Looking into a shotgun

[markthenewf]

I've started browsing around for a 12 gauge pump-action primarily for HD. Since I'm looking to stay below $500, the obvious frontrunners are the Mossberg 500's and the Remington 870's. I'm not planning to load it up; probably just a weapons light, so being totally tactical isn't a big deal. I do have a preference for a regular stock, though. Other than the plastic safeties on the Mossbergs (which are easy to replace), both of these shotguns appear (from my general knowledge) to be equal. Would there be any reason other than the safety and plain old personal preference not to do one or the other? Is there another comparable model by any other manufacturer that I may have missed at this price range? Benelli, Beretta, and the like appear to be out of my price range.

On a side note, I see that the the Mossberg 500's allow for a quick swapping of barrels. Ideally I could take my 18.5" or 20" HD gun, pop on a 26" beaded barrel and go shoot some clays. That'd be a great way to get some trigger/practice in. Do the other manufacturers also have similar interchangeability of barrels?

[G.A. Heath]

The 870's barrel changes out just as easy in my opinion, but I do have to say that the Mossberg barrels are cheaper. An advantage of the Remington is the ability to install a magazine extension.

[sookandy]

I used to have an 870 magnum express. I could take the barrel out in less than a minute. Barrels ran around $200 for it if i remember right. I'm not much into shotguns so I cant comment on all the others.

[Sputz]

I've started browsing around for a 12 gauge pump-action primarily for HD. Since I'm looking to stay below $500, the obvious frontrunners are the Mossberg 500's and the Remington 870's. I'm not planning to load it up; probably just a weapons light, so being totally tactical isn't a big deal. I do have a preference for a regular stock, though. Other than the plastic safeties on the Mossbergs (which are easy to replace), both of these shotguns appear (from my general knowledge) to be equal. Would there be any reason other than the safety and plain old personal preference not to do one or the other? Is there another comparable model by any other manufacturer that I may have missed at this price range? Benelli, Beretta, and the like appear to be out of my price range.

On a side note, I see that the the Mossberg 500's allow for a quick swapping of barrels. Ideally I could take my 18.5" or 20" HD gun, pop on a 26" beaded barrel and go shoot some clays. That'd be a great way to get some trigger/practice in. Do the other manufacturers also have similar interchangeability of barrels?

I bought a mossberg 500 security combo that came with a ported birding barrel and an 18.5. I happened to have an old maverick 88 bird gun and my wife liked the safety position on it better then the 500. So I just put the short barrel on it and got a top folding stock, long action bar/railed forend and tlr3 on it and it works and looks great.

Sputz

[speedsix]

...I just picked up a Winchester 1200 pump in 12 ga for $175 out the door...put the barrel in my chopsaw and it's now neatly around 19"...snapped on a fiberoptic front sight...and it works flawlessly...you can get two used ones for the price of one new one...maybe even three, depending on what the new one is...

[fannypacker]

I bought a Mossberg Maverick 88. Made right here in Texas. It sits by my bed with 5 rounds and an empty chamber. The racking of the slide should send the bad guy running.

[RottenApple]

The racking of the slide should send the bad guy running.

Or letting them know where you are so they can aim in the dark better. Personally, if I were in a home invasion situation and had a shotgun, I'd rather not give the BG any info on where I am.

[karder]

Between the Remington and Mossberg, both are good and I am not sure that you will notice a real difference when using them in the application you are proposing. Both are up to the job. In my opinion, you should just buy whatever you can make a better deal. You can find some crazy deals on shotguns at pawn shops. I picked up a Winchester 1300 that I keep at my bedside and I got it really cheap. I have had it for about 15 years or so, and it has never failed to fire or cycle and while it won't win any beauty contests, I don't mind banging it around like I would a Benelli.

[fickman]

I posted this in another thread on this same topic:

I bought a parkerized 12 gauge 20" Mossberg Persuader that holds 7+1 with a pistol grip and heat shield for a good price at a gun show. (I already have a 12 gauge Remington 870 Express 28" for clay and hunting.)

I added the 6-position telescoping stock with Knoxx recoil suppression technology that I got from Cabela's for $100 or so. With the recoil suppression, your wife should be comfortable shooting a 12 gauge.

I was VERY tempted by the 18.5" 590 next to it, but it only held 5+1 and I wanted the additional capacity. The 590 is a metal trigger guard and a metal safety switch away from being the full-military spec version. It's hard core. It's barrel exterior is about 3x the thickness of the 500. You could use it to beat 1,000 men to death without firing a shot and not damage it. I finally decided that if I run out of ammo during a home invasion and damage my shotgun while beating the intruders with it, I've earned the right to buy a new one. Because of this, I don't need the extra girth of the 590 (which was still $150 more).

I prefer the action of the 500 when compared to the Remington 870 Express. The Express is rough and unrefined - and I've noticed is difficult for smaller females or younger shooters to pump smoothly. Also, the 500 has an open loading port which would make reloading under stress easier. Lastly, I prefer the safety location on the Mossberg and feel more confident of its position by feel or visual inspection. (The location is a little inconvenient with the telescoping stock + pistol grip because you have to move your thumb around the stock to reach it. Still, I feel more comfortable with it.) Also, the action release on the Mossberg can be reached without moving your hand off of its shooting position, unlike the Remington.

Remington makes higher end 870s in a couple of different lines which have much more refined parts and smoother action. I'm comparing the < $400 models in this post. . . the Express is what you would normally see compared with the normal 500.

Here's the link to that thread so you can see other responses: http://texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php? ... 85&start=0

[alvins]

benelli supernova

[dicion]

Am I the only one who read the topic and my first thought was it was about someone looking down the barrel of a shotgun?!?

[markthenewf]

Hmmm..... looks like Winchester is reading my mind:

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/ ... mid=512257
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtop ... 0&t=247230

Any you folks heard anything on this set? Looks promising.

[Carry-a-Kimber]

Hmmm..... looks like Winchester is reading my mind:

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/ ... mid=512257
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtop ... 0&t=247230

Any you folks heard anything on this set? Looks promising.

Carter's has them right now for $399 and are having their "no interest sale" through the end of the month.

[pbwalker]

The racking of the slide should send the bad guy running.

Or letting them know where you are so they can aim in the dark better. Personally, if I were in a home invasion situation and had a shotgun, I'd rather not give the BG any info on where I am.

The very last thing I want a home invader to hear is the safety coming off...