Teddee5

The only difference tween the Express and 870 is money.
Wingmasters have the same actions, but the parts in the Express are rough, where the parts & wood in the Wingmaster have received more polishing, attention, bluing which results in a much smoother action but more cost.. The wood is Walnut in the Wingmaster where the wood in the Express could be any number of hardwood or synthetic, whis is not all bad.
I have had a 870 Wingmaster magnum, which shows how old it is, but stuck a synthetic stock on it. All 870's actions have been magnums for years, but only recently all have 3 inch chambered bbls. (Recently is a comparative word meaning anything.)
I like the 11-87, a little heavier, but less recoil and not that much more. Assuming you are young, a little weight wont hurt anything. Age makes all guns heavy. Even my Beretta ou lightweight seems heavier than when I bought it for field carry.

BOYWONDER

Get the 870, i has shot the same one for 10yrs never failed me.

Schobs

I have an 870 and my huntin buddy has the 500, his is a single shot right now because his ejectors are worn down and all the area gunsmiths are backed up 3-4 weeks. Never had a problem with my 870.

mac266

I have two 870s, one is a Wingmaster from the early 1980s and the other is an Express from the early 1990s. Both are excellent guns. I prefer the Wingmaster because, like another poster mentioned, they are more polished and smoother.

I bought a 20 gauge Mossberg 500 for my wife. It functions well, but she doesn't shoot very much. It's not nearly the quality gun the 870s are, but it will go bang when you pull the trigger.

crimedog

My 2 cents is get the 500, better yet the 835.

1. The safety is larger and located better for the use of gloves.

2. The barrel and forcing cones are lenghtened getting better patterns with a wider varity of ammo.

ranger56528

Have had both my 500s for 30 yrs now with no troubles,got lazy 2 yrs ago and went Semi heeheehee.....

Whiskey_Z

I can't say anything about the mossberg. However, i have had an 870 the past 10 years. In my opinion, this is one of the best built shotguns. These things are very reliable and tough. I tend to be hard on my shotguns from duck/goose hunting to coyote/bobcat hunting to bear hunting. I have seen this gun take a beating and never miss a beat. My brother's got dropped in the lake one morning and he was able to retrieve it, worked fine all day and still does. If you want reliability i would suggest an 870. Just my 2 cents though as i have no experience with the mossberg.

Nitro.Bass

US Military uses the Mossberg 500 action. The 870 was as solid as they come until the last decade IMHO, but for my money, on a lower dollar shotgun, the 500 is an excellent choice. A Mossberg 835 is nearly indestructable and shoots everything they make in 12ga except slugs (You can get a slug barrel if need be).

IMHO, you're less likely to get a lemon in a Mossberg shotgun than you are in a Remington 870 or 887...

westtexducks

+1 vote for the 835, they also have the new 535 which is supposed to be the 500 but can shoot the 3.5 in shells. But whatever you do make sure the safety is on top much easier and faster than if it is by the trigger guard. My whole family shoots mossbergs and the only trouble we have had is on my dads his ejector was worn out because it has had thousands of shells thru it. Took it to a gunstore they ordered the part and he is back at it again. So I would definitely get the mossberg. All of the mossbergs run about the same price so you can take your pick of any of them and still be on budget.

Tylern2012

870 all the way i have had mine at the bottom of a slough for two days worked right when i wpulled it out but. I cleaned it up and no one will ever know dropped it on gravel had mud in the chamber... Remington all the way whatever you dont buy a browning bps or or benelli ive seen many jam...