My honest answer choice between Mossberg 500 and Remington 870

[True American]

Look, this debate gets old but I'll weigh in anyway since I've owned both. The 870 has a nicer feel in some ways and there are more aftermarket stocks historically. But the Mossberg 500's dual extractors make it more reliable in my experience and the tang safety is objectively better ergonomically than the 870's crossbolt safety. The 500 is also easier to take down and clean. Remington's quality control has also been inconsistent since the bankruptcy stuff. Long story short: I sold my 870 and bought a second 500. That's my answer.

 

[Sarge]

I get that 870 feels classic but the 500 just works. When reliability stacks up, nostalgia usually loses.

 

[Frank]

When someone sells one and doubles down on the other, that debate’s pretty much settled without saying another word

 

[BryanL]

I stuck with the Mossberg in the end. The safety’s position just feels more natural when you’re moving fast or wearing gloves. I never really trusted how the 870 felt in that regard.

 

[Alan]

Fair takes! Mossberg 500 is hard to beat for reliability and ergonomics, especially with that tang safety.

 

[micmacman]

i own 6 mossbergs and 5 870 's , ,grew up on remington , love them both , you can not beat my old 870's , where Mossberg excels is with comparison to the newer Remingtons , if you purchased a Cerberus remington product odds are it soured you on Remington , but since they sold it new management has made strides in righting the ship , but the damage is done to the reputation

if you nailed my foot to the floor and said choose one of my old remingtons or any one of my mossbergs , my old remingtons win every time , the action is like night and day , if all you know is mossberg its hard to understand

i did buy a 870 last year that was a police trade in , i wanted a battle worn look , it was manufactured 2 years after the freedom group went belly up , it feels like the old girls but the attention to detail just still is not there

i was in the LGS one day during the freedom group's (Cerberus) occupation as i like to call it , picked up a 870 tactical , it had the worst machine marks i have ever seen on a firearm inside the receiver , curly Q filings scattered inside as well , that was when i made the switch to mossberg , i love my mossbergs , but i will not turn my back on my 870's

 

[Alan]

i own 6 mossbergs and 5 870 's , ,grew up on remington , love them both , you can not beat my old 870's , where Mossberg excels is with comparison to the newer Remingtons , if you purchased a Cerberus remington product odds are it soured you on Remington , but since they sold it new management has made strides in righting the ship , but the damage is done to the reputation

if you nailed my foot to the floor and said choose one of my old remingtons or any one of my mossbergs , my old remingtons win every time , the action is like night and day , if all you know is mossberg its hard to understand

i did buy a 870 last year that was a police trade in , i wanted a battle worn look , it was manufactured 2 years after the freedom group went belly up , it feels like the old girls but the attention to detail just still is not there

i was in the LGS one day during the freedom group's (Cerberus) occupation as i like to call it , picked up a 870 tactical , it had the worst machine marks i have ever seen on a firearm inside the receiver , curly Q filings scattered inside as well , that was when i made the switch to mossberg , i love my mossbergs , but i will not turn my back on my 870's

Those old 870s really spoiled a whole generation of shooters and smooth actions like that are tough to replace

 

[micmacman]

Those old 870s really spoiled a whole generation of shooters and smooth actions like that are tough to replace

you ever play with a high standard Flite King? talk about smooth on a affordable shotgun , only reason i didnt go that route with my divorce from the newer 870's was mossberg makes a great affordable shotgun , with available parts and accessories

i actually picked up a maverick security dirt cheap and am very impressed with it , so much i updated it with some vintage lumber , mossberg hit a home run with the mavericks in my opinion