Remington 870... Is this THE one to get?

Mokumbear · December 23, 2006, 03:47 PM

I thank all of you for your excellent advice!
I started off thinking of getting one of the Mossberg cruiser models, but didn't find much support for that idea.

Being a semi-auto pistol guy, this is all uncharted territory for me.

Once again, my primary use would be for home defense, however there is a chance that in the distant future I might want to try hunting.

Here is what I see on the Remington site:

http://www.remington.com/products/fi...inch_specs.asp

Would this make for an ideal, simple, and reliable home defense shotgun?

Do you guys have a preference between the models shown on this site?

Thanks!

raggededge · December 23, 2006, 03:54 PM

It is a fine gun indeed and you should be very happy with your purchase. As far as it being the end all of all "HD" shotguns, well I just don't believe that there is one. It's whatever suits you and your circumstances best. In regards to preference, I would go with the higher capacity.

RevolverLover · December 23, 2006, 03:58 PM

Have you looked at the Remington 870 Police models? They have a better fit and finish then the express models like the ones in the link. I would suggest you go to a gunstore and see if you like the Mossberg 500/590 or Remington 870 better but you should also check out the Ithaca M37 and Winchester/FN 1300.

M1911 · December 23, 2006, 03:59 PM

Quote:

however there is a chance that in the distant future I might want to try hunting.

Hunting for what? Birds? Deer? Turkey?

18" barrel is fine for home defense. It could be used for deer hunting (though accuracy will suffer unless you get a rifled barrel). The 18" barrel is too short for bird hunting. The barrel can, of course, be easily swapped for a longer barrel.

Yes, 870 express shotguns are excellent shotguns.

Dfariswheel · December 23, 2006, 07:27 PM

The Remington Synthetic 18" used be be labeled as the "Home Defense" model.

These are just about perfect defense guns right out of the box, and either will do any shotgun job you could ask.
By installing a different barrel, you can use it to hunt or shoot clay birds.

Given a choice between the two, take the one with the magazine extension.
Even if you don't want it right now, you might later, and the Remington factory extension is EXPENSIVE to buy as an accessory.
If you decide you don't want it on the gun, you can remove it and install the shorter magazine spring and cap to convert it to the 4 shot magazine.

All you'd have to buy is a standard length magazine spring, an old style magazine cap and magazine spring retainer.
These parts are cheap and easy to find.

If you don't want the extension at all, you can sell it on Ebay or one of the gun forums for $60 to $80.

Mokumbear · December 23, 2006, 08:19 PM

Revolver lover wrote:

"Have you looked at the Remington 870 Police models?"

Are these pictured on the Remington web site?

What are their key advantages?

Are they readily available to the general public?

Glockamolie · December 23, 2006, 11:02 PM

Yes, the Police models are readily available to anyone wanting to pony up the cash. A good place to look at the models, along with some good pricing, is at www.budsgunshop.com. They have a great deal on the Express, as well as the Police and the Tactical models. Here's Remington's Law Enforcement 870s:

http://www.remingtonle.com/shotguns/870.htm

Dfariswheel · December 23, 2006, 11:15 PM

The Police guns are the Cadillac of pump defense shotguns.
They are expensive and a little harder to get than the sporting guns, but they really are well worth it.

Dave McC · December 23, 2006, 11:47 PM

Any 870 in trained hands is a fearsome weapon. Get one and try to wear it out. Well before that happens, you'll be deadly.

Most shotguns will do the job for HD. The important part we sometimes forget is us.

SD_Chop · December 24, 2006, 12:15 AM

Yes! thats the one. I have the marine magnum which is that one with the nickle finish only cause i take it outdoors a lot but to me you can be that for a all purpose shotguns. And i have shot sport clays with it and done great in case you want to do that or take it hunting. Get it, you wont be sorry. As for which model, cant ever hurt to have a few more round for defense!!

miscusi · December 25, 2006, 05:58 PM

hmm.. says MSRP of $388 for the one on the bottom.. is that accurate as an in store price ?

Retiredatforty · December 25, 2006, 11:32 PM

Mokumbear,

I've got the 870 Synthetic 12 ga. with the extended magazine tube. I absolutely love it. It looks badass as hell, but more importantly, it's reliable, smooth, and fun to shoot. I got it for home defense, of course, and have no current plans to hunt or even shoot clays with it. Racking that slide, it just sounds like a shotgun should sound. If you want to accessorize them to death, the stuff is out there, but I think it's great right out of the box.

I've shot several competing shotguns, and I wouldn't take any of them for the 870. Highly recommended.

Glockamolie · December 26, 2006, 10:46 AM

"hmm.. says MSRP of $388 for the one on the bottom.. is that accurate as an in store price ?"

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...ducts_id/95077

miscusi · December 26, 2006, 04:38 PM

wow thats nice prices.. thanks for the link.. now I need a FFL....

raggededge · December 26, 2006, 04:45 PM

That is a nice price. That's less than I paid for my Winchester from Gander. Oh well, the two will compliment each other nicely.

Romulus · December 27, 2006, 05:35 AM

Quote:

The Police guns are the Cadillac of pump defense shotguns.
They are expensive and a little harder to get than the sporting guns, but they really are well worth it.

