For the equal price, you are actually probably comparing the Mossberg 500 to the Remington 870 EXPRESS. "EXPRESS" is an important word.
I own both - a Mossberg in 20" with 7+1 capacity, and a Remington 870 EXPRESS with a 28" hunting barrel.
The 870 Express action is not as smooth - and some people have trouble cycling it if they don't do a full range of motion with authority. The Mossberg is much smoother. Also, the Remington has a metal cover over the magazine loading port that could make reloading more cumbersome under stress. The Mossberg is open.
As mentioned, I prefer the pump release position on the Mossberg (you don't have to move your hand from the firing position) and the safety position.
Remington makes several levels of 870, and the higher end ones are very nice, but that's not an apples to apples comparison.
I added a Knoxx recoil reducing 6-position tactical stock, which actually makes the safety and the slide release on the Mossy less convenient, but ceteris paribus, I still prefer the Mossberg over the 870 Express.
Try both out - see if you notice the differences in the actions.
Best Home Defense
Re: Best Home Defense
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Re: Best Home Defense
if you have a class III License and a spare 20,000 bucks. you should get one of theseRPB wrote:Yes, but because of the limited capacity, you need two of them for the multiple home invaders scenario
Whereas a SAIGA 12ga semi-auto with a 30 round drum, laser, flashlight, etc etc etc might suffice.
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Re: Best Home Defense
I was recently rabbit hunting in Louisiana with a buddy, and he uses a Mossberg 500, and I had a Remington 870. We were hunting in heavy brush with dogs and four-wheelers and we were both using 18.5" barrels due to the thick cover. While we were hunting, the safety selector broke on his Mossberg. Granted, he bought his shotgun well used many years ago and it's seen a lot of heavy use since...but I like the placement of the 870 safety since it seems more protected.austinrealtor wrote:You cant go wrong with Mossy 500/590 nor Rem 870.
IMHO, I like M500 better with a standard stock because safety switch is located atop the tang, which I find more natural (note the Mossberg Maverick does NOT have this same safety - different trigger group).
For a shotgun with a tactical pistol grip stock, the safety button in trigger guard area like Remington 870 makes more sense.
That being said, I agree it's like a Ford versus Chevy debate. I just prefer the Remington 870 myself.

MojoTexas

NRA Life member, TSRA member
"An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life."
--Robert A. Heinlein, Beyond This Horizon, 1942
"An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life."
--Robert A. Heinlein, Beyond This Horizon, 1942