Who Knew That Shotguns Were This Doggone Easy?!?

[AshWilliams]

A Mossberg 590A1 (18.5" barrel, 00 buck, slugs riding in the side saddle, white light) holds down my fort.

 

[Cerberus Group]

Not all 870s are equal, you have a good one. Wingmasters and police models are a step above the Express models which I stay away from.

Yep, stay away from the Express model.

 

[Cerberus Group]

The thing about 00 is it is all over the place.

Yep, easily found.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Sounds like you have a whole new world of shooting opening up for you Pops1911...

As for which pump action is "best"...well as you can see by the replies we all have our favorites and with good reason.

I myself favor the older 870 Wingmasters...if only 'cause it was my first gun...still have it and shoot it ... its a 20 gauge from 1962.


That said there is nothing wrong with :
Winchester models '97 , 12 and 25...
Ithaca model 37
Mossberg 500 series...
High Standard's Flite King series...

Any of the above make for a excellent shotgun ..some may be prettier than others ...and we will always argue over which is the smoothest action or easiest to use..,Some will have more parts available ...but all work as a shotgun should.
Andy

 

[OldTengu]

I keep talking myself out of trading away my 870 express magnum (several mods. Shell Saddle, hogue pistol grip and forend, extended mag).

Originally thought it was a police magnum due to mods and the convenient placement of shell Saddle right over the rollmark. Took it off to clean and noticed it. I love it! Still intrigued by the tac 14 though.

 

[Cerberus Group]

Yes, it really doesn't matter the make...as long as you get along with the controls and can run it efficiently.

 

[Jonnyuma]

I carried an 870 in Marine security forces when an M16 was prohibited due to the proximity of a certain type of materials (I can neither confirm nor deny blah blah blah), but when I bought my first shotgun I got a 500.*

I toted that thing all over AZ and OR (20+ yrs) on a battered M1 sling/belt that a Marine buddy of mine used at Camp Perry in the 80s... until my now EXwife sold it out from under me while I was on the road. It took a lot of searching to find a wood-stocked replacement 500 but the leather sling is irreplaceable and Dave is gone

I've been sorely tempted by some of the wood-stocked 870 police trade-ins I see... the older ones feel like the action is on ball-bearings.
I have no need... I just waaaaant one.

*ETA: actually, first was a single shot H&R 12ga, but who's counting?

 

[Ura-Ki]

Sure do wish Mossberg would slicker up the action on their 500's that's the one thing I really like about the 870's they are like greased lightning and they don't shake rattle and roll like a Mossy. I actually prefer the Mossy because of the tang safety, good for working lefty or righty as the situation requires! My 97's don't have safeties, not a bad thing, but needs to be considered, but what they do have is both a Mag cut off and the ability to slam fire, two VERY useful features to have!

 

[Kruel J]

When doing my non-definitive study on ballistics, I wasn't overly impressed with 00 Buck as was written about it. It's still a viable load...but there are better.

#4 is usually what I have loaded.

Maybe I'm not as dumb as I look.

 

[DB is Here]

Agreed, my 20 year old Marine Magnum 870 still does it for me.

 

[OldTengu]

Yep, stay away from the Express model.

I have heard this. But why? As near as I can tell, mine is identical to a police magnum, with heavy springs and milled receiver, as well as all of the police internals, with the exception of a jlock safety/trigger that I replaced.

 

[Flymph]

I don't know... I'm a big fan of Model 12s.

Give me an A5...

Can't go wrong with a solid pump shotgun tho.

 

[CrankyGuy]

Give me an A5...

Can't go wrong with a solid pump shotgun tho.

Solid choice!

 

[Joe13]

I have heard this. But why? As near as I can tell, mine is identical to a police magnum, with heavy springs and milled receiver, as well as all of the police internals, with the exception of a jlock safety that I replaced.

New ones have plastic trigger controls and guard. Aren't quite as rock solid as the all metal ones.

Mine functions flawlessly none the less.

I'm buying a single shot tonight even though I own many shotguns (some are heirlooms). My wife asks me WTF I need another shotgun for...

I replied, "Cuz I don't have one like the one I'm buying".

I have a fetish with shotguns. They are generally cheap for the quality you get and are so useful for almost everything.

Plus shooting them always makes me grin.

 

[Cerberus Group]

I have heard this. But why? As near as I can tell, mine is identical to a police magnum, with heavy springs and milled receiver, as well as all of the police internals, with the exception of a jlock safety that I replaced.

The Remington 870 Express has a plastic trigger group and magazine retention system. There is even some internal metal injection molded parts in the Express, such as the extractor part.

The Police and Wingmaster weapon's extractor is milled and it contains no MIM parts whatsoever.

The Police and Wingmaster get the most thorough inspection that you can imagine. Everything from the internal parts to the finishing of the weapon is inspected.

I've also seen the Express ejectors come off the receiver.

 

[OldTengu]

New ones have plastic trigger controls and guard. Aren't quite as rock solid as the all metal ones.

Mine functions flawlessly none the less.


I'm buying a single shot tonight even though I own many shotguns (some are heirlooms). My wife asks me WTF I need another shotgun for...

I replied, "Cuz I don't have one like the one I'm buying".

I have a fetish with shotguns. They are generally cheap for the quality you get and are so useful for almost everything.

Plus shooting them always makes me grin.

I can definitely verify that. One of the big reasons j lock went buhbye

 

[OldTengu]

The Remington 870 Express has a plastic trigger group and magazine retention system. There is even some internal metal injection molded parts in the Express, such as the extractor part.

The Police and Wingmaster weapon's extractor is milled and it contains no MIM parts whatsoever.

The Police and Wingmaster get the most thorough inspection that you can imagine. Everything from the internal parts to the finishing of the weapon is inspected.

Good to know.
I'm pretty certain that most of the internals were upgraded on this one. Only internal plastic that I have noticed is the shell follower. I purchased it used through Ryan Judy sporting goods at a gun show last November, and although it was in rougher shape than now (some surface rust, very dirty) I got it for a good price, good enough that I felt guilty once I got it home.

 

[Cerberus Group]

I forgot to add...have seen a few Express ejectors/springs come off the receiver.

Do regular checks on it.

 

[MrRob96]

Ya'll can easily tell from my forum name that shot guns are not my primary source of firearms delight.

What? I thought you were just really really old.

 

[Pops1911]

Sounds like you have a whole new world of shooting opening up for you Pops1911...

You are absolutely correct Andy. I still find it fascinating that my old 68 year old 870 has captured my fancy and stoked my imagination. Gotta be a message in there for me somewhere but I haven't figured it out yet. I have started shopping around now for accessories to hang on it. The problem being that the gun is perfect as it is. As soon as the new 18.5" barrel arrives it will begin its new assignment as the home defense armament. I'm considering adding a light to it and a stock attached elastic bandoleer thingy for extra on board ammo. Oh, another reflection is that for being 68 years old it really wasn't all that dirty. Heck I dirty firearms up worse than that in a week end's range trip. I was flirting with the idea of the Extar ep45. That's definitely off the table now.