Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Remington vs Mossberg

When comparing the Remington 870 to the Mossberg 500 and the 590A1 , out of those three which one is the more durable reliable shotgun ? And why?

870 by a long mile. Because it is not a Mossberg.

Heavy use by military shows the 870 is significantly more reliable than Mossbergs. Simple fact beyond opinion.

Ok. Thanks

https://youtu.be/Lcu_HCU7814

To me it would depend on the model and year made. The 870 Express is not so good. The older Wingmaster is a Gold Standard for a pump gun. The Mossberg is built to a price, but the 500 is a very dependable shotgun. I have owned several of each. I would take a Mossberg over the Express, and a Wingmaster overall. YMMV.

Shheeessssshhhh...

Shaking my head...

590 did not win anything over the 870 in military trials...The military simply ordered a bunch of Mossbergs...

Bubbas...

I'd agree with you, but they popped up on youtube the same day as the question.

(Call it comic relief)

I own a mossberg 500 and like it just fine. Interchangeable barrels, (field and sabot) and I have never had an issue with it in more than 20 years. It is, in fact, my home defense shotgun, loaded buckshot, slug, shot, slug, shot.

870: Specifically a Wingmaster. Simple reason being it is a better built shotgun.

Replace the plastic safety button on the Mossberg with a steel one and it will outlast anyone using it for defensive purposes (based on the inclusion of the 590A1 in the OP).

I much prefer the 870 but that is due to long familiarity with them. I've owned and used both models and really don't see much difference for general use. Now, if this is to be a dedicated trap or other clay gun, then it's the Remington for longevity but more importantly, various easy to find and relatively inexpensive accessories to better fit the gun to a specific purpose.

The 870 express is the same gun as the wingmaster. The only difference is the finish is rougher on the express.

No, the trigger group is made of steel in the Wingmaster and the express has a bunch of plastic parts.

I wont own a Mossberg shotgun. I have had a few and am not a fan. I have had a model 500 that dropped all the shells out the bottom of the action when the slide was racked. I had a friend show up with a brand new model 500 and it did the same thing. Load it up, rack the slide and pick up all the rounds that fall out on the ground. I also have had an 835 Ultimag that would not eject the 3.5" shells. It was probably due to improper cleaning and a carbon ring, but it had not been shot much and seems it shouldn't have happened. There are a lot of satisfied Mossberg owners out there, but I am not one of them.

590A1. The choice of the United States Military.


Marines chose Benelli.

Wingmaster trigger group is not steel.

Gave up on the notion of disabusing idiots of their fantasies a long time ago...

Hardly their choice...

All you've got to do is look in the mirror if you want to see a real idiot. Anybody who knows anything about guns and steel/metal alloys can see the Wingmaster trigger guard unit is not steel and never was. It is and always has been an aluminum guard. If it were steel then it would be blued to match the receiver and it is not and never has been. Part of Remingtons effort to produce a cheap, easy to manufacture firearm. Try sticking a magnet to it genius. I knew you didn't know shyt about guns but this is rediculous. Look up the trigger guard units for 870 Express and Wingmaster and you'll find there are two choices offered , synthetic and aluminum. There also aren't alot of "other plastic parts' in an Express that I've noticed. The most critical difference to reliability between the two is probably the extractors which is {or at least it was for many years} a machined part in the Wingmaster and MIM'd in the Express but then I doubt you've the ability to tell the difference. Personally I don't like any of them so it makes no difference to me other than to point out what a know nothing poser you are.

If you are open to a suggestion, I would take the Winchester SXP pump over both of those current two.

Mossberg makes a decent gun but my choice is 870 wingmasters. My defense shotguns are 870 police magnums, and I do more hunting with 870 wingmasters than any other shotgun.

I think it is a Ford vs Chevy moment. I have and appreciate both. I like the safety and open bottom of the Mossberg shotguns. The 870 shotguns are robust and well proven as well.

I have a Mossberg 835 that fits me well and has over 10k shells through it without issue. Pretty good value for the $200 I paid for it 20 years ago.

If I had started with the Remington instead of the Mossberg I may be slightly more biased on that side.

Tang safety on the Mossberg for the win. They are darn reliable shotguns too.

Why so ? The current Winchester SXP is made in Turkey and although I haven't examined one specifically I've not been overly impressed by Turkish imports in general.

The action on the SXP is crazy slick. I spent some time with one in the dove field a few years ago, and I shot very well with it.

I had a old Winchester Model 120 Ranger a number of years ago and it shucked faster and slicker than any pump gun I've ever shot. I did not care for the location of the safety, though, so it's gone. If the SXP is anything like that 120 was, it is crazy slick indeed.

Like you, most of the Turkey guns impress me little. However, the Winchester offerings I've seen are solid. Little doubt if I wanted a new pump shotgun, I would go with the Winchester.

Addition: Forgot to add that last week I handled and shot a Turkish SxS that was highly engraved and well done, with killer wood. It was extremely tight on opening and closing along with the triggers being excellent. Not sure of the maker, but I seem to remember the first letter being an L. Or perhaps that was the model. From all outside appearances it was what many would call a fine shotgun. I should cross paths with it again soon and will take a picture.

An important safety feature Remington does not offer

30 year retired LE guy here, 25 of that as a firearms instructor and armorer. I've seen a lot of issue pumps of both brands and both are excellent. I personally favor the Mossberg 500/590 for ease of maintenance, particularly extractors and ejectors.

"...An important safety feature Remington does not offer "

LOL, good one. Possibly your adversary would see this stunt and ROFL, giving you time to cuff him.

These day's I mostly shoot SxS's. But years ago it was Mossberg 500's. If they are better or worse than the /rem 870 I I couldn't say, Only ever had one 870 and never shot it. Gave it to my son. Wait had two. 870 Special Field. Great grouse gun but don't care for it for anything else. You want a nice pump, my mod 37 is about as nice as it get's, mine is an old 16ga.

In recent days I have been shooting a Mossberg Maverick 88, their low cost pump, and also shooting a Remington 870 Express. I've been shooting the same 3” slug ammo and the same 3” 00 buckshot in both. The single biggest perceived difference is that the Mossberg kicks me a lot harder than the Remington when shooting the same load and same choke tube. That's a sample of one, and could be stock design, shape of my bod, or something else. Both are brand new. The Remington trigger is a lighter pull with slightly less travel than the Mossberg, though both take some moving and neither is a light custom trigger with minimal movement.