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I've owned both, and prefer the 870 - simply because it feels better to me (fit wise). I actually like the controls on the 500 better, but it doesn't fit me as well.
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I would rank the 870 first followed by the winchester model 12, then the ithica model 37 (older model). The mossberg isn't even a contender. Why the models 12 and 37 you ask? Simple, they have no disconnectors, fire your first shot and hold the trigger back, every subsequent shell will fire the instant the bolt goes into batttery.
Why the 870? Never had a safety fall off in the field. All steel construction (weight is your friend). Never ever had one fail me.
Weight is a BS issue, not one of us isn't carrying around more than a few extra pounds.
Reloading and capacity aren't an issue, if you have to reload, in the real world, you are already dead or have missed your game.
I don't recall the last time I used a safety on a shotgun, always carry with an empty chamber, haven't you guys taken hunter safety?
LOL. Who ever said shotguns were only about wing shooting?
I fully agree that the 870 is a fine bird gun, but that's all it really is too, a bird gun, even when made to look like a combat shotgun.
If self-defense is in the equation at all, the Mossberg is a better combat shotgun because it doesn't have the handicaps to rapid handling that the 870 does.
If you have to clear your own house, you'd be wise to have a round chambered and probably want a safety that is easy to locate and to flick off and on. If you want to switch from bucks to slugs or vice versa, you probably want that to be easier, not harder. If you want to transition from shoulder to shoulder or hold the shotgun one handed to open a door, then weight is your enemy.
They ALL started out as hunting guns,
If you are switching ammo in the middle of a situation you are hunting some one, not using in self defence,
If weight is your enemy lose 20 pounds and stop worrying about your gun weight. If you still are, lose that 5 pounds of crap and ammo you have encumbered your shotgun with with.
I am much more likely to be bird hunting with my shotgun than living some video game fantasy.
I'd put the Model 97 just above a Model 12, (nothing like bein' Chuck Connors with OOBuck!) then the 870 (for anything modern), and anything else can go to pointy-tail-land.
To clarify: I was trying to learn which shotgun would be more reliable in adverse weather conditions, be it hunting or protecting a camp ground. I guess to put it in another way, which is the best all around shotgun.
Lots of good info here. Thanks.
The M1897 is a pump with an exposed hammer. The M1912 is a pump with an internal hammer. The 1887 & 1901 are the lever action Winchester shotguns, so if you can go all Chuck Conners with a pump gun, you can hang out with Chuck Norris.
The reference was in regard to the absence of a disconnector, allowing the gun to fire upon close to battery with the trigger already depressed. I am confident the distinction offered between the pump, hammer and lever shotguns was considered to be of some proud value by its contributor, regardless of its being much less so to those already in posession of the fine gem.
And, we do now see the primary purpose being that of hunting (with a secondary goal toward the remote chance one may defend an outdoor location). Once again, the defensive and offensive arguments (mine included) fade in importance, and the 870's prominence and performance in the field is incomparable.
I prefer the 500 over the 870.
I had a few of each until about a year ago, now I just have my two 500's.
I had too many feeding and extraction issues with both of my 870's.
Eventually they turned into loaner guns when I took friends shooting. Now, they're just someone elses problem.
I have completely and utterly abused my 500's and they still keep ticking. It's almost to the point of a running joke.
Both have been used as the obligatory walking stick and occasional hammer. They have been tied up and thrown into rivers and ponds and left there for days. One of them was dragged behind a quad for awhile. Fallen out of the back of a pickup, dropped from trees, etc etc... the things just keep going.
All shotguns are fun, but I only trust mossberg for reliability.