Dwg: Article written and Venn diagram created.

2025-12-11T22:57:49Z

Article written and Venn diagram created.

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== Mossberg 500 vs. Remington 870 ==

The Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 are two of the most popular and best-selling American pump-action shotguns.<ref name="ref1" /><ref name="ref2" /> Both firearms have been in production for decades and are widely used by civilians for hunting and sport shooting, as well as by law enforcement and military organizations.<ref name="ref3" /><ref name="ref1" /><ref name="ref2" /> The Remington 870 was introduced in 1950, and the Mossberg 500 followed in 1961.<ref name="ref4" /><ref name="ref5" /> While they serve similar roles and share a basic pump-action design, key differences in their construction and features set them apart.<ref name="ref1" />

=== Comparison Table ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Category !! Mossberg 500 !! Remington 870
|-
| '''Receiver Material'''
| Aluminum Alloy<ref name="ref4" />
| Steel<ref name="ref4" />
|-
| '''Safety Location'''
| Top tang of the receiver<ref name="ref1" /><ref name="ref4" />
| Trigger guard (cross-bolt)<ref name="ref1" /><ref name="ref4" />
|-
| '''Action Bars'''
| Two pinned action bars connected to a separate slide assembly<ref name="ref1" />
| Action bars and pump are a single, robust piece<ref name="ref1" />
|-
| '''Shell Lifter (Elevator)'''
| Stays in a raised position when the action is open
| Rests in the down position and must be pushed up to load shells
|-
| '''Extractor Design'''
| Dual extractors<ref name="ref1" />
| Single extractor
|-
| '''Slide Release Location'''
| Behind the trigger guard<ref name="ref1" />
| Forward of the trigger guard<ref name="ref1" />
|}

[[File:Venn_diagram_Differences_between_Mossberg_500_versus_Remington_870_comparison.png|thumb|center|800px|alt=Venn diagram for Differences between Mossberg 500 and Remington 870|Venn diagram comparing Differences between Mossberg 500 and Remington 870]]

=== Key Design Differences ===

One of the most significant differences between the two shotguns is the material used for the receiver. The Mossberg 500 features a lighter aluminum alloy receiver, while the Remington 870 uses a heavier, solid steel receiver.<ref name="ref4" /> This material difference contributes to the Mossberg 500 generally having a lower overall weight compared to the Remington 870.<ref name="ref4" />

The placement of the manual safety is another defining characteristic. The Mossberg 500 has a tang-mounted safety on the top rear of the receiver, which is considered ambidextrous.<ref name="ref1" /><ref name="ref4" /> In contrast, the Remington 870 utilizes a cross-bolt safety located on the trigger guard, a more traditional design that is typically easier to operate for right-handed shooters.<ref name="ref1" /><ref name="ref4" />

Internally, the designs of their actions and shell-feeding mechanisms differ. The Remington 870's dual action bars are part of a single assembly with the pump, which can result in a smoother-feeling action.<ref name="ref1" /> The Mossberg 500's action bars are pinned to a separate slide assembly, which some users describe as feeling looser.<ref name="ref1" /> The shell lifter on the Mossberg 500 stays in the "up" position, which can make loading shells into the magazine tube easier, whereas the 870's lifter remains down and must be pushed up with each shell. Furthermore, the Mossberg 500 employs dual extractors to remove spent shells, while the Remington 870 uses a single extractor.<ref name="ref1" />

The location of the slide release also varies. On the Mossberg 500, the slide release is positioned behind the trigger guard, allowing some shooters to operate it without changing their firing grip.<ref name="ref1" /> The Remington 870's slide release is located forward of the trigger guard, often requiring the user to adjust their grip to reach it.<ref name="ref1" />

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="ref1">[https://www.pewpewtactical.com/remington-870-vs-mossberg-500/ "pewpewtactical.com"]. Retrieved December 11, 2025.</ref>
<ref name="ref2">[https://gundigest.com/gun-reviews/mossberg-500-vs-remington-870 "gundigest.com"]. Retrieved December 11, 2025.</ref>
<ref name="ref3">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remington_Model_870 "wikipedia.org"]. Retrieved December 11, 2025.</ref>
<ref name="ref4">[https://blog.gritrsports.com/mossberg-vs-remington/ "gritrsports.com"]. Retrieved December 11, 2025.</ref>
<ref name="ref5">[https://guns.fandom.com/wiki/Remington_Model_870 "fandom.com"]. Retrieved December 11, 2025.</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Comparisons]]

Differences between Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 - Revision history

Dwg: Article written and Venn diagram created.