Official Shotgun Review of the Mossberg
500 vs Remington 870
Before you buy make sure you look at these Side by Side Stats, Reviews and Comparisons of two All American Shotguns!
Mossberg 500 Summary:
Over 10 million sold, and over 50 years
in the field, the 500 is not only the most prolific and reliable shotgun in the
world, it is also the most versatile shotgun platform available, with a model
to fit every season, every application—and every user.
Dual extractors, positive steel to
steel lockup, twin action bars, and an anti-jam elevator ensure smooth
operation. 10 year limited
warranty.
$267.99 - $359.99
Mossberg 500 All Purpose – Base model 500, Standard Finish, Wood or Synthetic Stock
Mossberg 500 L-Series – All the
key features of the standard 500 in a left handed platform
Mossberg 500 Duck Commander - Synthetic Realtree Max 5 Stock, OD Green Finish,
Tru Bead dual color front fiber optic sight
Mossberg 500 Turkey - Mossy
Oak Break-Up Inifinity Synthetic Stock,
Barrel Finish matches Stock
Mossberg 500 Waterfowl - Mossy
Oak Shadow Grass Blades or Advantage Max 4 Stock and Barrel camo patterns
Mossberg 500 Slugster – Integral Scope Base Cantilever, 24” Ported Barrel, Fully
Rifled Bore
Read 19 Reviews of the Mossberg 500
Remington 870 Summary:
With over 60 years in the making, Its
solid, dependable action makes it America’s favorite, and continual upgrades
make it the most advanced, well-rounded family of pump shotguns around. Like
all Model 870 shotguns, it features a receiver milled from a solid billet of
steel for maximum strength and reliability. The twin action bars prevent
binding and twisting so that you'll always have the chance to get off a second
shot. 2 year limited warranty.
$289.99 – $379.99
Remington 870 Express – Base model 870, Standard Express Finish, Wood or Synthetic
Stock
Remington 870 American Classic – WalnutStock,
Engraved with Gold Fill, Ventilated recoil pad and spacer, White Diamond Cap,
High Polish Blued Finish
Remington 870 Wingmaster – Twin action bars for non binding action, More barrel and
choke options for this model than any other 870, Available in 12GA. 20GA. 28GA.
& .410 bore
Remington 870 Classic Trap – Twin action bars for non binding action, Receiver milled
from solid steel, Fancy American Walnut Monte Carlo Stock, 30” vent rib barrel,
3 Rem Chokes included
Read 22 Reviews of the Remington 870
Side by Side Comparison of the Mossberg 500 vs. Remington 870
Mossberg 500 Stats:
Action |
Pump Action, Fore-end release
behind the trigger guard, Tang Safety on top of receiver |
Barrel |
20/22/24/26/28" Vent Rib Barrels
plus 24" Slug Barrel Options |
Capacity |
6 Rounds |
Chamber |
3” Chamber - Shoots 2 3/4”
Shells & 3” Shells |
Sights |
Fixed Bead Sights |
Gauge |
12 GA, 20 GA, .410 Bore |
Choke |
Accu-Set or Full-Fixed Chokes |
Trigger Pull |
8 lbs 5 oz |
Remington 870 Stats:
Action |
Pump Action, Fore-end release in front of trigger
guard, Cross bolt Safety |
Barrel |
26”, 28” Vent Rib Barrels |
Capacity |
4 Rounds |
Chamber |
3” Chamber – Shoots 2 ¾” Shells
& 3” Shells |
Sights |
Fixed Bead Sights |
Gauge
|
12 GA, 20 GA |
Choke |
Modified Rem Choke |
Trigger Pull |
5 lbs |
The Accuracy
The Mossberg
500 and Remington 870 are both very accurate pump-action shotguns.
The Magazine
Mossberg 500 has a 6rd magazine tube. Remington 870 also has a 4rd magazine tube.
The Stock
Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 are both offered in Wood
Stock or Synthetic Stock.
The Sights
Both Shotguns have Fixed Front Bead Sights
The Trigger
The Remington 870 has a lighter factory trigger pull than the
Mossberg 500 but there are replacements for that.
Mossberg 500 Trigger Spring Kit
Remington 870 Trigger Spring Kit
The Barrel
Mossberg 500
has a 24”, 26” or 28” vent rib barrel and Remington has a 26” or 28” vent rib
barrel
The Weight
Overall
Mossberg 500 weight is 7.5lbs and overall Remington 870 weight is 7.5 lbs.
The Safety
Mossberg 500
safety is near the rear of the receiver on the tang. Remington 870 safety is a cross bolt safety
in the trigger guard.
The Shell Lifter
Another noticeable difference between the Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 is the shell lifter. The Mossberg 500 shell lifter stays up nearly all of the time allowing the shooter to easily reload. The Remington 870 shell lifter stays down and must be pushed up before loading another round. There are aftermarket modifications you can make it stay up.
The Extractor
The Mossberg 500 has 2 extractors on the bolt and they can be easily replaced. The Remington 870 has 1 extractor on the bolt and requires a gunsmith to replace the extractor.
Here are two great American Shotguns that are available in many different configurations. How do you decide between the Mossberg 500 or Remington 870? They are very similar in a side by side comparison, so handle both shotguns before you buy and see which one feels more natural for you.
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Don't forget, both The Mossberg Shockwave and Remington 870 Tac 14 now come in 14 " barrels. Do you know if the trigger pull has been modified in either?