500 vs 870: sales

Status
Not open for further replies.
G

Goosey

Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2012
Messages
643
I often hear things like "the 870 is the best-selling shotgun of all time" or "the 870 is the world's most popular shotgun", but I was doing the math recently...

Remington introduced the 870 in January 1950. In April 2009, they announced the 10 millionth 870.

Mossberg introduced the 500 in August 1961. In April 2013, they announced the 10 millionth 500.




So, that is 711 months for Remington, 627 months for Mossberg, which means:

Mossberg = av. 191,388 guns per year
Remington = av. 168,776 guns per year



So as far as I can figure, it seems like the Mossberg might be the "best-selling" or "most popular". I suspect that's likely because it's always been cheaper - remember that Remington only introduced the 870 Express in 1987, which could have given the Mossberg a larger head start.
 
Sounds reasonable to me. Price point is especially important to the occasional shooter, whose gun might only see a few hunts a year or be thrown in the back of an SUV just in case. Given that they are basically interchangeable in terms of quality and reliability, the edge would seem to go to the cheaper gun.
 
I read that Mossberg is moving ALL its shotgun production to Texas. Seems Connecticut is not a good business environment for firearms production any longer. Remington is moving a bunch of its production to the south, Bama or Georgia or somewhere, too.

Neither here nor there, I guess. In that report I did read that Mossberg had produced more shotguns than any other gun manufacturer. That was total shotgun production, not a specific model. AND, I don't recall the time frame, might have been in the last 10 years or something, because Remington's been around a LOT longer. I really was paying more attention to the fact that they're moving the 500 and all other shotgun production to their Eagle Pass facility.
 
i've always been an 870 fan as i'm partial to remington. haven't really handle anything much by mossberg except for their shotguns. i was considering buying one for a time but fell back on the 870. although i already have an 870, there was a killer deal at Dicks a few years back for the 500 which came with a bird barrel and scoped slug barrel for just over 300. can't go wrong with either. my scoped 870 barrel cost almost as much as the mossberg package alone. too bad i bought the barrel before i saw the deal.
 
McDonalds has out sold more hamburgers than anyone else. Probably more than everyone else combined. Recently they were voted the worst hamburger in America.

http://pressroom.consumerreports.org...y-entry-1.html

Because something sells a lot does not make it a good buy.
Click to expand...

Yes, but I'm still interested in such facts, I was surprised to learn the Ruger 10/22 (over 6 million) was not the best-selling rimfire, that title belongs to the Marlin 60 (over 11 million). Kind of a "d'oh!" moment. :D
 
Mossberg has always been cheaper, and has been slowly gaining in sales on the 870 since the 1970s. I much prefer a Wingmaster. Had an Express and it worked fine, but I had to lose it - I like blued steel and walnut. I had 3 BPSs and they never missed a beat, but I could never warm up to that bottom feeding.
 
Yes, but I'm still interested in such facts, I was surprised to learn the Ruger 10/22 (over 6 million) was not the best-selling rimfire, that title belongs to the Marlin 60 (over 11 million). Kind of a "d'oh!" moment.
Click to expand...

Well, I knew that one for sure. :D Even so, I own a 10/22 and don't own a 60, but if I find a 60 cheap at a pawn shop, I might get it just because....:D
 
Strictly speaking the best selling of all time would be the one that has sold the most units period. Doesn't matter that they got an 11 year headstart, it would still be technically the "best selling" and "most popular". Now if the trend continues the mossberg 500 will steal that title in a couple of decades or so.
 
the price point is whats selling the mossberg and its clones,if you shot 2-3 boxs of shells a year your good to go. even the chinese copies sell for the same reason and remington brought out the 870 express to compete and people thought they were buying a wingmaster for the 269.00 price wally world was selling them for. i have owned and used just about all the newer pump and auto,s and most were fit to hunt with. eastbank.
 
vamo said:
Strictly speaking the best selling of all time would be the one that has sold the most units period. Doesn't matter that they got an 11 year headstart, it would still be technically the "best selling" and "most popular". Now if the trend continues the mossberg 500 will steal that title in a couple of decades or so.
Click to expand...
+1

"Best selling" is total number of units sold. If Mossberg is selling more per month, they can claim "fastest selling".
 
I hate to bring this to your attention but Mossberg 500/590 is basically dual rail version of Remington 31.
 
have both a 870 and a 500. both are great, but i prefer the 870 because the slide and action are a little smoother
 
I don't eat hamburgers or anything else at McDonald's. And appearance in guns matters to me.

Mercedes sells fewer German cars than does Volkswagen. Which would you rather drive?
 
I actually like McDonalds sausage and egg biscuits. I don't remember the last time I ate one of their burgers.
Glad to hear somebody still cares about appearance in guns. We are few and far between. The only thing I have with a black rubber grip on it is my three inch .357. Not beating snakes off with it, or paddling the boat, or walking on it, I find my walnut and blued steel guns hold up just fine.
 
That's cool I've always liked my Mossberg 500's more than my 870. They are both very good pump shotguns, I just like the control layout of the 500 better.

My "old" 500 bought in 1988 is as smooth as any 870 I've ever handled but my new one is rough as a cob and doesn't seem to be smoothing up like my old one. That being said, the Mossberg that has the fit and finish of a 870 Wingmaster doesn't exist.

It's just a different approach, I think Mossberg likes to sell many good, cheaper guns rather than fewer more expensive, prettier guns.
 
.
Virginian

I actually like McDonalds sausage and egg biscuits. I don't remember the last time I ate one of their burgers. Glad to hear somebody still cares about appearance in guns. We are few and far between.
Click to expand...


Sir, yes sir.

20131229_193835_zps0597d2b9.jpg
 
gulogulo1970 said:
That's cool I've always liked my Mossberg 500's more than my 870. They are both very good pump shotguns, I just like the control layout of the 500 better.

My "old" 500 bought in 1988 is as smooth as any 870 I've ever handled but my new one is rough as a cob and doesn't seem to be smoothing up like my old one. That being said, the Mossberg that has the fit and finish of a 870 Wingmaster doesn't exist.

It's just a different approach, I think Mossberg likes to sell many good, cheaper guns rather than fewer more expensive, prettier guns.
Click to expand...
The Mossberg equal to 870 Wingmaster was seldom seen now Pedersen 4500.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
Are Benelli Nova pump 12GA any good, vs Mossberg 500 or Remington 870?
Replies
11
Views
6K
marriedguy1
M
Milkmaster
  • Locked
870 vs 1300
Replies
12
Views
1K
SwampWolf
S
D
  • Locked
Huge LASD 870 Purchase
2 3
Replies
54
Views
9K
VINTAGE-SLOTCARS
V
A
  • Locked
Comparing the 1300/870/500-590 for defense.
Replies
13
Views
2K
Zach S
Z
B
  • Locked
First Gun: Remington 870 vs. Mossberg 500
2
Replies
27
Views
8K
bigalexe
B
Back
Top