What is the Best Pump Shotgun?

Right now I have what is considered the ‘Legendary’ Remington 870 Express.  I am not overwhelmingly impressed as I should be with such a moniker behind it.  In the past I have owned all Mossbergs and all models including the 835 Utilimag, 500, 590A1, and the Flex 590.   Since I have also fired some Benellis and Brownings this is going to be my final and definitive article on the pump shotgun, so here goes.

Why pump vs. semi auto-shotgun? Most semi-auto shotguns are notorious for not being able to handle certain loads and will not properly extract and eject ‘lighter loads’.  Semi-autos are also significantly more expensive and unless you are a gunsmith or worked in the factory that built the gun, good luck taking it apart to clean it.  I also like pumps because of Herb Parsons.  Now that’s out of the way let’s talk shotguns and all shotguns discussed are 12 gauge.

1. Remington- This legendary firearm maker has some Quality Control issues right now.  My brand new 870 Express has problems ejecting spent shells after extraction which can cause stove piping.  Some of the other problems are actual extraction problems which is partly due to a batch of barrels that need to be polished in the chamber and a MIM (mold injected metal) extractor vs. the use of a steel one.  My final gripe is the plastic trigger group which is not horrible, but not great .  Since contacting Remington, I was told to try bending the ejector spring out and have not had any problems.  This is a very solid feeling shotgun and I am going to purchase the 870 Wingmaster trigger group (which is still metal), and the steel extractor; and of course a Vang Comp 2 shell tube extension and the 18″ tactical barrel.  After that it will be one hell of a shotgun.  Remington seems to understand that the 870’s are having these problems but it is cheaper to deal with them as they come than recalling them all.  Not really what I expected from a brand new ‘Legendary’ shotgun but still very solid and not too much recoil even with slugs.  Breakdown of this weapon is pretty straightforward and if shown how to do it, even a novice could tear it down to clean it.  All that aside, the Remington platform is based on a steel receiver and a solid foundation.  The upgrades are limitless and this gun can and will outlast you.  Of course if 2.75″ and 3″ shells are not big enough, go with the 870 Supermag and you can shoot 2.75″, 3″, and the awesome 3.5″ nitro mags that were designed to mimic a 10 gauge.  More than 10 million of these American icons have been made throughout the years.  Do yourself a favor and get the 870 Wingmaster which has the metal trigger group and all the ‘good stuff’.  Then build it as you will if you want to go the home defense route.  Stay away from the Remington 887 as I have heard the initial inherent problems were never addressed and fixed so they sound pretty junky, but don’t take my word, do your own research.

Mossberg 590A1

2. Mossberg- Critics say they are ‘cheap’ because they are less expensive than competetors but let me tell you, I have owned 4 completely different Mossberg shotguns and they always work.  Just like Remington, Mossberg is using plastic parts on the 500 models.  The trigger group and tang safety are plastic and the magazine tube has no open end so it cannot be cleaned out easily.  The fore-end has some play and they are significantly lighter than other shotguns because the reciever is made of aircraft grade aluminum which has been accused of being ‘weak’ but that has no bearing on thier reliability or ruggedness.  To be quite honest, for about $300 you can get a Mossberg 500 with a 28″ barrel (with chokes) and an 18″ tactical barrel for home defense.  I have owned and shot a modern 500 and it is very light and my wife said it feels ‘rickety’.  If you are unbiased and don’t care if a gun feels rugged or not this is a good deal.  No matter what anyone says, Mossberg’s are very reliable and are not cheap.  The 590 is a step up with composite trigger gaurd and safety and a magazine tube that can be cleaned out, and of course the 590A1 has an aluminum safety and trigger gaurd, heavy barrel, and a bayonette lug.  This is by far my favorite all around shotgun.  I must say that the 590A1 or any Mossberg are most comfortably used with a standard shotgun/rifle stock.  Any type of pistol grip makes the safety and slide release difficult to actuate.   In other words, the controls were designed for hunting and do not translate to tactical very well.  Mossbergs are not easy to fully break down and take some moderate knowledge or at least mechanical inclination.  It is certainly not impossible and with practice will seem easy enough.  The Flex 590 is like a 590 but with quick connect pieces.  The stock, forearm, and butt pads can all be interchanged very quickly and easliy for whatever application you need.  It is a pretty cool concept and the fittings are nice and tight to start off at least because nobody has owned one long enough to test the longevity of the fittings.  The biggest problem is the lack of aftermarket parts.  You buy the shotgun you want and that is it for now unless you buy a different model and use the parts interchangeably.  This should change in the near future hopefully.   If you want the 3.5″ nitro punch then purchase the 835 Utilimag.  My first shotgun was an 835 and I bought it for $180 (very used), put close to 10,000 rounds through it and sold it for $180.

3. Benelli-  This is an Italian shotgun and if you have any questions about Italian craftsmanship just look at the ruins that still remain from thousands of years ago in Rome.  Many people say that the Benelli Nova has a ‘cheap’ feel to it.  The stock and receiver on the Nova is a high tech poly material but the internals of the trigger and bolt carrier are all metal.  In other words this gun would be great for duck hunting in the rain and not worrying about rust.  The barrel of the Nova comes off the standard method of removing the barrel nut and it just slides off.  After that, the gun comes apart with no tools for cleaning and goes back together sort of like legos.  These are not very upgradeable as you can only change the barrel from a hunting to a home defense but there are magazine tube extensions available, and of course if you get it drilled and tapped you can add optics if need be.  This is a very smooth functioning base level shotgun and can handle up to 3.5″ nitro mags.  It is also the only entry level pump shotgun that has a built in recoil system.  For a few hundred more you can purchase the Super Nova and get a really nice, fully upgradeable shotgun that will meet all of your needs.  The form and the controls are very different from the typical American looking shotguns (like Winchesters, Mossbergs, and Remingtons), but if you are not a ‘purist’ and are looking for a good all around first shotgun I strongly recommend one of these for their dependablility and exceptional quality of parts.  My biggest complaints are the poly material (I do like my guns to be mostly metal) and the slide release is sort of buried on the left side of the trigger gaurd right behind the loading port and is not particularly easy to depress in a life or death situation.  I have heard (but do not necessarily believe) that one of the big wigs at Benelli has a Nova in a museum that has 480,000 rounds through it.

4. Browning- If you can afford one of these, by all means purchase one.  These are some of the smoothest funcitoning shotguns you can buy.  There is no ejection port on the side so when you eject a shell it comes out of the bottom where you load the shells.  This is great for lefty’s and if you are duck hunting in a boat; you know the shells will go straight down into the boat so you don’t have to go swimming for your empty shells.  It boasts a steel receiver and all metal parts that were well thought out and will outlast you.  Browning shotguns however do not have home defense upgrades or models but if you have the money to buy a Browning BPS, you can certainly afford another shotgun for home defense.  The biggest downfall about the BPS is that it practically takes a rocket scientist do break it down for cleaning.  Which means it most likely needs to be brought into a gunsmith every time you want it cleaned.  All in all this is one of the best shotguns you can buy for the money and will outlast your children.  Be sure to get it in the camo finish to avoid rust.

5. Winchester- The plant is closed so. . .no more I guess.  If you can get your hands on a Winchester 1300 or 1300 Defender, please do so.  I have heard nothing but good things about these pump shotguns as they use a rotary bolt system and are supposed to be ultra smooth at cycling, extremely reliable, and very rugged feeling.  These also have upgrades and can be made as tactical as any home defense shotgun.  I have never shot or handled one of these but it felt important to at least pay it ‘lip service’ so to speak.  Expect to pay upwards of $400 for the defender model and it is well worth it.

