I've shot the 870 express, but I own and prefer my 535. It's killed everything from quail to turkey to deer in cold rains and on hot sunny days and I have never had a problem with it. The tang safety makes it especially ideal for upland hunting and the front and rear-bead sights make it easy to aim. And to me, that looseness in the foregrip isn't looseness at all-it's flexibility; 870's feel stiff to me. Of course, this is just the gun I'm used to and it's one that I have had a lot more experience with in the field. I would say the only advantage an 870 has is that they don't make Hasting's Rifled barrels for Mossbergs. But, on the other hand, the $200 rifled barrel/scope combo still delivered crisp 'plinks' on 8"x8" steel targets from 130 yards every time.