wlc
Ultimate Member
- Nov 13, 2006
- 3,521
I have been very happy with my 590
I know price is different but what problems or pros have you seen with a benelli m3?
From a VERY GOOD SOURCE (someone within Beretta/Benelli) I have heard that it has been discovered in LE training that under stress, you may not remember which mode you're in, semi or pump... which can be a serious issue.
That being said... as to the OP, Chad I agree with you 100% on every point. I only have one thing to add, with the Mossberg platforms, you can easily release the action to do a press check with the weapon shouldered or at low ready without shifting position at all using the standard shoulder stock - simply squeeze your middle finger up a little and you're good.
I also saw many many many more Remington 870s in the shop than Mossbergs. Remingtons (including Police Magnums) came in with everything from feeding/lifter malfunctions, failures to extract, ejection problems, broken ejector assemblies... you name it. I only really ever saw Mossbergs in for cleanings. One guy had one that was 20+ years old and managed to break off the tab on the rear of the trigger that interfaces with the safety. I think it was about $12 for the part and shipping from Brownells. Sure the trigger group is a PITA but as a gunsmith it was no problem of course.
I personally have what I like to call my "Mavvberg 588". I purchased a Maverick 88 field model from Wal-Mart in Grove City, PA when I was in college the day I turned 18 for about $200. Since then I ditched the 24" vent rib barrel for an 18.5" Cruiser barrel, added a heat shield, ditched the field forend and swapped it for a Mossberg slide action tube assembly with the plain-jane ribbed forend. I added a Tac-Star sidesaddle (which works ok but is mostly crap). I added a tritium front sight, parkerized the steel parts and painted the receiver Brownells Parkerizing Gray with Alumahyde 2 paint.
It's been an utterly reliable gun, and I won't hesitate to recommend them. They're lighter than the Remingtons and personally are more ergonomic. As Chad said, many things can be done by the DIYer. Remingtons are fine too, it's more like a Ford vs. Chevy kind of thing. I have seen some older Remingtons that seemed to be built like tanks, and had very smooth actions. The new ones have sh*tty finishes, and many times, on the HD models, when you loosen the clamp between the mag tube and barrel you find all the mag tube parts are loose... no bueno IMO.
Anyway... thanks for this thread, it clearly points out the differences. Once the points you put out have been consider it's up to each person to pick. I'll eventually be getting a Benelli M4, and hope to make that my HD gun (will have more capacity for sure) if it proves to be reliable (which I'm sure it will be ).
ETA: Another thing Remingtons have that is neat (not sure if this was covered above, didn't feel like reading 10 pages lol), you can remove the forend and bolt assembly without dropping the trigger group by depressing the shell stops. On the Mossberg you must remove the trigger group and disassemble the receiver group in order to get to the bolt. But in reality you really don't need to get in there unless you have gotten a bunch of foreign debris in there... just another point to consider!
I appreciate you chiming in Smores. Excellent points indeed to consider. May I add some of your points to the O.P. while giving credit to you?
Why choose? Buy both. How often do you get the chance to compare two legendary platforms for under $500?
Isn't that link also someone's opinion? I like the facts he presents but which one is "better" is purely opinion. Personally, since I own both I can't really pick one. I guess I would choose my 500 tho.... it's desert camo so it makes me look either like a badass, or a 12 year old.
Isn't that link also someone's opinion? I like the facts he presents but which one is "better" is purely opinion. Personally, since I own both I can't really pick one. I guess I would choose my 500 tho.... it's desert camo so it makes me look either like a badass, or a 12 year old.
The things I listed about servicing the 870/500 were not "opinion" they are facts.