My replies in red
"Hayley Davidson, post: 292695, member: 23827"]Hi everyone!
And before anyone decides to lecture me on the basics of hunting/guns because they assume I'm a pretty lil princess, I know what birdshot, buckshot and slugs are used for. I've likely killed more moose and black bear than most of the men on this site have killed living things! Plus, how many of you who are hunters can brag about clubbing hundreds of harp seals to death every Spring? That's what I thought!
I don't recall anyone assuming anything here, or judging you.
I’ve handled and shot both of them before (as my father and uncle have two sets each) but I feel myself gravitating towards the Mossberg more.
I’m a smaller lady and I can load the Mossberg easier as the shell elevator stays up. I’m always wearing leather gloves when out and have got them caught in an 870's loading gate a few times. I’ve also had the Remington’s lifter spit cartridges back out at me if I let them go when loading the gun upside down, whereas they just fall right into the Mossberg’s port.
Sounds like you just made your choice a lot easier.
FWIW, I own both 870 and 500's. When I check the trail cams and am working out in the woods, the 500 is also what I choose. For me, they are just better for me. Not that the 870 is a bad gun. It's not. But I like the layout of the 500 controls better and for me, are more intuitive and just what I prefer better.
I keep second guessing myself into thinking that the Mossberg is somehow an inferior shotgun when compared to the 870. When I’ve asked this question on other forums, I'm usually bombarded with older trap shooting dudes and Fudds who think the Remington 870 is like God’s walking stick while the Mossberg is simply a poor peasant’s stick shift.
As I mentioned, I own both. I could carry either one. But, the mossberg is just a better fit for me and just more instinctive, from a lack of better explanation. At the end of the day, if you're picking a gun for yourself, take it all into consideration and pick what's best for you. Otherwise, you're just wasting your time and money on something you don't really want just to impress someone else or make someone else happy.
If the 500 works for you, great. Pick it.
You're in good company.
Plus, in recent years, the 870 quality really nose dived, especially the last few years leading up to bankruptcy and in the end closing the company down entirely.
A new group of investors has since bought the remington name and intellectual property late last year, but they have not been making guns long enough for me to even compare them to remington of old or know if they're better yet or not.
Old being pre-2007'ish.
My 870 was made in 1989 according to the serial number.
“Steel reciever, WiNgMaStEr, MoSSbErG’s PlAsTiC TrIgGeR gRoUp, etc, etc”
I’ve seen Maverick 88 guns in the field operate just fine with abnormal abuse, while some of my friends who bought Freedom Group 870 Express models have had nothing but trouble. Shells stuck in rough, unpolished chambers, weak ejection/stovepiping because of MIM parts, finishes that rust while the gun is on the store shelf, etc.
Well, sounds like you've already heard some of the complaints of the cerberus/freedom guns. Lots of metal inejection parts (not as good as forged parts) and shoddy quality first hand.
Just wondering what some other members think?
Should I grab a Mossberg and forget about it or is the Remington 870 truly a better built gun when it comes to durability?
Kind Regards,
Hayley
Well, you have came to an opinionated place. While we are a mossberg forum, you wouldn't be shunned if you ultimately chose an 870. We'd still be just as welcoming to you and we'd still have enough in common to talk to each other. You'd still be welcome here if you don't get the 500. Or if you do.
There is a topic just the last day or two concerning plastic and metal trigger groups. And the consensus is that none of us (even the guys here that are as old as rust LOL) have never seen a broken plastic trigger guard. But the mossberg 590A1 does have an aluminum trigger guard that if you were to be lucky enough to find one, would swap out without issue into your 500 if that's what is causing your hangup and is a dealbreaker.
Or, if you ever did break it, you can pick up a complete drop in replacement plastic 500 group from ebay for about $45.
For reference, I have carried my 500 at work--many miles through the woods. I have strapped and banged them around on atv's. Bounced around in the bed of a 4x4 pickup truck through muddy trails. Been in boats caught in the rain. And has put food on the table with it.
My oldest 500 is 22 years old this year. Other than needing to finally replace some small parts, has never missed a lick.
Like I said earlier, pick what works best for you. With millions of both guns being made, there's both good ones and bad ones out there, but you don't sell millions of guns by consistently being bad. That's not a good business model.
Well, in thinking more about it, I guess remington found this out from first hand knowledge.