Rem 870 or Mossberg 500?

[JohnTRourke]

Just figured I'd bring it up, since we haven't seen it in a while and it seems to be the ONLY topic on ar15.com's shotgun forum.

[shrapmetal]

i like the mossberg 590a1 but i also own 2 500's. i have never owned a 870 so it's hard for me to compare them.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s99/shrapmetal/fa/590a1.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s99/shrapmetal/fa/m44moss500.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s99/shrapmetal/fa/czmoss.jpg

[HunterCO]

I own an 870 and 2 moss 500 one of wich is my serbu. I like them both I don't really see much difference they both work great. The only thing I like about the moss better than the remington is the location of the safety it works for left hand shooters also. Other than that I don't see what the debate is all about.

My little sister got her hunters safety and I am taking her pheasant hunting in three weeks (opening day KS). She does not like recoil so she is going to use my sporting clay gun (Rem 1100 tricked out) and I am going back to my 870 first time in three years.

[JohnTRourke]

i agree, I like the mossberg safety better, for right or left handers, makes a lot more intuitive sense. More like a O/U or a SxS. up is off.
the 870's I just leave safety off, because who the hell knows what state it's in.

[brandyspaw]

I have both a M870 Remington and a M500 Mossberg. I also don't see much difference in operation and could live with either one. I also prefer the
tang safety of the Mossberg as well.

However, I feel the Remington M870 is a better long-term gun as the
all steel contruction seems to more durable. I feel the durabilty is of
particular importance if the gun is misused and/or neglected in a SHTF
situation.

I realize the M500 have some military contracts but if you have something
that you have to use with in an adverse situation I think the M870 would be the better of the two. For most normal shooters uses, however, I would imagine either gun would serve you well.