thats a tough one I'm stuck 50/50 between both, a 870 is a tough as nails gun but so is the mossberg, well if i had to boil it down Id like the 870 better because of the steel trigger guard and the mossbergs is Polymer plastic. But the mossberg with its over bored and ported barrel eases the heavy recoil of a 3.5 inch magnum better and Produces a tighter pattern. The mossberg is lighter in weight and is easier to lug around. Oh yea I just remembered why I dont like 870's the butt stock feels to small and skinny feels funny. I have no problems with mossbergs stocks they feel perfect but if I chose a 870 I would deffinately replace the stocks with something else probably butler creek or better yet Mossbergs replacement stock for the rem 870.