Mossberg 500 vs Remington 870

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Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 are the two most popular pump-action shotguns in the world. While both have a proven track record after decades of use in the military, law enforcement and hunting, there are some differences between the two.

The Mossberg 500 has an aluminum receiver which makes it lighter, while the Remington 870 has a steel receiver. The safety on a Mossberg 500 is right behind the receiver, which allows for faster firing and helps left-handed shooters more compared with the Remington 870 where the safety is a little button behind the trigger guard and on the right. The price of a Remington 870 is generally $100 to $150 higher than the price of a Mossberg 500.

Comparison chart

Mossberg 500 versus Remington 870 comparison chart
	Mossberg 500	Remington 870
	current rating is 3.62/5 1 2 3 4 5 (78 ratings)	current rating is 3.79/5 1 2 3 4 5 (63 ratings)

Designer	Carl Benson (O.F. Mossberg & Sons' lead design engineer)	L. Ray Crittendon, Phillip Haskell, Ellis Hailston, G.E. Princkney
Weight	5.5 to 7.75 lbs (2.5 to 3.5 kg) empty, varies by model	7.0 lb (3.2 kg) to 8.0 lb (3.6 kg)
Cartridge	12 gauge, 20 gauge, .410 bore	12 gauge, 16 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge, or .410 bore
Price	About $400 to $600 new (MSRP varies by configuration); around $200 to $250 used	About $400
Effective range	40 m	40 m
Barrel length	14 to 30 inches (350 to 762 mm)	18 in (460 mm) to 30 in (760 mm)
Length	Varies with model; about 36 to 41 in (92 to 104 cm) for common configurations	37.25 in (946 mm) to 50.5 in (1,280 mm)
Muzzle velocity	403 m/s (1,325 ft/s) for 12-gauge, 2¾", 00 buckshot load; 475 m/s (1,560 ft/s) for 12-gauge 437-grain rifled slug	1550 ft/s
Manufacturer	O.F. Mossberg & Sons	Remington Arms
Place of origin	United States	United States
Action	Pump-action	Pump-action
In service	1961–present	1951–present
Feed system	5+1 to 8+1 rounds; internal tube magazine	3- to 8-round internal tube magazine
Sights	Bead or ghost ring iron sights (varies by model)	Bead, twin bead, adjustable open sights, or ghost ring (all iron sights). Also cantilever and receiver-mounts for scopes
Variants	500 Field, 500 Persuader/Security, 500 Cruiser, 500 Bantam/Super Bantam, 505/510 (youth), 535, 590, 590A1, 590 Shockwave, Maverick 88	Wingmaster, Express, Marine, SPS, SPS-T, XCS, TAC, Super Mag,MCS
Number built	Over 11 million; one of the most-produced shotguns in history	Over 10 million

A member of Armed Response Team (ART) raises his Mossberg 500 12-gauge shotgun during a security drill

Design Comparison

The Mossberg 500 is intended for use in harsh and dirty conditions, and so was designed to be easy to clean and maintain. It has a dual action bar, a single large locking lug, a magazine tube below the barrel, and a slide release to the left rear of the trigger guard.

The Remington 870 has a bottom-loading, side ejecting receiver, tubular magazine under the barrel, dual action bars, internal hammer and a bolt that locks into an extension in the barrel.

The reviewer in the following video explains why it's perhaps wrong to ask whether the Mossberg 500 is better than the Remington 870, and why it's more pertinent to ask which one is better for your specific needs:

Receiver

One of the biggest differences between the Mossberg 500 and the Remington 870 is the receiver — the Mossberg 500 uses an aluminum receiver and the Remington 870 uses a steel receiver. The Mossberg 500 also uses more plastic parts that bring the cost and weight down for the shotgun.

Barrel

All Mossberg 500s have interchangeable barrels. The barrel length varies from 14 inches to 30 inches.

The Remington 870 has a barrel length between 18 inches and 30 inches.

Effective Range

The Mossberg 500 has an effective range of 40m, and a maximum range of 50m for shot and 70-80m for slugs. The Remington 870 has an effective range of about 40 m, and a maximum range of 50m for shot and 70-80m for slugs.

Here is a playlist of the best videos on YouTube comparing the Remington 870 with the Mossberg 500:

Cartridge

The Mossberg 500 can use 12 gauge, 20 gauge, and .410 bore cartridges. The Remington 870 can use 12 gauge, 16 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 guage or .410 bore cartridges.

Magazines

The Mossberg 500 has various magazine capacities. The basic model holds five 2.75 inch shells and is called a six shot model. It is also available with extended magazine tubes that holds seven rounds.

The Remington 870 can hold between 3 and 7 rounds.

Weight

The Mossberg 500 weighs between 5.5 lbs and 7.5 lbs when empty. The Remington 870 weighs between 7.0 lbs and 8.0 lbs. The use of steel in a Remington 870 adds to its weight. Aftermarket parts used to customize these guns may change how heavy the gun ends up becoming.

Price of Remington 870 vs Mossberg 500

At Walmart in some states, the Mossberg 500 costs approximately $210, while the Remington 870 costs $300. In general, the Remington 870 is $100-$150 more expensive than the Mossberg 500.

Popularity

The Mossberg 500 and the Remington 870 are the two most popular pump-action shotguns in the US but the Remington has a larger market share. The Remington 870 is the most widely used shotgun by the US public for sport shooting, hunting and home defense. It is also used by law enforcement agencies and militaries around the world.