My favorite all time is the Mossberg 590A1 with ghost ring sights, 20″ barrel, parkerized with a 9 shot capacity and standard stock.  Our military used this shotgun for years and for good reason.  It was the only shotgun to pass the flawless 3000 slug and 00 buck test, has a heavy barrel, metal trigger group, metal trigger gaurd, and a bayonette lug.  This is probably not the best shotgun if you want to shoot trap or skeet but it is a great survival shotgun.  When choosing a shotgun, you should always handle them and feel the weight.  Spend time actuating the safety and slide release.  If possible shoot any and all shotguns you are interested because they all feel and shoot differently.  Honestly if you have the money, buy one of each because after all, pump shotguns are addictive.  I don’t know what it is but if I could I would probably have a safe full of them.

If you have any additional input feel free to comment below, and if you have any questions, e-mail me at philymack13@gmail.com

Mossberg 590 Flex Review

When you go on the intenet there is not much information on the Flex system from Mossberg.  There are some gun magazine reviews which always seem to look at the positives of everything, and a video of a guy explaining the Mossberg Flex system and why it is so ‘Cool’.  Well you are in luck because I have owned a Mossberg 835 Utilimag, Mossberg 500, Mossberg 590A1, and a Mossberg 590 Flex; and will discuss the firearms, their differences, and my impressions in this blog.

First and foremost is the Mossberg 500 because the entire lineup is based off of the same aluminum reciever (which I have never heard of as being a hindrance of any way, shape, or form).   Mossberg and Son’s 500 model is in no way shape or form a ‘Cheap’ gun but it certainly does feel as if the tolerances are looser than some and the finish on the aluminum is guaranteed to come off at some point and is pointless to try and refinish, trust me.  The 500 model is the base for their entire lineup and comes with a plastic tang safety (located on top of the reciever), a plastic trigger gaurd, and a closed magazine tube which is difficult to clean.  Overall, these are very reliable firearms and I would certainly trust my life to a Mossberg 500 and would take it hunting.  The Mossberg 500 comes in many different packages ranging from hunting to tactical and they have many aftermarket add on accessories.  This is a very light shotgun and durable enough for most people but is not the easiest of pump shotguns to take apart and clean.  If your shotgun will see range time several times a year and will mostly sit in your closet waiting for zombies or you will take it hunting a couple times a year, this gun is for you.  A Mossberg 500 package with an 18″ barrel for home defense and a 26″ barrel threaded for choke tubes can be purchased for around $300 and you are set.  The standard 500 has a 5 round magazine tube plus 1 in the chamber and will take 2 3/4″ and 3″ shells.

Mossberg 835 Utilimag is considered Mossberg’s ‘Turkey’ gun.  The major difference between an Mossberg 835 Utilimag and a Mossberg 500 is that the Utilimag will shoot 3 1/2″ Nitro Mags and can handle the heavier loads a bit better.  My 835 Utilimag had wooden furniture (whereas my 500 had synthetic) and it was very accurate and quite a bit heavier than the 500 which made heavier loads kick a bit less.

The new Flex system from mossberg is no different except that instead of having to use tools to remove the forearm and stock, there is a locking system that can have your hunting stock and forearm changed out with your home defense stock and forearm in just a couple of minutes.  I purchased, handled, and fired the Mossberg 590 Flex.  It is similar to the Mossberg 590 because it has a polymer safety and trigger gaurd (versus the plastic on the model 500) and boasts a 9 shot capacity.  Out of the box, this gun is very light and is the one pictured above with the tactical stock and tri-rail forend.  The ‘quick connect’ interfaces are all aluminum so there is no added weight, and they are very easy to manipulate.  That being said, the matte black finish began to come off of the alumuinum where the receiver meets the stock after 2 weeks and 25 rounds through it.  The Mossberg 590 Flex (and Mossberg 590) seem to have the same tolerances and ‘cheap’ feel as the Mossberg 500.  That being said, I would still trust the reliablility of a Mossberg 590 to protect my family.  However, if I were to bring a shotgun to a riot/melee situation, it would not be the Mossberg 590 Flex.  This to me is a home defense weapon that can take more abuse than a Mossberg 500 but has not been tested in combat with all of the aluminum interfaces.   This was the last Mossberg I have owned and have since purchased a Remington 870 Express.

