Mossberg 500 vs. Winchester Defender for home defense

Winchester or Mossberg

  • Winchester 1300

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Mossberg 500

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
Thanks guys, I'll take a closer look at the 870. All of the ones I've seen in gun stores were much more expensive than Mossbergs, maybe I just need to shop around a bit more. To recap, I don't have a whole lot of money to spend, maybe $300 max. My first semester of college starts in about two months and I'll have plenty of expenses to kick that off. Also, I don't believe that the Mossberg I have is repairable. I got it as a gift for my 13th birthday about nine years ago, and it has jammed repeatedly since then. My grandfather took it back to the gun shop to have it looked at then and they couldn't find the problem. Now the magazine double feeds and the bolt won't eject the round in the chamber. Even if I get it fixed I'll never trust it. Of course, now that I think of it, I've told my Dad multiple times that I need a new shotgun and talked over which one to get, plus my birthday is next week, so maybe the problem will be taken care of for me. We shall see. Thanks again for all of the input everyone.
 
I don't want to deter you from buying another shotgun if that's what you want, but whatever you do you need to take that Mossberg 500 to a real gunsmith. A shotgun is a simple mechanism. "Can't figure out what's wrong with it" or "Can't be fixed" are not things a real gunsmith says. He might possibly say "it would cost more to fix than buying a new one" but it's hard to imagine why with a common gun like that. It's still being manufactured and all the parts are available.
 
I recommend to not waste time with the local gunsmiths and send it direct to the factory for proper repair. If it is a factory defect that is causing the problem it will be fixed for free. Many times the repairs are done for free anyway or very small fees just to keep you a happy and future repeat customer.
Here's the link:
http://www.mossberg.com/gunservice.htm

Send it in whether you get another shotgun or not. After the repair you can always sell it and get a decent price for it. Malfunctioning you won't get much for it.

Alex Penton

P.S. My preference is for the 870 all the way. I have seen them new at Walmart and other places for much less than $300.
 
My only two comparisons led to the Winchester winning hands down.
I went to the feed and seed store and picked it out of the catalog
for the whopping sum of 249 bucks, 8 shots, nice.
My Mossberg on the other hand went off track after firing 2 sellior and
belliot 4# buckshot through it. No thanks, can you say "trade bait"?

Also maybe this might be new to some but Ithaca Arms went out of
business. They couldn't afford to produce anymore.
 
dont know whats wrong w/your mossy but i bet it wouldnt cost myuch to fix, i have 2 mossbergs, never a problem, same w/my 870, dont have a winchester pump right now, but a bud has the riot one w/the ext tue, again a great gun, it would mostly be what ya like the best imho.

i have an old mossberg 500 w/the single action bar, i probably have shot that gun as much as any other 12 g i have, never a problem
 
The Winchester has a much smoother action, but the trigger on mine is a little short--it can pinch between the trigger and the guard if you're not careful. Shoots really well though. Haven't handled one in a while, but I always thought the action was a little gritty feeling on the Mossberg.

A used 870 might be a good choice. (Or a bare-bones new one). I don't know if you can switch to other barrels on the Winchester or the Mossberg, but you can on the 870. Even if you're not into the shooting sports right now, with the 870 you'll have a gun that can be configured for many different purposes other than just self-defense. More bang for the buck in the long run. The resale on the Remington will probably be higher too if you ever decide to sell it.

And I've always thought that when it comes to self-defense, why go with the minimum solution? You've only got one life and that one deadly wild-card may only be thrown at you once in your lifetime. How are you going to prepare yourself for that one encounter? In this case, we're not talking about huge sums of cash and if you spend a little more, you may very well get a little more. Besides, never saw an armored car full of money following a funeral procession....................
 
The Ithaca Model 37 Classic is probably the finest shotgun on the market, with the Remington 870 Wingmaster a VERY close second. Shame that Ithaca is gone and both of these may be out of your price range or intended use.

I'd say go with and 870 Express, great for the money and I like them MUCH more than the Mossbergs (but Mossberg isn't bad at all) my other preference would be the Benelli Nova, an excellent pump shotgun possibly even better than the 870, the Winchester pumps I've seen have not impressed me much.
 
Remington 870 is the best defenseive shotgun for the money,especialy if you can get one tricked out by ST.

I find it perplexing that your Mossberg jammed and double fed,ive owned probably a dozen over my lifetime and ive never had a malfunction in any,in fact the SO where I worked back in TN used nothing but Mossberg 500s and I don't recall a single issue with any of them.I even had a cheap Maverick version last yr and it was 100% reliable. Maybe you were trying to shoot 3" shells in a 2 3/4 barrel?

I have a best friend that has a Winchester home defense and he loves it but the accessories are not as easy to find as the 870 or Mossberg.

Remington has a 7 shot home defense gun for around 300.00 brand new,around these parts that is.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=33503793
 
If he's gonna use it for home defense, maybe he should consider a handgun. Try clearing a room with an 18" barrel and you'll see my point. If he's set on getting a shotgun, you can get good used 870's at pawn shops for around $150.00.
 
