In this video, I cover my experiences with the Mossberg 500 and the Remington 870.
I also describe how I came to carry and use the Remington 870 from the age of 10. My experiences with the Mossberg are more recent.
I’ve been working on this video in my spare time for over a month – I’m not in love with it, but I’m fairly happy with it.
Once a level of basic quality is surpassed, I view all pump shotguns are interchangeable. I’ll would through in the Winchester 1200 with the two you covered. It maybe based on my appreciation of AR15s, but I really like the rotating multiple lug bolt of the Winchester. Steel or aluminum receivers are irrelevant in use, on all three the bolts lock into a steel barrel extension.
What does make a difference is plastic or metal fire control group. Many current production guns are coming with plastic FCGs which is not desirable. Plastic Mossberg 500 FCGs seem to be the most fragile of the three.
My ideal pump shotgun would be based on the Winchester 1200 action with the loading gate and lifter arrangement of the Mossberg 500.
So, when are you going to make one?
Right after I finish my Form 1/DD 37mm field gun. Shotguns are pretty low priority for me.
I’m not jealous of this project…well, just a little.
If you’re even a bit jealous now…just wait until I start it!
Hunted as a kid with the 870, used the 500 in the navy, bought a 590 Mariner on leave at one point, sits at the bedside. Use an 835 to hunt with now. I have always preferred the Mossberg controls. All pumps are close enough that a few minutes of familiarizing should put you on the right track.
But if I’m spending money, I’m buying mossberg.
As for the video, I’m indifferent to the characters.
What you should go into is difficulties one can run into when they don’t work. Pros and cons for each when different jams may occur. Prehaps speed of shouldering, taking safe off, firing. Safe on low ready and then bringing back up taking the safe back off and firing again. Just to see if control location is making any real difference.
Me!
Oh no, I just put up competition videos 🙂
I’m not as articulate as you either. And I don’t have an 870 😉 do I need any more excuses?
The only difference you didn’t explicitly mention that I have learned from my internet warrior training is the mossberg safety is easier to reach with a normal stock, and the 870 safety is easier to reach with a pistol grip stock (easier=not moving your hand from ready to use position). I went with a 500 since I don’t expect to use a pistol grip, and it was on sale.
Good point. I try to block pistol grip shotgun stocks out of my mind, so I failed to mention that.
Bonus points to you for that comment!
I liked the added comedy though it was “not you” in many ways. Your viewers appreciate your studious, sharply articulated, and near nerdy approach; well I do.
Good review and demonstration. I don’t like how the 500 requires wasting a round if I want to do a slug changeover which has to be “surfed out”. I believe the 870 does not do this?
I run 870s because I started with them as a kid, have the muscle memory, and I believe (but can’t prove) that older used Wingmasters are better platforms for home defense rebuilds than newer versions of either in terms of factory build quality and price. The loading gate is a good sized con in the 870 equation though. Safety placement has been covered well here already. Could be pro or con depending.
MagPul covers a way to slug change an 870 and only lose the one in the chamber. It requires a good deal of practice but is doable. Not sure I’d try it in a dynamic situation myself. They claim a 500 always looses two and requires surfing a shell out. I’ve been corrected in other forums on that. Somebody out there can, apparently, slug change a 500 and only loose one but I’ve never seen it done.
Good overview of the two. I’ve got a Mossberg, but both are fine weapons.
Another member of the Andrew’s who grew up in AK club.
As far as the 2 shotguns go, you can’ t go wrong either way.
I prefer Mossberg because I don’t use a pistol grip so the safety is more convenient.
But having shot a few 870’s I appreciate the quality and durability they offer.
I think your point about training being more important than the different actuating features of the guns is a good one. I’ve never shot a Mossberg pump, but I’ve instructed in shooting the Remington 870 as well as shot one many times myself. I love the action on the 870, but I think the lack of the loading gate on the Mossberg is a plus. I think either gun is going to serve well in whatever scenario a person has deemed appropriate for a pump shotgun. If I were buying a Mossberg, I would upgrade to the 590-A1 which is basically a more robust model of the 500.
As for the characters I like what you’ve done. You put them in just enough to be funny, without taking away from the overall professionalism of your assessments.
You won’t regret going with the 590A1. I have the plain, bead sight, 20″ barrel, 9 shot and I love it. I see no need for ghost ring sights on a shotgun. I can hear it now…”but slugs blah blah blah.” How many folks know that factory bead sights are designed to hold the slugs on target at 100 yards? Try it. With practice you’ll be alright. Besides…it is a SHOTgun, right?
Prefer the controls of the 500, personally. Still love the 870, though I’m not a fan of the gate.