Mossberg 590A1

There is however a beacon of light when it comes to Mossberg’s pump shotgun lineup and it is the Mossberg 590A1.  This was the only shotgun that passed the navy standards of 3000 slugs and 00 buck with no failures.  No matter what firearm manufacturer you are devoted to, the Mossberg 590A1 holds a special place in your heart.  A 590A1 comes with an aluminum safety and trigger gaurd, heavy barrel, and a bayonette lug.  The model shown is parkerized and  has ghost ring sights which are great for quick target acquisition and essential for putting slugs down range accurately.  My recommendation of a standard stock is because the tang safety does not work very well with the pistol grip stocks.  Your thumb is naturally close to the safety with a standard hunting stock but gets wrapped around the pistol grip and has to be rotated around in an un-naural manner when a tactical stock is added.  As I mentioned I have had one of these and hopefully will again soon.  I have certainly grown to love my Remington 870 Express because it has the same solid feel of the Mossberg 590A1.  I truly feel that if I were to run out of ammo in a bad situation I could use the 590A1 or the 870 as a club and not damage either one.   Make sure you get the 9 shot capacity with the 20″ barrel.

Mossberg and Sons makes some very reliable and durable shotguns.  For me, I had to own the 590A1 to really appreciate what they had to offer.  I switched over to Remington because the Mossberg 590A1 is about $550 and up if you can find one right now and the Remington 870 Express was $330.  For another $180 I can put an 18″ or 20″ barrel on the 870 and for $50 put a 3 round magazine tube extension on it and have a tactical shotgun that feels just as solid as the 590A1.  However, I read on a forum that pump shotguns are addicting and that is the damn truth because I would love to own another Mossberg 590A1, and a Benelli Supernova, and a Browning BPS, and a Winchester 1300. . .

Remington 870 vs. Mossberg 500: Part 2

Remington 870 Tactical

Someone really smart once said “The best gun to get is the one you can shoot well.”  That being said, do you want a Chevy or a Ford? Shotguns are so versatile that you have to consider exactly what you want to do with it.  In most cases, if you get a tactical shotgun, it is probably not going to be a good hunting, trap or skeet rifle.  This is not necessarily the case when you buy a typical pump shotgun such as the Mossberg 500 or the Remington 870.  Just bear with me.  Since I have owned both, my opinion has some weight to it.  I have owned the Mossberg 835 utilimag, Mossberg 500, Mossberg 590A1, and the Mossberg 590 Flex.  My current shotgun is the Remington 870 Express.  Quick background, the 835 Utilimag with wooden furniture was my first shotgun and I loved it, but eventually I got a wild hair and did some trading and selling and ended up with a Mossberg 500 with synthetic furniture.  The 835 Utilimag was excessive for me as I never really intended to fire 3 1/2 nitro mags at anything.  However, I bought it used for $180, put well over 5000 rounds through it and got $150 for it almost 10 years later.  The Mossberg 500 seemed a bit light to me and although I never had any problems with it, didn’t seem very rugged.  Got another wild hair, sold the 500 and bought the Mossberg 590A1.

