Both are excellent guns. I'd have a HARD time deciding too!

Both will probably serve you a life time of enjoyment. The only solution would be to get both <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Own a Mossberg 500 here. The XD-40 is under the bed and the shotgun is in the corner.

Regarding the controls/constraints you are under in Canada, there is a scramble on down here in Florida at the gun shops. October sales are way ahead of normal because of the concern that there will be more control here after the general election next week.

I was just watching this a few months back...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmrqT9SIkQw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGVAQOUi6ec&feature=related

as far as I know gun control is how tight of a group you can make on paper...

id get the 870

you can shoot anything from bird shot,buckshot, or rifled slugs.



1895 you are limited in the overall usefulness of the gun



870 pros-
bird shot= small game
buckshot= medium size game & self defense
slugs= self defense & big game


1895 pros-
heavy caliber



con-

most factory ammo is loaded on the "light" side for the older trapdoors and older guns


just my thoughts

KENKEN,

It is a real issue here, and even though the clip you quoted was done in 2001,
the battle is still going on. The cost of the registration program at the time
the clip was made, was in the hundreds of millions of $$. Now, it's in the
Billions of $$ with no end in sight.

In the last 7 years, it has become an entrenched institution of government, and
it is doubtful that it will ever end, although the present government is talking
about scrapping it. It is yet to be seen if the political will is indeed there.

Cheers.

Vance,

Thanks for the info. I'm going to the gun store tomorrow to look at both.
Originally I was looking at the Mossberg 500 combo unit, but the gun store
is sold out of them. So I'm going to look at the 870 instead.

I'll report back after I get a chance to look at them.

Based on what you say, I too think that the shotgun would be more useful.


Cheers

just another random thought...if its that tough to get firearms up there...


the 870 has a steel receiver & the mossberg is aluminium...the mossberg 500 also has a plastic safety....they break often enough that i keep steel ones in stock


i have a 870

I reload so I would be strongly biased to the 45-70. If I didn't reload and could have only one firearm I'd look at the 870 or similar. As Vance pointed it, shotguns are very versatile and with modern sabot cartridges can lay down some serious stopping power for shorter shots.

Vance,
I didn't know that about the Mossbergs. With that in mind, I will look more
seriously at the 870.

Kraz,
I don't have any ability to reload at this time, but I really like the 45-70.

This is becoming a difficult choice.

Cheers.

The "express" model which is a cheaper version of the 870 have plastic trigger guard. Doesn't matter to most people, but some thinks that part should be metal and not plastic.

Congrats on the P.A.L.! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> Twenty years ago I bought the Mossberg 500 "security combo" - 18" and 28" barrels, for $119.95. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I still have it, and it's a very good shotgun. I also have a Remington 870 Express Magnum, and it is a fine firearm as well. A shotgun gives you more versatility as pointed out, and would be my choice if limited to only one firearm. Fortunately, I am not that limited. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />