Mossberg 500 vs 870

Patrick Graham · November 23, 2000, 09:38 AM

For pheasant hunting this year I took my Mossberg 500 instead of my Rem 870. My old 870 will only do 2-3/4", the 500 will do 3". I bought a box of Rem. #4, 3" magnums just to see what would happen, big mistake. The recoil in that light Mossberg is just way too much with 3” magnums. On the plus side, the 500 is a great little gun with 2-3/4” standard ammo. I believe the 500 is faster to whip around than the 870 because it’s lighter, it also comes up faster than the 870.

Dave McC · November 24, 2000, 08:53 AM

It's all personal choice,Patrick. As for pheasants,3" mags are kinda overkill, IME. One favorite load for using over a close working dog is the 2 3/4" AA TRAP Load, a measly 1 1/8 oz,7 1/2 shot 3 dram load that tends to fold them up nicely.
Pop dropped lots of Ringnecks with the 20 ga SKB that was his shotgun of choice in his later years, and 7/8 oz loads of 7 1/2s.
For longer shots, a 1 1/4oz load of 6s or 5s does it well.

BTW, does that Mossy have Pistol Grips(G)?

Patrick Graham · November 24, 2000, 09:16 AM

Dave
I the wide open spaces I take the pistol grips off.

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November 23, 2000, 09:38 AM	#1
Patrick Graham Junior member Join Date: January 18, 1999 Location: Kokomo, Indiana USA Posts: 674	For pheasant hunting this year I took my Mossberg 500 instead of my Rem 870. My old 870 will only do 2-3/4", the 500 will do 3". I bought a box of Rem. #4, 3" magnums just to see what would happen, big mistake. The recoil in that light Mossberg is just way too much with 3” magnums. On the plus side, the 500 is a great little gun with 2-3/4” standard ammo. I believe the 500 is faster to whip around than the 870 because it’s lighter, it also comes up faster than the 870.

November 24, 2000, 08:53 AM	#2
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	It's all personal choice,Patrick. As for pheasants,3" mags are kinda overkill, IME. One favorite load for using over a close working dog is the 2 3/4" AA TRAP Load, a measly 1 1/8 oz,7 1/2 shot 3 dram load that tends to fold them up nicely. Pop dropped lots of Ringnecks with the 20 ga SKB that was his shotgun of choice in his later years, and 7/8 oz loads of 7 1/2s. For longer shots, a 1 1/4oz load of 6s or 5s does it well. BTW, does that Mossy have Pistol Grips(G)?

November 24, 2000, 09:16 AM	#3
Patrick Graham Junior member Join Date: January 18, 1999 Location: Kokomo, Indiana USA Posts: 674	Dave I the wide open spaces I take the pistol grips off.