Mossberg 590A1

This gun is the epitome of rugged and let me tell you, was very fun.  Eventually I had to sell it because of the economy and all.  After saving up money, my wife gave me the thumbs up on a new shotgun so I went and bought a brand new Mossberg 590 Flex.  After having a 590A1, I wasn’t very impressed with the finish or the ‘assessed’ ruggedness of the firearm.  Not being familiar with the difference between the 590 and the 590A1, I rejected it because it lacked the aluminum trigger gaurd, aluminum safety, and heavy barrel.  All told, Mossberg shotguns are very dependable, light weight (except for the 590A1), and just a little more affordable than a Remington 870.  If you are looking for a lighter shotgun that will serve as hunting, sporting, and tactical then the Mossberg 500 is for you.  If you want a ready to go ass-kicker out of the box with a 9 shot capacity and bayonette lug then the 590A1 is for you (Not the 590 which uses polymer trigger gaurd, polymer safety, and normal barrel).  Mossberg’s however have aluminum recievers which is weaker than steel (not really of much consequence) and cannot be blued or seemingly refinished ever again and unless you have a parkerized 590A1, the finish will wear off of the receiver.  The other downfall of buying a Mossberg is that the 500’s seem ‘cheap’ to some people and if you pony up and just buy the 590A1, there is no versatility as you cannot put a longer barrel on it for sporting.  Mossbergs overall are very dependable, affordable, and very popular with law enforcement and civilians alike.

Reminton 870 Express is truly the Ruger 10/22 of the shotgun world.  Not only is this American icon very dependable, it is extremely versatile and rugged as well.  Although it is a bit pricier than a Mossberg 500 to start off with at $330 (Mossberg 500 combo with a 28″ and a 20″ barrel for $300), I looked at down the road costs and true versatility of modifications.  After holding a Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 it was pretty easy for me to see the quality of a Remington, and the main differences between the Remington 870 Express and 870 Tactical is the barrel and tactical stock.  My Reminton 870 came with a 5 shot capacity (1 less than a Mossberg 500), but for $65 I can purchase and easily install a screw-on 3 shot magazine tube extension, and for an additional $180 I can get an 18.5″ or 20″ tactical barrel.  Aftermarket parts and accesories are vast for this weapon.  No, the math doesn’t compute but when I compare Mossbergs to Remingtons, the only Mossberg that I believe feels as rugged is the 590A1 and those are anywhere from $500 to $750 if you can find one.  So for just under $600 I now have a shotgun that has a 26″ barrel with a modified choke tube and 8 shot capacity which can be switched to an 18.5″ or 20″ tactical barrel in minutes.  Mossberg 500’s do not feel as ‘tough’ to me and the 590A1 does not enjoy that kind of versatility.  Of course that is just my preference.  Overall Remington shotguns are dependable, have durable finishes and are extremely versatile with the sheer amount of easliy adapted aftermarket modifications. To be quite honest with you, if I had the money I would have a Mossberg 590A1 and my multi-purpose Remington 870.  If you have the money and like a solidly constructed shotgun, go for the Remington, and if you want to save a little cash and still get a quality firearm, get a Mossberg.  Here is what you do, find friends who have one or both and shoot them.  You will figure out very quickly which one you like better.

Mossberg 500 vs. Remington 870

First and foremost, I slammed Mossberg a couple of times for the ‘quality’ or lack therof of the Mossberg 590 Flex.  After doing some research I found that the main difference between the Mossberg 500 and the Mossberg 590 is the magazine tube design.  Otherwise the 590 has a polymer safety and trigger gaurd.  The Mossberg 590A1 has the heavy barrel, aluminum trigger gaurd and aluminum safety.  So the Mossberg 590 Flex is apparently true to the Mossberg 590 line.  Having owned only Mossbergs, and having gone from the ultra rugged Mossberg 590A1 to the Mossberg 590 Flex, I realized that I was looking for ruggedness more than anything.  That being said, I just bought a Remington 870 Express.

