Mossberg 500 vs Remington 870

Road Runner · Jan 26, 2013

They are both great shotguns. My vote is to go with the one you know so you can be prepared if the need presents itself. If you don't know one, pick one and get to know it by shooting it and training with it. I have owned both the 500 and 870, but always end up using the 870 because that is what I began shooting over 3 decades ago. After thousands of rounds without issue, I have complete confidence the 870 will deliver if needed to defend my family and it's operation has become instinctive to me. The 500 has performed well for me too, but the Mossy release and safety are something I have to think about to operate.

So for me, it doesn't matter which one you own? Can you capably operate it under duress?

RETOKSQUID · Jan 26, 2013

Both are great. Get one and learn how to use it, one way or the other you won't go wrong.

1911user · Jan 26, 2013

I prefer the 870 platform, but will setup both types as "cruiser ready" which means all I have to do is pump the shotgun and start pulling the trigger. My preference is a semi-auto shotgun, but I grew up shooting pump shotguns and they feel natural to me. Pump/semi,whatever, you don't want to be on the receiving end. I've been to a couple of classes about how to shoot them........

Erasser24 · Jan 27, 2013

I have a 590a1 and a 870 tactical love both of them too close to call for me

MoBoost · Jan 27, 2013

Reminds me of Remington 700 vs Savage 10 threads: one side explains why a firearm is superior due to design, function and quality control and the other side keeps saying it's a matter of preference, aka Remington nut swingers.

The only thing Remington had going for it for the last 50 years was that it was the cheapest, but times change...

Shadowrider · Jan 27, 2013

Of the two you mention I'd probably say Mossberg.

But for about the same money you can have a Benelli Nova which is vastly superior to both of them. Smooth as silk action, nothing on earth loads faster and super ejection quite unlike every 870 I've ever had. I just picked one up with a Nordic extension that holds 10 rounds in the tube for $300.

MoBoost · Jan 27, 2013

Shadowrider said:
But for about the same money you can have a Benelli Nova which is vastly superior to both of them.

I'll bite ... how is it "vastly superior"?
The only thing you hear good about Benelli is how much it doesn't suck like a Remington 870 ... and how you should buy Mossberg 590 for the money. Shotgun people is funny bunch.

Shadowrider · Jan 27, 2013

MoBoost said:
I'll bite ... how is it "vastly superior"?
The only thing you hear good about Benelli is how much it doesn't like a Remington 870 ... and how you should buy Mossberg 590 for the money. Shotgun people is funny bunch.

Well I mentioned the biggies in my post.

I just sold a very nice 870. Synthetic stock, VR barrel, XS night site FS, Barrel cut to 18.25", recut for remchokes, Limbsaver pad and a Wilson Combat Scattergun Technologies tube extension. Just so you know what I'm comparing to.

1) The actions on the two aren't even comparable. The 870 was just "cluncky and glitchy" in it's stroke even though I had broken it down and slicked up the action bars and bolt's sliding surfaces. My Nova is far faster even though it's a 3.5" chambered action whereas my 870 was 3". I just shot my Nova for the first time yesterday and I was amazed at how fast it was. It's smooth and therefore doesn't move as much between shots allowing me to get the next shot off faster and more accurately.

2) There is not a faster shotgun to reload on the planet than the Benelli Novas unless you are talking mag feds and that's not apples to apples. The Benelli's loading gate stays up and out of the way so you can stuff shells in.

3) The Benelli will eject spent hulls a good 4 feet quite easily while every 870 I've ever held would barely get them out of the receiver. If you don't run the 870 "hard" they are notorious for "death jamming". If you run it right there is no issue, but you get lazy and you will find yourself beating the 870's buttstock into the ground to get it running again.

4) Benelli puts a lot more detail into their manufacturing with a lot more robust finishing. The M2 tactical I had was light years ahead of any Remington or Mossberg I've ever seen. Chrome lined chambers and barrels, and cryogenically treated chokes for instance.

5) This is subjective but, Benelli's are lighter any they point effortlessly for me. I hear the same from all the 3 gun guys too. They run M1/M2s in the auto divisions and Nova/Super Novas in the pump divisions. But that's not why they run Benellis. They run them because they are like the energizer bunny. A local shooter has an old M1 that has over 130,000 rounds through it, and it ain't broke yet.

There is one downside to the Nova that isn't in the Super Nova but the Super is in a higher price point. The standard Nova's buttstock and receiver are one monolithic piece. So customization options are limited. You can get different recoil pads to adjust the LOP and they are Comfortech pads which are the best recoil pads I've ever seen, but man are they ever proud of them. About $100 proud! :yikes2:

The Super Nova's stock can be replaced and adjusted for LOP/cast with their shim set and the Comfortech stocks are just pure awesomeness but again very very pricey.

Any more this guy will explain far better than I can.

MoBoost · Jan 27, 2013

Shadowrider said:
1) The actions on the two aren't even comparable. The 870 was just "cluncky and glitchy" in it's stroke even though I had broken it down and slicked up the action bars and bolt's sliding surfaces. My Nova is far faster even though it's a 3.5" chambered action whereas my 870 was 3". I just shot my Nova for the first time yesterday and I was amazed at how fast it was. It's smooth and therefore doesn't move as much between shots allowing me to get the next shot off faster and more accurately.

2) There is not a faster shotgun to reload on the planet than the Benelli Novas unless you are talking mag feds and that's not apples to apples. The Benelli's loading gate stays up and out of the way so you can stuff shells in.

3) The Benelli will eject spent hulls a good 4 feet quite easily while every 870 I've ever held would barely get them out of the receiver. If you don't run the 870 "hard" they are notorious for "death jamming". If you run it right there is no issue, but you get lazy and you will find yourself beating the 870's buttstock into the ground to get it running again.

4) Benelli puts a lot more detail into their manufacturing with a lot more robust finishing. The M2 tactical I had was light years ahead of any Remington or Mossberg I've ever seen. Chrome lined chambers and barrels, and cryogenically treated chokes for instance.

5) This is subjective but, Benelli's are lighter any they point effortlessly for me. I hear the same from all the 3 gun guys too. They run M1/M2s in the auto divisions and Nova/Super Novas in the pump divisions. But that's not why they run Benellis. They run them because they are like the energizer bunny. A local shooter has an old M1 that has over 130,000 rounds through it, and it ain't broke yet.

MoBoost said:
The only thing you hear good about Benelli is how much it doesn't suck like a Remington 870 ...

You can't script stuff like this!

Shadowrider · Jan 27, 2013

I never said they suck. Didn't even imply it. The one I had was quite a nice gun. Just that they aren't the end/all be/all of pump SGs like so many say.

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