Mossberg 500

[OHIO]

I am looking to get a Mossberg 500 20 gauge for Christmas.

I have heard these are comparable to the Remington 870s and those are good guns IMO.

Does anyone have experience with these guns or opinions on them?

Any help would be appreciated.

[SDoolittle]

I've carried them both hunting, and I took a Mossberg 500 to combat. Opt for the 870.

[ring fry]

Definately not an 870, but will hold up pretty good if you aren't shooting 30 rounds every day, 200 days a year.  Used to sell them at Gibsons, years ago for 69 bucks.  But that's when we were selling 870's for a buck and a quarter.   

[OHIO]

I have an 870. Just looking to get another shotgun.

I guess I'll look for another 870.

[Micro]

The Mossberg 500 is a good gun - tough and reliable.  In terms of reliability, there is no practical difference between in and an 870.

The only disadvantage the 500 has over the 870 is if you want to lengthen the magazine.  If you do, you have to buy a new barrel.  The reason is because the lug on the barrel screws into the end of the magazine.  On the 870, its a band that slips around the magazine.  On an 870, you can buy a magazine extension and use it with any barrel.

[K_Mac]

A few months ago I was looking for a HD shotgun. I posted here and the general consensus was either the 500 or 870 would do just fine. I found a great deal on a 500 combo (18.5" and 28" with three chokes). Fit and finish is not quite as good as the 870, but it shoots and cycles well. Just my $.02

[OHIO]

Does anyone know how many chokes an 870 comes with vs a 500 if I bought it from Bass Pro?

[Dan:]

Does anyone know how many chokes an 870 comes with vs a 500 if I bought it from Bass Pro?

IME, Mossbergs almost always come with more chokes than Remingtons but I'm not sure how many come with either of the models you are looking at. If I had to guess, I'd say the Mossberg will probably come with three and the Remington with one.

[farmpond1]

Don't know about the Mossberg but I love the 870!!!  For me it shoots like an extension of myself.

[SDoolittle]

A few months ago I was looking for a HD shotgun. I posted here and the general consensus was either the 500 or 870 would do just fine.

I remember that. I also remember thinking that if you asked a bunch of shotgunners for advice about fishing rods, they would probably suggest an Ugly Stik. 

[00 mod]

The 870 is a much better gun IMO!  But if I were looking for another pump gun, I would look to find a deal on an Ithaca 37!  Those guns were, and the new ones are built like tanks, and can be had for the same price as a 500!  JMO, and I'm probably more of a shot-gunner than I am fisherman!

Jeff

[Hookemdown.]

I like the 870 better.  But I do like the safety on the mossbergs (I'm a lefty).

The next pump I buy will be a Benelli Nova.  I need a new turkey gun.

[00 mod]

Hook em, the safety on any Remington can EASILY be swapped around!  I too am a lefty, and you would really like the Ithaca as well!  Bottom load/eject and will last forever!

Jeff

My 1952 Ithaca 37!

[SDoolittle]

What do you think of the Browning BPS? It has bottom eject too. I bought the micro model for my son a few years ago, and I liked it, but my brother hated it.

[00 mod]

The Browning BPS evolved from the Ithaca 37.  If I were to buy a NEW pump gun today, the BPS is more affordable than the new 37's, and I have not actually held/shot/or even see(other than on the web) the new 37's!  The bps can be had for $550 and the new 37's are in the $800 range! I would probably go with the bps, or just stick with my gut and go on gunbroker.com and find a nice barely used 37 for sub $500!

[K_Mac]

A few months ago I was looking for a HD shotgun. I posted here and the general consensus was either the 500 or 870 would do just fine.

I remember that. I also remember thinking that if you asked a bunch of shotgunners for advice about fishing rods, they would probably suggest an Ugly Stik.

You may have a point, although the answers to the same question on a shotgun board were exactly the same as here. I did not base my purchase fully on interweb advice, but I see nothing wrong with asking the question here. You and others have plenty of advice to give. 8-) 

[FishingBuds]

In my price range I settled on the Benelli Nova, Moss 500 and Remington 870 as a pick. I didn't pick Winchester and I'll explain why at the end here.