I guess I'm a little affected by my experience. I've had an express, ca 1990 vintage, and a Police, ca 2000 vintage. My express never skipped a beat. The Police had to go in for service early on when the 2-stage ejector rivet came loose. I wondered what might have happened if a cop was using this same piece in the line of duty

December 23, 2006, 03:47 PM	#1
Mokumbear Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2005 Posts: 696	Remington 870... Is this THE one to get? I thank all of you for your excellent advice! I started off thinking of getting one of the Mossberg cruiser models, but didn't find much support for that idea. Being a semi-auto pistol guy, this is all uncharted territory for me. Once again, my primary use would be for home defense, however there is a chance that in the distant future I might want to try hunting. Here is what I see on the Remington site: http://www.remington.com/products/fi...inch_specs.asp Would this make for an ideal, simple, and reliable home defense shotgun? Do you guys have a preference between the models shown on this site? Thanks!

December 23, 2006, 08:19 PM	#6
Mokumbear Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2005 Posts: 696	For Revolver Lover... Revolver lover wrote: "Have you looked at the Remington 870 Police models?" Are these pictured on the Remington web site? What are their key advantages? Are they readily available to the general public?

December 23, 2006, 11:02 PM	#7
Glockamolie Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2005 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 359	Yes, the Police models are readily available to anyone wanting to pony up the cash. A good place to look at the models, along with some good pricing, is at www.budsgunshop.com. They have a great deal on the Express, as well as the Police and the Tactical models. Here's Remington's Law Enforcement 870s: http://www.remingtonle.com/shotguns/870.htm __________________ Brandon

December 24, 2006, 12:15 AM	#10
SD_Chop Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2006 Location: Va, USA Posts: 474	Yes! thats the one. I have the marine magnum which is that one with the nickle finish only cause i take it outdoors a lot but to me you can be that for a all purpose shotguns. And i have shot sport clays with it and done great in case you want to do that or take it hunting. Get it, you wont be sorry. As for which model, cant ever hurt to have a few more round for defense!! __________________ Liberty or Death...

December 25, 2006, 11:32 PM	#12
Retiredatforty Member Join Date: June 12, 2006 Location: Richmond, Virginia Posts: 37	I've got one! Mokumbear, I've got the 870 Synthetic 12 ga. with the extended magazine tube. I absolutely love it. It looks badass as hell, but more importantly, it's reliable, smooth, and fun to shoot. I got it for home defense, of course, and have no current plans to hunt or even shoot clays with it. Racking that slide, it just sounds like a shotgun should sound. If you want to accessorize them to death, the stuff is out there, but I think it's great right out of the box. I've shot several competing shotguns, and I wouldn't take any of them for the 870. Highly recommended.

December 23, 2006, 03:54 PM	#2
raggededge Member Join Date: December 5, 2006 Location: So. Holland, IL Posts: 88	It is a fine gun indeed and you should be very happy with your purchase. As far as it being the end all of all "HD" shotguns, well I just don't believe that there is one. It's whatever suits you and your circumstances best. In regards to preference, I would go with the higher capacity.

December 23, 2006, 03:58 PM	#3
RevolverLover Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2004 Posts: 1,682	Have you looked at the Remington 870 Police models? They have a better fit and finish then the express models like the ones in the link. I would suggest you go to a gunstore and see if you like the Mossberg 500/590 or Remington 870 better but you should also check out the Ithaca M37 and Winchester/FN 1300.

December 23, 2006, 07:27 PM	#5
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	The Remington Synthetic 18" used be be labeled as the "Home Defense" model. These are just about perfect defense guns right out of the box, and either will do any shotgun job you could ask. By installing a different barrel, you can use it to hunt or shoot clay birds. Given a choice between the two, take the one with the magazine extension. Even if you don't want it right now, you might later, and the Remington factory extension is EXPENSIVE to buy as an accessory. If you decide you don't want it on the gun, you can remove it and install the shorter magazine spring and cap to convert it to the 4 shot magazine. All you'd have to buy is a standard length magazine spring, an old style magazine cap and magazine spring retainer. These parts are cheap and easy to find. If you don't want the extension at all, you can sell it on Ebay or one of the gun forums for $60 to $80.

December 23, 2006, 11:15 PM	#8
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	The Police guns are the Cadillac of pump defense shotguns. They are expensive and a little harder to get than the sporting guns, but they really are well worth it.

December 23, 2006, 11:47 PM	#9
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Any 870 in trained hands is a fearsome weapon. Get one and try to wear it out. Well before that happens, you'll be deadly. Most shotguns will do the job for HD. The important part we sometimes forget is us.

December 25, 2006, 05:58 PM	#11
miscusi Junior member Join Date: April 2, 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 217	hmm.. says MSRP of $388 for the one on the bottom.. is that accurate as an in store price ?

December 26, 2006, 10:46 AM	#13
Glockamolie Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2005 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 359	"hmm.. says MSRP of $388 for the one on the bottom.. is that accurate as an in store price ?" http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...ducts_id/95077 __________________ Brandon

December 26, 2006, 04:38 PM	#14
miscusi Junior member Join Date: April 2, 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 217	wow thats nice prices.. thanks for the link.. now I need a FFL....

December 26, 2006, 04:45 PM	#15
raggededge Member Join Date: December 5, 2006 Location: So. Holland, IL Posts: 88	That is a nice price. That's less than I paid for my Winchester from Gander. Oh well, the two will compliment each other nicely.