[Streck-Fu]

Damn good guns. I prefer Mossberg mostly for the safety position and replaceable ejector (not that I know of any one that broke an ejector on the 870).

For social shotgunning, I highly recommend the 00B from Federal with Flite control. Seriously tight patterns past 25 yards. PFC154 is the product for the full power 2 3/4" shells. They have lower recoil offerings for LE and women with designated LE154.

In patterning, I found that the 3" shell (PFC157) with 12 pellets did not hold nearly as tight of a pattern past 15 yards.

All shots with 18.5" Mossberg 590.:

First is the federal flite-control with shots at 10 and 15 yards on the same target. The 15y is shifted left. All pellets and wad went through the same holes.
The other target is of green box Remington 00B at 15 yards and the shot is spread much farther.

The last picture is the PFC157 at 10y. If you want more of a spread, this may be your ticket.