god i hate when people bring in the forend rattle, im 100% sure every pump action has forend rattle. The steel isnt any better than the aluminum, if the steel was better, im sure the 500 wouldnt be a mil-spec gun. i will give it to u with the looks but it depends what 500 u get. and yea the choke tubes to. both are good guns, i will shoot either just prefer the mossberg.

yea most gun makes have gotten worse over the years, just like the model 70's.

Preference
 

I talked about this with a guy who has bought/sold guns for over 40 years. While I do like the tang safety of the Mossberg, the aluminum receiver is not as strong as steel if you are going to shoot the gun A LOT! You know, hunting, claybird practice, trap, skeet, sporting clays. For a gun you are going to shoot, shoot, shoot, I would favor the 870. I keep hearing how Remington is going downhill, so that may be a factor. If I was getting an 870, I would buy used from the guy I mentioned in the first sentence. I have a very old Ithaca m 37, so I don't really need another pump, unless I wanted to deer hunt with it, and get a slug barrel (can't get one for the Ithaca, it's too old.)

I think the 870 is a bit better design but the mossberg receiver is not a pproblem because the bolt locks directly into the barrel. You can shoot it as much as you want. My browning silver is aluminum too. handles 3" magnum steel in the freezing cold, all day long.