HD Shotgun Questions - Remington vs. Mossberg vs. etc.

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TheFrontRange

TheFrontRange

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I'm considering one of these brands / models of 12-gauge pump-action shotgun for home-defense use:

Remington 870 - 18" or 20" version
Mossberg 500 or 590 - again 18" or 20" most likely
Benelli Nova or SuperNova

Question 1 - I've read other posts on the various good points of all of the above, all are roughly in the same new-gun price category from what I can tell, but one thing I haven't found yet is info on disassembly / reassembly...of the above models, does anyone have feedback on which is most easily taken down for cleaning and maintenance?

Question 2 - What are the particular things to look for or check in examining used examples of these shotguns? I know the SuperNova in particular is new to the market and I likely won't find those in "used" form yet, but I'm wondering what to look for if I find a possible gem in a pre-owned 870 or Mossberg at a nice price.

Question 3 - Any feedback on the Maverick line of Mossberg 500 look-alikes? I'm not even sure if these are still on the market or not?

Thank you for any and all info!
 
Im not familiar with the other guns but most shotguns are easy to dissassemble, I know the 870 well and I love it, Dissasembly is ridiculously easy, just unscrew the mag cap and pull the barrel off, then if you want the forend(on the super mag) you just pinch the clips on the inside where you insert shells to the mag, and pull it off, with it will come the bolt, try not to drop that. anyway, its very easy and without even a manual i can disassemble and reassemble it in like four minuttes.
 
All three of those shotguns are very simular in function and cleaning, there are a few differences in operation. The Mossberg has a safety on top of the receiver, the other two are down by the trigger guard, this is important if you are a left hand shooter. Both the Rememington and Mossberg can take a 6 shot side saddle to hold additional rounds on the left side of the receiver. You may have to change the Remington's fore end stock to get the side saddle to fit. The Benelli will only take a 4 shot side saddle. Extended tubes are available on both the Remington and Mossberg, Benelli says it has one for the Nova it is just not availalbe at this time. After market stocks to include pistol grips and colasble are available for the Remington and Mossberg. The Benelli has hte shortest recycle stroke and the shortest reach for the support hand. All three are great guns and all would serve you well. It jsut comes down to fit and feel and what extas you may want to add.
 
There's no dogs on the short list. Any will do nicely.

The 870's modular contruction makes it a breeze to deep clean.
 
Do you have a shotgun or shotguns that you use for sporting purposes- hunting or clay games? If so, what kind?

I am a firm believer in the KISS concept when it comes to any defensive firearm. Murphy is a constant companion when things go bump in the night, and an overdose of adrenalin plus a heart rate approaching 200 can make your fingers act funny and your brain freeze up. I think it's better to pick a platform and stick with it. Oh dark thirty waking up to the sound of your door being kicked in is not the time you want to be fumbling with an unfamiliar defensive weapon.

At least _I_ don't, but whatta I know?

If this is your first shotgun, or will be your only shotgun, pick the one that feels best to you. Otherwise stick with what you know.

lpl/nc
 
I think the Mossberg 500 persuader is a nice shotgun. Only thing is I think you are stuck with the barrel it comes with becasue of the 8 round tube.I dont think longer or slug barrels come with it ???
 
There's more little parts in a Mossberg than an 870 if you decide to detail strip 'em. Never taken apart a Nova, so I dunno how those tick.

All good guns. Go out, throw 'em up on your shoulder, shoot 'em if you can and rock whatever works for you. You won't be undergunned with any of those.
 
Oh that is awesome....I never would think to use Froogle. I would like one of those slug barrels for my Persuader. :)
 
I have a Mossberg 500E in .410 (not an HD gun by any means, unless loaded with slugs, I suppose) and a Mossberg 590A1 in 12ga.

I've handled 870s, I've handled Winchesters and Berettas and Smith & Wessons and Ithacas. I just really, really like the Mossberg. I find that disassembling and reassmbling can be a little bit of a jerk-around the first few times, but overall I've really grown to love them without any pause.

