sizing up the boomers

Well, Better Half and I hit up a few firearm stores today, and have this to say:
Mossberg 500: We both liked how the placement of the safety and slide release are definitely easily accessible, and Mossberg seems to have gone back to the two-action-bar construction (at least on the two or three new models we fondled), so that problem was solved. On the bad side however, the shotgun rattled in what we both considered to be somewhat bad ways – the slide handle seemed excessively wiggly, and the build just did not seem quite up to the alternative.
Remington 870: And the alternative was this one. The safety is not bad on the 870, but the slide release is a little awkward. However, this thing definitely feels like you could use it to beat down a tree, and it would still go *bang* when you pull the appropriate switch. And speaking of beating down things, the 870 definitely feels heavier than the 500, but given that neither of us plan on toting this thing around for extended periods of time, that weight will only come as an advantage – it will absorb recoil better, and make the firearm function better in blunt-force applications.
Charles Daly: Tried these on after a recommendation from Dr. Strangegun… the price really cannot be beaten, but there are no accessories really available for them, 870 accessories will not work on them (despite them looking like an 870 clone), they do not appear to have magazine tube extensions, and, again, they do not feel nearly as well put-together as other options. That said, for their price ($100 less than the Remington I was looking at), they are an amazingly affordable alternative to nothing. I think I will spend the little extra, though, for a probably-better, and easier-modified/repaired/maintained firearm.
Generally, we found that we need an adjustable stock – the extreme case was the Benelli Nova, on which the length of pull was simply too far for Better Half to effectively support (her left arm was fully extended, which is never a good thing). The 500 was better, and the 870 was better still, but we tried one on with the adjustable stock system, and with it collapsed all the way down, it was perfect for her (and something tells me that the use of a recoil-reduction system like those that can be found on Knoxx stocks will only make the firearm easier to use in general).
Realistically, in the end, any option is better than what we have now…
Good, educational trip, and we found out some things we might not have otherwise. And, surprisingly, my local “sticker-price” firearm store has the 870s cheaper than I can find anywhere online (even GunBroker), so they may be making a sale in the next few days.