All three perform great, except one difference between them all. Its the Forearm rattle!

The Nova was the worst, then the Moss came in Second-IMHO the REM was the best.

I went thru these shotguns because i had a brand new winchester's forearm bust on me when i was sighting it in 3 weeks before Deer season back in 1999.

I have a Moss 20gauge for bird hunting, but i use the Rem for Deer. The Benelli just rattled way to much for me.

[SDoolittle]

FishingBuds, are you talking about the Winchester model 1300? That may be one of the reasons that they are no longer in production. I haven't handled the new SXP, but they definately look better than the 1300.

[FishingBuds]

FishingBuds, are you talking about the Winchester model 1300? That may be one of the reasons that they are no longer in production. I haven't handled the new SXP, but they definately look better than the 1300.

yea it was the 1300, the weld gave away on one of the forearm support arms.

I haven't handled the SXP either, haven't heard any feed back from anyone about'em

[Baker06]

I have a Winchester 1300 that I got about 13 years ago and I wouldn't trade it for any Mossberg or Remington, but if you are set on either an 870 or a 500 I would recommend the 870. I had a buddy that had a 500 and it had problems feeding the rounds every now and then.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Gander Mountain was selling a 20ga semi, black synthetic for 299 today.

Our store still had a couple left. That is cheap for an auto.

On the above notes, I have not handled the SXP but I do own the SX3. THAT is a bad *** firearm.

[Micro]

If you want an elegant, supremely well-made shotgun, get the Ithaca Model 37. If you want a simple shotgun, avoid the Ithaca Model 37. I have one, a Featherlight with a 26" fixed choke (improved cylinder) barrel. The gun is fantastic. It's made the way guns used to be made. All forged steel. The problem is breaking it down. Field stripping (removing the barrel) is easy. A complete breakdown is a supreme pain in the ***. It requires removing the stock. It is not a simple task. Parts are screwed in instead of pinned in like the Mossberg and Remington. A complete cleaning is quite an undertaking.

I have owned a couple of Browning pump shotguns. These are very well made guns. They are produced by Miroku in Japan, a very old and well respected gun maker. Miroku has made Browning guns for many years. The BPS is an exceptional gun. The bluing is the best in the business. It has bottom loading and eject. It is easier to break down than the Ithaca. The vent rib is higher than the ribs on the Remington and Mossberg and I can get a nicer picture over it than with either of the other two. The top safety is nice, too. Highly recommend the BPS.

[GLADES]

If you want an elegant, supremely well-made shotgun, get the Ithaca Model 37. If you want a simple shotgun, avoid the Ithaca Model 37. I have one, a Featherlight with a 26" fixed choke (improved cylinder) barrel. The gun is fantastic. It's made the way guns used to be made. All forged steel. The problem is breaking it down. Field stripping (removing the barrel) is easy. A complete breakdown is a supreme pain in the ***. It requires removing the stock. It is not a simple task. Parts are screwed in instead of pinned in like the Mossberg and Remington. A complete cleaning is quite an undertaking.

I have owned a couple of Browning pump shotguns. These are very well made guns. They are produced by Miroku in Japan, a very old and well respected gun maker. Miroku has made Browning guns for many years. The BPS is an exceptional gun. The bluing is the best in the business. It has bottom loading and eject. It is easier to break down than the Ithaca. The vent rib is higher than the ribs on the Remington and Mossberg and I can get a nicer picture over it than with either of the other two. The top safety is nice, too. Highly recommend the BPS.

I owned a Ithaca featherlight 20 years ago. Very nice shotgun. I gave it to my brother and he later sold it.

As far as the current topic, my vote is for the Remington 870

[SDoolittle]

On the above notes, I have not handled the SXP but I do own the SX3. THAT is a bad *** firearm.

The SX3 is a sweet shotgun, but have you checked out the Browning Maxis? I bought last year, and I love it.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Haven't had the opportunity to fire it.  Handled it in the store, assembling/disassembling for display and sale.

It feels like a solid gun and if it shoots like anything else "Browning" then I am sure it is worth owning.

I love Browning archery equipment as well.