Almost 40 years working with 870s has established a few habits I'm not enthusiastic about trying to work away from. I never try to talk others into 870s or out of them. They aren't magic death sticks, but like the Mossberg, parts are everywhere, they are easy to maintain, and if you work it like you mean it, they will get most jobs done. Most importantly, 12 gauge shotguns will do almost anything from 3 to 100 yards, or stop just about anything within a reasonable space.