Remington 870 or Mossberg 500?

winchester model 12 12 ga.

 

I just have more confidence in the 870. not based on anything but personal preference. but if a new shooter is with me I like him/her to have a 500 so I can look over with a glance and see the tang safety.

 

I love my Ithaca 37.
Had her sense I was 13 she never failed me.
Mike

 

I have both and they both perform very well. I've never had any problems with either. While the 500 can often be found at very reasonable prices, the 870 is much easier to customize and has a wider variety of aftermarket accessories.

The safety on the 500 works better for me as it is easily accessed with the thumb on the back of the receiver. The 870 has a safety button down on the trigger guard and can be somewhat difficult to find. I grew up hunting with a 20 ga. 500, so my familiarity with operating the 500's safety could just be old muscle memory, but it feels natural.

I'd say you'd do fine to get either one.

 

I have both and enjoy them equally but I voted for the 870 because there seems to be more accessories available for it.

 

I also like both but with the 870, there are more mods and custom parts and the round capacity is upgradeable where on the 500 it is not (without buying a whole new front end anyway)

so 870 gets my vote

 

For comparison, both guns outfitted for HD duty in 12 ga.. The Mossberg 500 is on top. The Mossberg holds 6 shots as is and the Remington holds 7 shots with the +2 magazine extension.

 

Same here, had mine since 1968.

Also have the semi version, the Model 51.

Both have been great, never a problem with either. My only complaint with the 51 is that you can't shoot lower power loads.

Between the 870 and 500...I'll take a 870 over the 500 because I think the 870 is built better. But, I have no experience with the new 870's since Remington's quality has dropped in my opinion since they changed ownership.

 

At one time a friend of mine had a 500 12 gauge 3". With 2 3/4" shells it was fine. Fire a 3" and it unlocked and ejected the shell. Too much shell for the gun. I decided then they were unsafe. Maybe he just had a defective gun. Those things do happen. But it worried me.

I have had, at different times, two 500s in 20 gauge. Got one in 1980, hunted with it for a year, and then traded it off for a 12 gauge SxS. Got the other one in a multi-gun deal a couple of years ago, and sold it within a week.

Just don't like 'em.

Got two 870s, a 37 and a 97 Winchester. But no more Mossberg shotguns for me.

 

Saiga 12.

http://www.gunsamerica.com/Search/Category/599/Guns/Shotguns/Saiga-Shotguns.htm

 

I think that I would feel a little uncomfortable rabbit or bird hunting with one of those. Wouldn't mind having one with the drum on it though. You know, just for shooting clays.

 

i have both, and actually prefer the 500. i did lots of clay target shooting and the slightly looser action of the slide in the 500 made for faster reloads for that next shot.

i'm the limiting factor on accuracy when holding either gun.. the rem is more $$

your call.

 

My son has an 870 and a 500. I have a Mossberg 535. I like my 535 the best. I used to shoot trap with it and never had an issue.