Hipster Andrew: only uses rare non-standard ammo. Like the Underdog 2-7/8 single-aught buck, hand made and mellowed in Cuba, enviromentally safe and free of lead. Please don’t buy any, you’ll only mainstream it.
I heart this review.
What an experience it must have been to live so far away from anything. I can only imagine. I really enjoyed the video. It was a departure from your typical script, but that goes without saying. The addition of characters was funny. My favorite was Hipster Andrew 🙂
I used the Benelli Nova as a recreational shotgun for many years and have no issues with it. It wasn’t until about 2 years ago that I embraced the Mossberg 500. I prefer the location of the controls and was always annoyed by the loading gate. I now have two 500’s; a 12ga for Trap/Feild and a 20ga I use for Home Defense and Coyote.
As far as the sound of a racking shotgun is concerned; it is my opinion that if you are waiting until your oponent is within earshot to load your firearm you are all ready behind the power curve.
**MACHO GUNSHOP STATMENT AHEAD**
The only time an intruder should be hearing the racking of your shotgun is after a shotgun blast.
I have used both a decent amount while in the military and since I have been out. I used to try and take the 870 when I had the option because the safety was in a safer position (I had mine slung from a bungee/carabiner in armpit for breaching). We didn’t run a shell in the chamber for entry, but if you had to use it, it would be cond. 1 the rest of time in the house.
I also had 2 Mossberg 590’s go down for broken extractors, and I just didn’t trust them after that. The extractors just seem to be weaker than the 870 design. It would still fire, and it would still extract most of the time with just one, but the spent shell would not eject properly after that.
For me, I like the 870.
Interesting. Thanks for the input.
Ive noticed over the years, that if you plan on leaving the 500 in stock configuration in relation to the buttstock, it is easier to reach the controls versus the 870. If you switch to a pistol grip (either full stocked or just the grip), the 870 becomes the easier one to reach the controls with. All has to do with hand placement versus control location.
Thanks for the tech support call tip!
Needs more cufflinks…
great video, facts and funny are both good.
Nothing wrong with adding a little humor to your videos.
In resent years the shotgun seems to have taken a backseat to the AR. It’s nice to have someone point out from time to time that a shotgun is still a very viable weapon. Plus, they make excellent beginner firearms for young folks. The first gun I was allowed to carry on my own was a .410 single shot, BTW still own it.
The only problem I have with the shotgun is when I hear people spouting off that you just point a shotgun in the general direction of the target and you can’t miss (which can not be farther from the truth).
Really nice video. I liked to hear about your background a little more and Hipster Andrew cracked me up!
Nice parody in there!
I like this review and must agree with it. The amount of time one ought to put into their said Home Defense shotguns is far more than what folks typically put in. I think this video puts forward the ideal of proficiency quite well.
I always have enjoyed your videos because they are informative without being full of the kind of filler some bloggers seem to think is necessary to make theirs longer, thus more “authoritative”. Getting to the point is good. Humor is good. BTW, I love my old 870. Needs a new recoil pad and I’m considering a stock with a pistol grip to keep my “birdie” finger from getting smacked when I shoot those DDupleks steel slugs. (That last sentence was filler, now I feel like a real authority!)
I like both of them, and the only thing that makes one stand out from the other is from a maintenance standpoint. I find the 870 far simpler to field strip for cleaning. That said, they are equal in my book from say an “operator” standpoint.
Hi Andrew – just stumbled onto your site from a line on a board I frequent.
I have to say I quite enjoyed your review of these two platforms. You discussed the age old agrument; ‘which one do I get’ rather well.
I’m very envious of your childhood home! Beautiful pics.
Very well done video. I was laughing pretty hard when the Hipster got butt hurt 😉
RefLink: http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?p=3924536#post3924536
Ithaca Model 37.
I enjoyed the humor. I say if you enjoy recording that sort of thing, do it some more. As long as you keep up with the goods (slo-mo under recoil, showing some basic manipulations, etc.), I don’t see how adding humor could be bad.
I started hunting with a 870 that was loaned to me. When I bought my own shotgun it was a Mossberg 500A as that is what I could afford at the time. The only difference, like most everyone else has mentioned, was the placement of the safety. I’ve had my Mossberg for 26 years now and it has performed well with bird shot, duck loads, buck shot, and slugs. I have no issues using my Mossberg to defend my life. I enjoy the usual format of your videos but the humor was good also.
In my experience, there’s very little practical difference between the Remington 870 Express and the Mossberg 500/Maverick 88.
However, the 870 Police is a major upgrade over either shotgun.