The tang safety, rugged construction, high capacity, and great aesthetics (plus the bayonet lug and ghost rings of the 590A1) all make me a believer. It all comes down to a personal preference. Pick the one that feels best.

The saying goes, "A Remington will outlast a Mossberg, but a Mossberg will outlast you." I've never found the former to be true; I consider them equal in construction and finish.

Pick what fits you best in terms of feel in your hands and how you operate the safety fastest, and you can't go wrong with any of the scatterguns on your list.

(But my vote goes to the Mossberg line :D )
 
Thanks to all for the input! I'll let you know when I make a decision on one of these...seems like a toss-up right now between an 870 and a Mossberg 590.

Have a great Labor Day weekend, everybody!
 
Either one should serve you well. I am of course partial to the 870 myself, but the 590 is a good gun. I don't think you'd be going wrong either way. I would suggest getting a configuration that would allow you to use the same gun in the field or on the range for clay games, if you are only going to have one shotgun. It's nice to be able to change barrels and use your HD gun for other purposes, and trigger time is helpful no matter what the target.

Just remember that the most important part of any shotgun is the nut holding the stock, and get yourself some good training and lots of practice. BA/UU/R, as Dr. Dave says.

Stay safe,

lpl/nc
 
I have some of my own HD shotgun questions, remington vs mossberg so I thought I would add them onto this thread to keep it all in one place.


I am looking at 3 different shotguns.

Remington 870 express, 18" barrel, 6+1 capacity, synthetic stock,
38.5" OAL.

Mossberg 500 persuader, 18.5" barrel 5+1 capacity, synthetic stock,
39.5" OAL.

Mossberg 500 persuader, 20" barrel, 7+1 capacity, snythetic stock,
41" OAL.

I am leaning more towards the shorter barrel. Since this is for HD purposes, the shorter the better I am thinking.

On the 18.5" mossberg, does anyone make a mag extension to get an extra round?

On the remington, could I change out the barrel for other uses (hunting, trap etc...)? I know the standard 4 shot you can but I am not sure if you can with the 18" model with the increased capacity/extended mag.
 
FWIW,

"I am leaning more towards the shorter barrel. Since this is for HD purposes, the shorter the better I am thinking. "
----------------------------------
I agree, I like 18- 18.5" barrels better.

"On the 18.5" mossberg, does anyone make a mag extension to get an extra round?"
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Mossberg 500s have fixed length magazines, you can't add extensions to them because the screw that retains the barrel screws into the end of the magazine tube. Of course, this also means you will have to unscrew the magazine tube from the receiver in order to pull maintenance on it. If you really really want a Mossberg, get a 590, not a 500.

"On the remington, could I change out the barrel for other uses (hunting, trap etc...)? I know the standard 4 shot you can but I am not sure if you can with the 18" model with the increased capacity/extended mag."
----------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, it is easy as falling off a log to change barrels on 870s. The magazine tubes are all a standard 4-round length, and a 1, 2 or three round extension can be used in place of the magazine cap that holds the barrel on. Any 12 gauge barrel should fit any 12 ga. 870 except for the barrels made for Special Field 870s or right hand barrels on left hand guns and vice versa. There are other details re. the barrel detent mechanisms that have changed with the advent of Express guns, if you decide on an 870 you can ask about those later depending on which 870 you get.

Happy shopping,

lpl/nc
 
Lee, thanks for the reply.

I am assuming then that if I get the standard 18" 870 express synthetic stock (4+1), that I can add my own mag extension? My local gunshop does not have the 6+1 (factory mag extension) in stock but it does have the 4+1.

I will be adding a 6shot side saddle shell holder onto the receiver. Will I have to modify the forearm/front grip? I have read in past posts that I will have to but a friend told me that some manufactures now make ones that do not require you to shorten the grip.
 
