun at my side.

[armsmaster270]

I have an 870 Wingmaster and the Mossberg 500 Combo. You can't beat the slick action and reliability of the 870 but I like the ease of working on the Mossberg and the tang safety instead of the button to the rear of the triggerguard. If Remington would put the tang safety on the 870 I would be first in line.

[TheManHimself]

Realistically, the only reason to pick one over the other is which way you like the controls. Both are excellent, reliable shotguns with barrels available to fill any role you'd want a shotgun for.