Nope, never shot anything I shouldn't have out of it. It's chambered for 2 3/4 and 3" shells. It developed the double feeding problem very shortly after I got it, and the jamming followed. I'm sending it to Mossberg for evaluation.

I've already got a good handgun as well, a Smith & Wesson Model 10 in .38 Spc. I like it all right but would still like to have the power of a 12 gauge. Plus I don't have to worry about overpenetration with shotshells in the urban environment my new house is located in.
 
Roadrunner said:
I've already got a good handgun as well, a Smith & Wesson Model 10 in .38 Spc. I like it all right but would still like to have the power of a 12 gauge. Plus I don't have to worry about overpenetration with shotshells in the urban environment my new house is located in.
Click to expand...


Try Glazers in .38 for urban penetration issues, or even the shotgun style shotshells- you'll probably endup liking that better than the shottie, especially if you don't feel you can trust the one you have...



KaBar... Q on the Saiga... How are they for shooting slugs?
The reason I went for the Rem 870 was I could get it with two barrels and be able to shoot speacialty rounds, slugs or shot... all in a 20 ga. gun!
 
I know how you feel, you can have a safe full of pistols and you just don't get that feeling of being completely armed until you have a good scattergun.

Lets face it,a handgun is designed for portability when you can't carry your long guns. In the old west what do you think was the choice in a gunfight,the six shooter of levergun. If you can get to the Winchestor on your horse then you would have the accuracty and power advantage,and we won't even get into the side by sides.

Same holds true at home,why settle for something designed for carry when you can have one of the most devastating self defense weapons ever made at hand.

Just makes you feel safe like that old woobie you had when you were a child lol.

Now go get that shotgun ;)
 
Morpeous nailed it. Handguns are great, my next purchase will probably be either a 1911 or a Kel-Tec .380; but if weight and size aren't an issue I want the big gun packing the big bullets. No criminal in his right mind will argue with a guy holding a 12 gauge, and if he isn't in his right mind, nothing will take him out of commission faster than that same 12 gauge. Plus this way the .38 can live in my brother's room, for backup.
 
One thing to do when shopping for a new shotgun is to bring a little magnet with you. I don't like aluminum alloy shotgun receivers, and a magnet won't stick to an alloy receiver. My vote goes for the Mossberg 590A1.
 
Upgrade that Smith to a 686 in .357 or get a .45ACP 1911 with Crimson Trace Grips and you probably won't need a shotgun :D

Is it true is Ithaca REALLY closed??? Say it ain't so I almost bought a slightly used 20ga model 37 Classic recently if I'd know about this I woulda spent the dough.

You might want to check out the Browning BPS also, it is made like a model 37. Otherwise I'd stick to a Benelli Nova or Rem 870 can't go wrong with either.
 
That's what Keep and Bare arms reported. The phone lines are no longer
working and a staement was issued.
 
Roadrunner said:
Thanks guys, I'll take a closer look at the 870. All of the ones I've seen in gun stores were much more expensive than Mossbergs, maybe I just need to shop around a bit more. To recap, I don't have a whole lot of money to spend, maybe $300 max. My first semester of college starts in about two months and I'll have plenty of expenses to kick that off. Also, I don't believe that the Mossberg I have is repairable. I got it as a gift for my 13th birthday about nine years ago, and it has jammed repeatedly since then. My grandfather took it back to the gun shop to have it looked at then and they couldn't find the problem. Now the magazine double feeds and the bolt won't eject the round in the chamber. Even if I get it fixed I'll never trust it. Of course, now that I think of it, I've told my Dad multiple times that I need a new shotgun and talked over which one to get, plus my birthday is next week, so maybe the problem will be taken care of for me. We shall see. Thanks again for all of the input everyone.
Click to expand...

Hi Roadrunner...remember me? Anyway, the Mossberg has a pretty good reputation for reliability. Aren't the Marines using them? I'd send mine back to the factory for repair, or at least try to do that.

Failing that, either of your choices should be fine for defensive use given limited funds. As for me, Rem. 870. I have four and it just makes no sense (for me) to change to a Mossberg or Winchester now that I am familiar with the Remingtons. They say that the 870 is a tang safety away from being the most popular shotgun ever made.

Jeff
 
KaBar... Q on the Saiga... How are they for shooting slugs?
Click to expand...

you can shoot just about any thing in a saiga, last time i was at the range a guy was "disposing" of some ammo of his. every thing from 50 year old paper sheels to rounds that were carroded green. it was blowing parts of the shell out the barrel each time he fired some of the rounds.

after he was done shooting he emptyed the magizine and reciever it a pile or small brass chunks and powder from the bad ammo. it never even jammed the gun once even with the ones that were heavly carroded.
 
Cool to see all of the nice remarks about the 870. I just cleaned up my trusty old duck gun this evening.

Remington 870 Express Magnum 12 Gauge: Accurate and trustworthy, and better yet when I dream about hunting or shooting it is what is in my hands every time.

It is just so familiar and dependable that for me it is the best home defense gun.

Chris
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top