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I am looking to purchase a 12 ga. combo for both deer hunting and other various activities. I already own a 870 Express 12 ga. (which my son seems to have appropriated!) and have been looking at both the Mossberg and Remington combo packages which seems to be the most bang for the buck. I can't believe the price of individual replacement barrels!!!!! Anyhow, looking for any insight you all may have, I have no first hand experience with Mossberg, except I have heard they are good guns. On a final note, I have found comparable combos in both the 500 and 870 models, with the 500 combo being about $110 less expensive. I know you get what you pay for, but is there an appreciable difference in this case?

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The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.
--Thomas Jefferson

My first and only shotgun has been a Mossberg 500 combo. I love it for what i do with it....clays, rabbits, squirrels and this fall will be deer. I have the cheap scope that came with it sighted in at 85 yds. i have shot nicer guns (benelli, etc...) but for the $$, this is a good gun.

I have a bunch of Mossbergs and one 870, but that's not the point.

The safety is located on top of the receiver on the Mossbergs, and at the rear of the trigger guard on the 870. If you're only going to have two shotguns, why not spend the extra $110 and get another Remington? The controls will be identical, and you'll be able to swap parts and barrels between them (if needed).

That'd be worth $110 to me...

Now, if you're going to buy ten more shotguns within a couple of years, buy the Mossberg combo and spend the difference on ammo.

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James Beatty

If I had to get surgical on some mofo's Id get a tactical remington. There is a reason the police use it.

But Im partial to Mossbergs.

Go to a store. Hold both. See which you like more.

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The youngest member.

Having both in my safe I would have to say that the remington is a better built gun for hunting. It doesnt rattle as much when your walking in and out of the woods. The only draw back is like what was mentioned before and thats the safety. I do like the mossberg safety position much better. Hope this helps.

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John
US Army Vet
NRA Life
G17,19,21,26, and 34

Never forget that freedom is not and never will be free. They can come for my guns but I will give them my bullets

If you can read this thank a teacher
Because it is in english thank a vet!

You can't go wrong with either. I would say money and feel in your hands should be your main deciding factors.

Many people love the Mossberg safety- it's easy to get to left or right handed and with gloves on. The Remington safety's a little more tricky.

Police/Military use both. 'Nuff said.

In my personal experience the Mossberg edges out the Remington, but you'll find those who say the opposite.

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Let's know what we're talking about here, ideas have consequences.

My personal preference is the Remington, I really don't like how sloppy the Mossbergs are.

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NRA Member
OFCC Member
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

MS-OH,

I am partial to Mossbergs. Here are some suggestions from the Mossberg 2009 Buyer's Guide and Catalog:

- Model 935 Magnum Autoloader Turkey/Deer combo, 12 Gauge, Mossy Oak New Break-Up, 24" Fully-Rifled Slugster
Barrel and 24" Overbored Turkey Barrel. Item #82210

- Model 935 Magnum Autoloader Waterfowl/Turkey Combo, 12 Gauge, Mossy Oak New Break-Up, 28"and 24" Overbored
Barrels. Item #81224

- Model 930 Autoloader Field/Deer Combo, 12 Gauge, American Black Walnut Stock, 26" Ported Field and 24" Ported/Fully-
Rifled Slugster Barrels. Item #85125

- Model 930 Autoloader Deer/Waterfowl Combo, 12 Gauge, Black Synthetic Stock, 24" Ported/Fully-Rifled Slugster and
28" Ported Waterfowl Barrels. Item #85238

- Model 835 Ulti-Mag Pump-Action Turkey/Deer Combo/Dual Comb Stock, 12 Gauge, Mossy Oak New Break-Up, 24" Ported
Overbored Turkey Barrel and 24" Ported/Fully-Rifled Slugster Barrel. Item#62414

- Model 835 Ulti-Mag Pump-Action Turkey/Waterfowl Combo, 12 Gauge, Mossy Oak New Break-Up 24" and 28" Ported/
Overbored Barrels. Item #62338

- Model 535 ATS Pump-Action Field/Deer Combo, 12 Gauge, Wood Stock, 28"Field and 24" Fully-Rifled Slugster Barrels.
Item #45310

- Model 535 ATS Pump-Action Turkey/Deer Combo, 12 Gauge, Mossy Oak New Break-Up 22" Turkey and 24" Fully-Rifled
Slugster Barrels. Item #45210

I hope you find one of these to your liking.

Greg in Hinckley

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"A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves". - Edward R. Murrow

FWIW: I have also owned both. The Mossberg safety and the double action bars are the reason that I chose the Mossberg to be the one in the rack in my cruiser back in the day. I figured in a hurry-up situation the double action bars would be preventing a probably rare but entirely possible twisting/binding of the slide stroke.

My $0.02

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I can do ALL THINGS through Him who gives me strength. Phillipians 4:13

"If you carry a gun, people will call you paranoid. That's ridiculous.. If I have a gun, what do I have to be paranoid for?" Clint Smith

I own a Mossberg 835 turkey gun. I'm not gonna try to convince you it's the greatest thing since the Winchester Model 12, but I think it's hard to beat when you look at price and performance.

The Mossbergs especially appeal to me because I'm a lefty and that top tang mounted safety makes all the difference. Just wish it--and a lot of other things--weren't made out of plastic. Course there are plenty of plastic parts on Remingtons these days, too, especially since Cerberus bought them.

In general I think Remingtons are overpriced and underbuilt, but it's hard to argue against the 870. They've sold more than 10 million of them, which tells you something. (Of course, people bought Yugos, too.)

If I were in your shoes, I'd buy the Mossy and leave the difference in the bank. Or spend it on ammo.

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Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty's in every blow!
Let us do or dee!
-- Robert Burns, Scots Wha Hae

If you get a mossberg try the 590A1 versions as they have metal trigger units, unlike a normal 500, which have plastic trigger group housing, trigger guard, and safety. There may be some reliability issues.
Remingtons are all metal and are great as long as you are right handed, the only con on my 870 is the location of the forearm release. Bit of a stretch to the front of the trigger guard.





Pardon the Typing as my skill on an iTouch stinks

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The Thread Killer

$17 (less if you have an FFL on file) to Brownell's will get you the metal safety, and it's an easy swap.

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James Beatty

Thanks. That's worth the price.

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Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty's in every blow!
Let us do or dee!
-- Robert Burns, Scots Wha Hae

I think Remington is a higher quality shotgun, and it's a better company. The mossbergs safety is in a better location though, especially if you're left handed

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If People do their best what else is there?
Patton.

Then said he unto them, But now, He that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garmet, and buy one
Luke 22:36

issued mossberg 500 back in the navy, good, solid gun for tactical applications. Those shotguns were abused by careless sailors daily and functioned flawlessly.

That being said I have owned several rem 870 expresses. It is a great field gun. I have a stock, 12ga. 28" for birds (2nd gun I ever bought). And a drilled and tapped reciever12 ga. 870 with weaver rail for deer season (rifled barrel - 22".) They are supremely reliable guns and will never fail (in my experience.) I personally like the location of the safety better on the trigger guard, but that is personal preference.

Either willl serve you well, I like the combos with the the cantelever scope mount so you don't have to have a 2 dedicated gun for birds and deers.

good luck!

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"You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence."
-- Charles A. Beard