Mossberg 500 vs Remington 870: Which Pump Shotgun Wins? | Impact Guns

The Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 have split the pump shotgun market between them for decades. Combined, they account for the vast majority of pump shotguns sold in America. Both are reliable, proven, and backed by massive aftermarket support. The choice between them comes down to ergonomic preference and intended use more than any objective quality difference.

The Short Answer

For home defense and tactical use, the Mossberg 500 has ergonomic advantages that matter under stress. For hunting and general use, the Remington 870’s smoother action and steel receiver give it a slight edge in feel. For budget buyers, both are excellent values — buy whichever one you can hold and rack smoothly.

The Safety: The Most Important Difference

The Mossberg 500 has a top-tang safety — a lever on top of the receiver, directly behind the bolt. It’s ambidextrous by design, operable by either thumb without shifting grip, and easily accessible under stress. The Remington 870 has a cross-bolt safety in the trigger guard — a button pushed from right to left. It works well but requires a slight grip shift to disengage and is not naturally ambidextrous. For home defense, the Mossberg’s tang safety is widely considered the better design for rapid deployment.

Action Feel

The Remington 870 has a smoother, tighter action out of the box — the twin action bars and steel receiver produce a more polished cycling feel that many shooters prefer for hunting and sport shooting. The Mossberg 500 action is slightly looser new, though it runs reliably. With use, both actions smooth out considerably. For competition and hunters who care about tactile quality, the 870 traditionally wins. For defensive use where reliability matters more than feel, both are equally trustworthy.

Receiver Construction

The Remington 870 uses a steel receiver; the Mossberg 500 uses aluminum. Both are plenty strong for any practical use — millions of rounds have been fired through both designs without structural failure. The steel 870 feels more substantial; the aluminum 500 is lighter and easier to carry afield.

Aftermarket Support

Both platforms have extraordinary aftermarket depth — stocks, forends, magazine extensions, sidesaddles, lights, and slings are available for both. Mossberg’s aftermarket is slightly deeper for tactical accessories; Remington’s is stronger for hunting-specific upgrades. Mesa Tactical, Choate, and Nordic Components all support both platforms. See our full shotgun parts selection for upgrades for both.

Variants Worth Knowing

The Mossberg 590A1 is the U.S. military-spec version with a heavy-walled barrel, metal trigger guard, and parkerized finish — the most durable Mossberg pump available. The Remington 870 Express Tactical brings extended magazine, ghost ring sights, and a synthetic stock at a practical price. For hunters, the Mossberg 500 Field and Remington 870 Express Combo both deliver excellent value.

Which Should You Buy?

Buy the Mossberg 500/590 if: Home defense is the primary use, you want the most ergonomic safety under stress, or you’re left-handed.

Buy the Remington 870 if: You prefer a smoother action feel, hunting is the primary use, or you simply like the way it fits and points in your hands.

Browse our full selection of Mossberg 500, Mossberg 590, and Remington 870 shotguns. See also our full shotgun selection and home defense guide.