i dont really have a preference, i just happened to buy the 870. My dad has a mossberg 500 12 guage and it is a nice gun, it shoots smooth and is a nice carry in the woods. if you dont hunt, that wont matter to you....

i dont really care for the winchesters cuz to me they are too bulky. they are well built guns but when it comes to walking through thick pines and undergrowth, something that feels a little lighter in the hand goes a long way.