No this is not the one I bought, but there is little difference between the 870 Express and the 870 Tactical.  So why didn’t I spend the extra money and get the Tactical? The 870 Tactical had a 6 round magazine tube which would make getting a longer barrel almost impossible unless I bought a shorter mag tube to accomodate a longer barrel.  A Remington 870 Tactical also usually comes with some type of pistol grip and usually an 18.5″ barrel.    When I went to the store the Remington 870 Tactical was $530 and the Remington 870 Express was $330, and for an extra $40 I could have gotten the 870 Super mag and made a tactical that fired 3 1/2 mags.  My 870 Express came with a 26″ vent rib barrel that has a modified choke tube and a 4 roung mag tube.  For $65 I can put a 3 shot mag tube extension on it and have am 8 shot clearout, and for an additional $180 put a 20″ home defense barrel on it an have my 870 Tactical.  I’m give or take on the pistol grips, because as a civilian if a person or people break into my house, I am not going to do a sweep and clear with my shotgun or any other gun for that matter.  My dogs will bark and if I cease to hear them I will point the shotgun at the door and get ready to unload eight copper coated #4 shot.  Anyway, the Remington 870 has a steel receiver and really seems to have tighter tolerances than the Mossberg 500 overall, and honestly, the Remington 870 has far more accessory options than the Mossberg 500.  So far I can accessorize my Remington to have an 8 shot clearout and a 20″ barrel for a total of $575, plus I still have my 26″ barrel for hunting and shooting clays.  The only gripes I was able to find with the Remington 870 over the Mossberg 500 is the ejector and ‘loading tongue’ for lack of a better term.  First the ejector spring is riveted in so if it breaks it has to be sent to Remington to be drilled, reinstalled, and refinished.  Second, in order to load your 870, a tongue has to be depressed in order to load shells in your mag tube.

As for Mossbergs, I feel as if I need to buy the 590A1 to get the kind of ruggedness that an 870 Express already has.  Yes, Mossbergs are dependable and the aluminum reciever makes them significantly lighter unless you are talking about the heavy barrel on the 590A1 and then it is kind of a wash.  The ejector on a Mossberg is held in by a screw so if if breaks, you buy one and replace it.  Loading a Mossberg does not require depressing any ‘tongue’ to load it, and right now and pretty much always, you can go out and buy a Mossberg 500 ‘combo’ package that comes with a 26″ barrel with chokes and a 20″ tactical barrel.  For an additional $50 you can mount some type of pistol grip on it  and be into a tactical shotgun for $350 with a 6 shot clearout.  Mossberg 500’s have a closed magazine tube though which makes them more difficult to clean, but you could fork over the money and buy an upgraded mag tube (which is always a pain in the ass to change out), but then you need to buy different barrels and a locking retainer nut as the 500 barrels have the retainer screw attached to them.  Mossbergs have been around for a while and are certainly not going anywhere.  They served me and many other people well through many shots and many years.  I never had a single probem with any of my Mossbergs except my 835 Utilimag.  After putting about 700 or so rounds through it without cleaning it I started to have extraction issues due to carbon fouling build-up.  If say you step up to a Mossberg 590 or even a 590A1 you have now limited yourself to a tactical firearm.  Sure they have a 9 shot clearout and the 590A1 is still one of my favorite guns, especially equipped with ghost ring sights and a bayonette lug.  So really the two biggest gripes I’ve found with Mossbergs in general are the seemingly loose tolerances which causes people to call them ‘cheap’ which they are not, I can attest to their durability; and the other gripe is the aluminum receiver which cannot be blued and is considered ‘weaker’ than steel recievers, but I have not seen or heard evidence to show me that it is a hindrance of any kind.

So the verdict is, buy whichever one fits your needs best.  I like shooting clays and am anticipating doing some turkey hunting and maybe some slug hunting for deer.  I also like the fact that I can buy a barrel and mag tube extension and have my tactical with an 8 shot clearout.  The Remington 870 is very rugged and very dependable.  Mossbergs are also very dependable and have their own adaptable capabilities.  Many law enforcement officials trust their lives to Mossbers and many trust their lives to Remingtons.  Do research, hold them, shoot them if you can and then decide.  Hell, if I had the money, I would have both (the 590A1 of course).