Just my preference. I'd advise you check out both and see which is a better fit for you.
L
Sorry ya’ll....
For the purpose, I’ll take a Saiga 12 any ol’ day.
If a raghead can run it....
Ya ain’t gonna shoot skeet professionaly with a Saiga..
But 10 rd. mags do heck on bowling pins (or whatever)
I went with the Mossberg. Cheaper, came with a ghost sight, tang mounted safety, and the pump release is at the back, not front of the trigger guard.
As for Mossberg many consider its manufacturing q'ty much poorer that Win's or Rem's.
But why are you for a shotgun for home defense? Handling it isn't so easy as a handgun, while the power is more than enough for human target.
Grab whichever one that’s loaded.
F
I have both, I got the 500 first then the 870, After shooting them both for some time now I prefer the 870 myself. It just feels better made and shoots a bit better.
Price wise? You can get a 500 which will include a short barrel too for $150 +/-. This lets you shoot clays with the long barrel and switch to the short barrel for use around the home.
Mossberg is a fine shotgun and will do what you need it to for 1/2 the price (or more).
I have 2 12ga. and a .410 ‘camper special’
I have both. The 870 is easier to strip to subassemblies and customize. Also the 870 has a slightly shorter pull then the 500 (could just be the submodels that I have though).
The 500’s safety is really nice compared to the push button trigger block of the 870. The 500 is easier to swap just the barrel.
Would be a tough call between the two, but more often I lean towards the 870.
Ping
A 3rd vote for the 870 Express model Remington.
I just bought and 870 and have been very happy with it. More relaible and much better if you ever decide to shoot skeet or hunt.
I’ve had both. Either one will do its job the way it is intended to to do it. The Mossbergs are usually cheaper, but I’ve seen some 870s at excellent prices. Find the best deal, and get lots of ammo.
I have the mossberg 500...you can buy alot more goodies for the remington than the mossberg ( extended magazines, etc )
The Remington Model 870 12 gauge pump-action shotgun stands the test of time and extreme conditions, the 870 is the shotgun by which all pump actions are measured. It’s the overwhelming choice of law enforcement departments due to its historic dependability.
Both of them go bang and probably leave an exit wound the size of a fist. Go for either one
Neither.
Get yourself an AR-15 carbine. 14.5” barrel with permanently welded flash hider.
Preferably, if your state allows it, do the paperwork and get an AR-15 with an 11.5” barrel.
8 shot magazine on a shotgun, compared to 30 rounds for an AR-15 magazine. No contest. Especially if you consider the threat of a home invasion with more than 1 bad guy.
http://www.maverickarms.com/pages/88security.htm
To solve the safety problem, I leave the safety off but do not chamber a round. The slide release is convienient and easy to operate, so I know that I have to rack the gun to be ready to fire.
Both are good weapons and worth their price. I think you could bet your life on either one.
I own a 5000A. I like the safety placement on the 500A, even though it is probably less rugged than the one on 870. I don’t rely much on safeties but I figure it could save some lost drunk’s life some night. All things considered, I’d probably prefer the steel receiver of the 870 over the aluminum receiver of the 500A. Both will accept rifle sights and I’m not picky enough to tell a major difference in sight picture. Both, I believe, come drilled and tapped to make installation of optics easy.
As you can see from the comments, after that it comes down to a mostly religious argument. :o)
All things considered it comes down to which one you feel, after handling both, you can use more effectively. As I say, both are good guns.