I'm going for 870 saving up and just got my raise at work my cousin uses the 500 over seas. He says they call it the key to the city

870 would be my opinion.

I chose my 500 because our armed forces use it and it was like $100 cheaper than the 870. I got mine in 2008 with 8 round tube, pistol grip and normal stock with a heat shield for $299. 870 tactical express which was the same configuration but with a collapsible stock was $480. Picked up a folding stock for $70 and it looks bad ass.

Right now I have 3 Mossberg 500's in my shop for repair. For every 1 870 I get in I will usually get 5 Mossbergs.

If you are a right handed person I would suggest you check out the Vang Comp Safety for the 870. It will let you switch the safety off with the inside of your finger while you have a shooting grip.

Mossberg 500, more options for after market, never had any problems with mine and its been heavily duck hunted for 4 seasons. Dunked several times, rarely cleaned.

2 buddies got 870s from dicks sporting goods and both had problems ejecting the shells out, right out of the box. Both needed new ejector parts from Remington mailed to them after remmington told them it was a common problem


For a little more $ I may suggest a stoeger auto shotgun tho

I have the Remington 870 tact express. I love this shotgun. I have shot the 500 while in the Navy, although another great shotty, I prefer the 870. Realistically, its like comparing chevy to ford. :doh: I have a collapsible butt stock as well as a pistol grip being I use it for the range and home defense. The stock/grip is easy to remove/replace.

I would tend to disagree with the "870s and benellis are for posers" as I do not see how this makes any sense. Benelli makes one of the best shotguns out there and currently has a chokehold on the shotgun market in America, so I guess most of Americans are posers. When it comes to the 870 vs 500 I would say go to a range and try both out to see what YOU like best. They are both great guns and you are hearing opinions for what we think is better, for instance I liked the 870 better when I tried both of them.

Are you hunting in the salt marsh?

I have 2 hunting shotguns one is a Winchester 1300 (no longer made) in pristine condition for non salt and 60+ yr old remington that slam fires( which rains all sorts of hell on ducks) I know some of you guys are going to be like why are you taking a 60 yr old gun in the salt... Don't worry it's been through a fire and dunked a couple of times before I got it its rusted and the finish is gone due to the fire.. My great grandpa owned a trap and skeet club so old pumps aren't hard to come by in my family

Don't rule out the Benelli Nova/Supernova either, I have one and it's been great so far.