I am assuming then that if I get the standard 18" 870 express synthetic stock (4+1), that I can add my own mag extension? My local gunshop does not have the 6+1 (factory mag extension) in stock but it does have the 4+1.
======================================================
Yes, there are several manufacturers of aftermarket magazine extensions (I like TacStar, Wilson and Choate), and last I knew Remington factory extensions (2-shot) were available also- see the thread at http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=209884 . With an 18" or 18.5" barrel, a two-shot magazine extension will be about even with the muzzle. A two-shot extension will bring magazine capacity to 6, and the total capacity of the gun to 6+1. Even with a two-shot extension, you should use a magazine clamp to help stabilize the magazine extension.

Some people find the additional weight of a magazine extension and the ammo it holds to be deleterious to the 'feel' of the gun since all the added weight is forward of the support hand, and any weight added to the gun that is not between the hands is magnified in its effect. If you get a standard 4+1 870 to start with, try shooting it that way a while so you'll know how it feels. You may discover you prefer it that way. If you learn to feed the gun as you shoot it, magazine capacity becomes less of a concern. Most folks worry far too much about how many rounds their shotgun will hold, when they should be worrying about how good they are at hitting what they shoot at.
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I will be adding a 6shot side saddle shell holder onto the receiver. Will I have to modify the forearm/front grip? I have read in past posts that I will have to but a friend told me that some manufactures now make ones that do not require you to shorten the grip.
=======================

If you want a 6-shot Sidesaddle, you will have to either shorten the forearm, or swap it out to a police style forearm. The standard 'field' style forearm is about 9" long IIRC, and overhangs the front end of the receiver when the action is open. The police style is about 7" long and does not extend past the front of the receiver by as much as the field style, if at all. The question is less the effect of forearm length on the Sidesaddle than a question of proper gun fit to shooter. Shorter people or people with shorter arms might _need_ the extra length on a field type forearm to be comfortable running the gun, otherwise they have to hyperextend their support arm to get a proper grip on the forearm. That causes problems handling the gun, and is indicative of a too-long stock as well.

Tacstar makes a 4-shot Sidesaddle that will not interfere with a standard field length forearm. That might be a better choice if a longer forearm is needed. The 'house guns' here all have shortened stocks (12.5" LOP), field length forearms, no magazine extensions and 4-shot Sidesaddles. They are set up to fit my wife, who is 5'4". At 6'3" I have no trouble handling them either, I just have to keep my shooting hand thumb over on the knuckle of my trigger finger so as not to get bopped in the nose by my thumb under recoil. It is far easier to effectively use a stock that is too short than one that's too long.

hth,

lpl/nc
 
poll

Somebody should make this thread a poll type deal or can anybody refer a link to a previous poll between these guns? it would be interesting to see the numbers represented on a graph for me
 
I am assuming then that if I get the standard 18" 870 express synthetic stock (4+1), that I can add my own mag extension? My local gunshop does not have the 6+1 (factory mag extension) in stock but it does have the 4+1.
Click to expand...

FYI, the 4+1 Express models have dimples in the magazine follower that will preclude the use of an extension unless you have the dimples removed. It's an easy fix, but one you should probably know about. It might be easier to the the 6+1 model if you can find it because that model doesn't have the dimples.
 
I personally own both the Mossberg 500, and own two Remington 870's. I prefer the Remington just as a personal preference. A point worth noting though is that the Maverick is made by Mossberg, just less finish. Functionally the Mossberg and Maverick are the same.
 
I'm a Mossberg guy, so that is what I recommend. Nothing wrong with Remington 870's, just Mossberg 'fits' me better.

The Mossbergs have the safety button on the reciever tang, generally better for 'lefties'. The Maverick is made by Mossberg, but note that the Maverick safety on down on the trigger guard.

Try the 'feel-n-fit' of the brands/models you want to try in the store, even better if you get to try them on the range. You might find that a 'previously owned' Winchester or Ithica fits you better, but buy what fits YOU.

I have never shot a Benelli, so I have no comment, other than they are popular guns.
 
"The 870's modular contruction makes it a breeze to deep clean."

Provided you ever need to... my wingmaster is going on 25 years without taking it that far apart. Still operates smooth as can be.
 
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