Remington 870 vs. Mossburg 500

[austinN4]

As I said, never a problem with my 500 but I could never get used to the idea of having a plastic safety and a plastic trigger group.

You can replace both very easily, or just trade it for an M590A1.

The plastic trigger guard doesn't bother me, but the plastic safety does and they are known to break. I would replace it. There are several good options.

[Buckaroo]

YMMV, but I prefer the location of the safety and slide release on the Mossberg as I find them easier to operate. And, I find the 590 easier to reload under stress as the shell lifter isn't in the way when the bolt is closed on a round in the chamber. Just my opinion and worth what you paid for it.

These are the two main reasons I have a 590A1 as well. I would not throw out an 870 but I did choose which one to purchase.

Buckaroo

[austinN4]

Our armory (USMC) had a pile of mossy pumps that wouldn't take the same abuse as our M870's and M1014's.

I will never say I shoot as much as deployed military. Thank you for your service.
Generally, what happened to the Mossys, FTE due to worn/broken extractors? And was there some general round count where unreliability set in? And were they 500s or 590s?

[ST911]

As a newb here I freely admitted I know almost nothing about ARs and am leaning a lot from you guys. Thank you.

Welcome to M4C.

But shotguns, now that is something I know a little more about. The Remington vs Mossberg great debate will go on forever, just like Chevy vs Ford.

An oft-posted analogy, but usually oversimplified. There are a number of differences between a chevy and ford pickup. To what extent they manifest and the impact it has on how the job is done will vary.

The fleet manager at a place I work, using hundreds of pickups, has strong opinions here, and a large book of maintenance and performance records to back it up.

Food for thought.

this debate comes up very couple of weeks and most of the time most of the posters who favor one or the other have only owned and shot one or the other. Brand loyalty, plain and simple.

You shouldn't extend this viewpoint to the bulk of members here. In the bubblegum world, that might hold true.

I own and shoot a 20" Mossberg M590A1 (yes, the one with the heavy-walled barrel), an 18" Remington 870 and an 18" Winchester 1300 and like all three. IMO they all work just fine and do what they are supposed to, albeit with some differences in operation, mainly the location of the safety and slide release.

Excellent, enjoy your shotguns and shoot well.

I have yet to see a Winchester 1300 make it through a class, serious duty regimen, or reasonable service life without issue.

BTW, there is very little difference between the Express and 870P....That's about it. But you do get a huge price difference.

See the summary document published by Remington itself on the differences in the P-variant. It's more than you post, and more than you think.

[Dave L.]

I will never say I shoot as much as deployed military. Thank you for your service.
Generally, what happened to the Mossys, FTE due to worn/broken extractors? And was there some general round count where unreliability set in? And were they 500s or 590s?

Pretty sure they were 500's, yes lots of FTE's- our armorors got sick of tinkering with them and when we got the new M1014's...we really didn't touch any of the pump guns all that much.
Not sure about the round counts either; I shoot 'em till they go down, then I trade 'em in for one that runs(issue weapons).

[austinN4]

You shouldn't extend this viewpoint to the bulk of members here.

I didn't think I did. I thought I referred to the other group. Sorry if you were offended.

In the bubblegum world, that might hold true.

Please don't talk down to me because I am not active military. I did my time in the infantry, I just did it in a different time and place.

I have yet to see a Winchester 1300 make it through a class, serious duty regimen, or reasonable service life without issue.

What does that say about the FN TPS? It is the same SG, just different clothes.

See the summary document published by Remington itself on the differences in the P-variant. It's more than you post, and more than you think.

Well sure it is more than I posted, otherwise I would have had to post the whole thing. But I think my summary was pretty much on. There is no part in or on an 870P that you can't put in or on an Express, and for a whole lot less money. Gosh, I am alrady starting to sound like an AR builder.

Yes, there are differences to fit and finish, but I think I already said that. Here is the document so that others might see it as well: http://www.remingtonmilitary.com/art...Pol6-30-05.pdf BTW, several items on this list are no longer valid in all instances.

For example, Remmy dropped the J-lock safety from the Express so it now has a regular safety. But most shooters I know changed it out anyway with a Wilson or a Vang, just as I would change out the safety on an 870P to a Wilson or a Vang.

Also the Express 6+1 with factory extension has the same "ball dentent" system the 870P does. And it now ships with front and rear sling swivel studs as well, just like the 870P, not that this is a big deal.

As for not being able to add an magazine extension to the Express because of the "dimples" in the mag tube, most folks figured out the easy workaround on that a long time ago. But, I wouldn't want to add an extension anyway - I would simply buy the Express model that already had it as it is much less expensive that way.

[austinN4]

Pretty sure they were 500's, yes lots of FTE

Yep, 500s. I have never owned or even shot a 500. All my comments were about 590s.

[ST911]

I didn't think I did. I thought I referred to the other group. Sorry if you were offended.

You're right, I misread your post. Sorry about that.

Please don't talk down to me because I am not active military. I did my time in the infantry, I just did it in a different time and place.

I'm not talking down to you, just an observation on other venues where a lower common denominator of discourse is more likely, and valuation based on ownership, validation, and brand loyalty have greater voice.

What does that say about the FN TPS? It is the same SG, just different clothes.

Insufficient experience with the TPS, so I'll defer to those with more.

I'm comfortable with my observations of the 1300, and stand by them, though.

But I think my summary was pretty much on.

We'll agree to disagree.

Onward and upward.

[austinN4]

I'm comfortable with my observations of the 1300, and stand by them, though.

I haven't run my 1300 hard enough to know, which is why I asked. Good to know your thoughts - thanks!

[condition 1]

IMHO the Mossy cannot touch the 870.

YUP !!! not even close, IMHO...