Fans of the Mossberg 500 line of pump shotguns and the Remington 870 series of scatterguns have long debated which is the better platform for home defense.
Honestly, either one set up right — 18–20″ barrel, reduced-recoil buckshot, a light, and some trigger time — will serve you well.
The bigger factor than brand is usually: does it fit you, and have you actually practiced with it loaded and under some time pressure? A shotgun you haven’t trained with is a liability regardless of the roll mark on the receiver.
That said, here’s a point-by-point comparison of the major operational points of the Model 500 and Model 870 shotguns to consider for yourself:
Mossberg 500 vs. Remington 870 Safeties
The 500’s on/off switch is located on the top of the tang and is easily thumb-operated by either hand.
The Remington 870 safety is a cross-bolt style located behind the trigger guard. For the right-handed shooter, press in (leftward) to Fire, rightward to put the gun on Safe.
Mossberg 500 vs. Remington 870 Action Reliability
The 500 is considered to be very reliable and less prone to short-stroking than other actions. The Remington 870’s action reliability is excellent once it’s broken in, and it has a huge track record in LE and military use to back that up.
Mossberg 500 vs. Remington 870 Slide Release
The 500’s slide release is a separate button that’s hard to hit by accident. The Remington 870’s slide release is set into the trigger guard, so it can be bumped when racking. Minor point, but worth noting.
Mossberg 500 vs. Remington 870 Aftermarket Support
Replacement items to add to the base 500 are massive, there’s no shortage of stocks, rails, lights, and sights to fit on the 500 after the sale. Aftermarket support for the Remington 870 might even be larger. It’s arguably the most-modified shotgun ever made. Probably a slight edge for the 870, but we’re not sure anyone has actually counted.
Mossberg 500 vs. Remington 870 Price Point
A new Mossberg 500 is generally slightly cheaper than a new 870, but they are certainly comparable, and vary more by model and finish than by their counter prices head to head.
Mossberg 500 vs. Remington 870 Weight & Feel
The Mossberg 500 is usually slightly lighter and is often preferred for its handling. The Remington 870 is slightly heavier, with some of the weight sitting in the very durable receiver. Again, variances between models is usually greater than between the platforms.
The Bottom Line
For home defense specifically, most people lean toward the Mossberg 500. The tang safety is the big reason — it’s ambidextrous and naturally under your thumb when you mount the gun, which matters more in a stressful middle-of-the-night scenario than on a range gun.
The 870’s cross-bolt safety is fine too, just slightly less intuitive under stress for some shooters, and its trigger-guard-mounted slide release means a nervous or untrained hand can occasionally short-stroke it while racking.
That said, the 870 has an unmatched service record (it’s been the go-to for U.S. police and military for decades), and its aftermarket is just as deep, so you’re not giving anything up in terms of customization or reliability.
To read our detailed reviews of both shotguns and their variants, check out the links below.
Mossberg 590 50674 12 Gauge, $568 (October 2022)
Mossberg 500 Retrograde Persuader 50429 12 Gauge
Mossberg 500A Persuader 50411 12 Gauge
Remington 870 Police Magnum 18-Inch Extended Mag Tube 12 Gauge
Remington 870 Express Magnum 25549 12 Gauge
Remington 870 Tactical 81200 12 Gauge, $442
