Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 ?

Which 870 are you looking at? What are you using it for? Ableammo.com sells the Rem 870 that I want to use for home defense for $280.

Tough call. Both are awesome shotguns. I've got an 870, and love it. I have no first hand experience with the 500, but from what I've read, you cannot go wrong with either.

I don't know that there's going to be much of a difference in feel since they're shotguns, but I would recommend seeing which one feels better to you.

I know I didn't help you much, but either is going to be a good choice.

It depends on what you are using it for. I have an 870, tremendous shotgun very reliable and easy to care for, I use it mostly for hunting. I shot a few Mossy 500's and what I noticed was on every one I shot, the forearms rattle which makes it NOT good enough IMHO for hunting. This may not matter if you just want something for home defense.

I think you have got a heck of a question. You are on the right track, those are both excellent shotguns. I think the answer will come down to personal preference. I like Remington products, but I bought a Mossberg 590 myself. It just happened to be exactly what I wanted and on sale so I couldn't turn it down.

Remington all the way! I have a no frills 870 and it works like a champ. Always feeds whatever I put in it and more importantly it always goes bang!

Welcome to Remington country.

The tests always show the Mossie and Remy to be roughly equal with a small nod going to the 870 in overall quality, especially on the inside machining. The 870 is THE most produced shotgun of all time ( at least pumpers for sure ) and has a bunch of mods available. I expect that within the same timeline the Mossie is a close second. I have an 870, it is my second one and I love it.( sold a 16ga walnut Wingmaster about 15 years ago, you can all kill me now ) YOU might want to go to a gun shop and check out the safeties, as that seems to be the major difference, the Mossie is a tang mounted slider where the 870 is a trigger guard button, I always prefer the TG button like my 22s.
The short story here is that they are both good guns. If you look at the 870 "Express" the only real diff between those and the regular 870s is exterior finish and wood, the guts are the same.

I was faced with the same decission and I have decided that my money will be going towards a Remington 870. Ableammo.com has them for $280.

i see your in virgina, if your close to maryland or west virgina, AND you can wait (which you said you have the itch to get one soon) last year about once a month dunhams sports shops would have sales on 870 express super mag combo. Shoots 2 3/4", 3", and 3 1/2", comes with smooth barrel and rifled slug barrel for the low low price (last year) of $329 for one model, and $369 for the other sub model ... different variants but mostly the same gun.


I ended up getting my super mag express for $175 used and its awsome.

If you can wait i am sure after hunting season you can get a 870 hella cheap.

If there is no dunhams with in a practical drive where it becomes false savings to make the drive, i would just try to wait and get the 870 myself. The 500 is good second place gun in my opinion, i just think the remmy is a bit nicer. Both popular long time cop guns both made in the millions i think the 870 is like 6-8 million, over 40 years.

I bought the 500 when I was 16, I paid for it, dad did the paperwork. Friend has the 870. Two of the best, most reliable shotguns. I want an 870 to add to my collection. I couldn't tell you which one was better, I've shot hundreds of rounds through both with no problems at all. They both took the same ammo, all ammo. One plus with the 500 I bought was the 28" barrel for skeet.

I think that they make more quality accessories for the 870 if you want to trick it out.

Can't go wrong with either. I like my Mossys though.

I've had better luck with Mossbergs than 870's.

One of my shooting buddies is the exact opposite.

They're both good shotguns. Personally, I'd recommend the Mossy.

Are you right or left handed? If right handed the 870, if left handed like I am, the 500 is more user friendly

Gunzzi said:

It depends on what you are using it for. I have an 870, tremendous shotgun very reliable and easy to care for, I use it mostly for hunting. I shot a few Mossy 500's and what I noticed was on every one I shot, the forearms rattle which makes it NOT good enough IMHO for hunting. This may not matter if you just want something for home defense.

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I've taken more dove, quail, turkey, ducks, pigeons and rabbits with my 835 than I can count. Mossbergs are better than 'good enough' for hunting (not just my opinion).

PackerfanXD said:

I've taken more dove, quail, turkey, ducks, pigeons and rabbits with my 835 than I can count. Mossbergs are better than 'good enough' for hunting (not just my opinion).

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I was referring to the 500 and the rattling fore arms that I have experienced. No doubt they are good shotguns, maybe they'll even rattle in a good buck, who knows? :lol:

Gunzzi said:

I was referring to the 500 and the rattling fore arms that I have experienced. No doubt they are good shotguns, maybe they'll even rattle in a good buck, who knows? :lol:

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I hunt with a 500 as well. I never noticed a rattle/noise on either and I sure haven't had a rattle cost me a kill. A LOT of hunters hunt with Mossbergs and I've not ever heard any of them say they were switching because their shotty was noisy. It's a non-issue.

sourpatch45 said:

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Is that hard to sight with the AOW attached?

Mossie tang safety FTW