$325 To Spend...Remington 870 or Colt Detective Special

Southern Shooter · December 11, 2012, 12:48 PM

I have $325 to spend and am torn about which direction to take. I have the choice of a brand new synthetic stock Remington 870 in 12 gauge OR a 1972 Colt Detective Special .38 Special which has been parkerized but is in very sound mechanical shape and with a tight lock-up.

Which would you buy and why?

Thanks

Yung.gunr · December 11, 2012, 01:32 PM

Prob the .38. I like handguns more than shotguns.

Plus, I already have a Mossberg 500, but no wheelies.

Buzzcook · December 11, 2012, 02:16 PM

I already have a shotgun. If I didn't, there are lots of fine pump actions out there for half that price.

BarryLee · December 11, 2012, 02:25 PM

As someone who sold a Colt .38 several years ago and have long regretted it – The Colt.

ohiomossyoak · December 11, 2012, 03:21 PM

I already own a Mossberg 500 an Ulti-Mag 835 so a shotgun is not high on my list right now..

Hal · December 11, 2012, 03:44 PM

Sort of no brainer - the Dick Special.

Even though I myself don't care for Colt revolvers.

Dick specials don't pop up for sale all the time.
Usually, somebody or another has the 870 on sale every other week.

Southern Shooter · December 11, 2012, 04:36 PM

Here is an image of the 1972 Colt Detective Special that I am considering buying.

ohiomossyoak · December 11, 2012, 04:46 PM

Do you own a shotgun?What do you own(if you dont mind me asking)?

Southern Shooter · December 11, 2012, 04:49 PM

A well-seasoned 870 in 12 gauge, new 870 in 20 gauge, and a new Mossy Maverick 88 in 12 gauge...and, single shots in .410, 20 gauge, and 12 gauge.

Strafer Gott · December 11, 2012, 05:08 PM

King of Snubs everyday and all night long. In your pictures it looks parkerized.
Are you certain it's not an agent, which is noticeably lighter.

ohiomossyoak · December 11, 2012, 05:10 PM

Quote:

A well-seasoned 870 in 12 gauge, new 870 in 20 gauge, and a new Mossy Maverick 88 in 12 gauge...and, single shots in .410, 20 gauge, and 12 gauge.

Seems like you know the answer to your dilemma then?Unless you have been longing for a Syn stock 870..

Southern Shooter · December 11, 2012, 05:12 PM

Yes, I have actually handled the revolver. It is a Detective Special. The person that owns it now had it parkerized due to some surface rusting.

And, yes...I think my answer is beginning to gel...I may be adopting the Colt.

Yung.gunr · December 11, 2012, 05:14 PM

Definitely go with the revolver. Looks like you have your shotgun bases covered.

Mr. James · December 11, 2012, 11:40 PM

Have to concur. Your shotgun needs are well covered, unless you're into competitive clays!

22-rimfire · December 11, 2012, 11:44 PM

The choice is not even close. Get the Colt!

It will never be a collector gun. So shoot it and enjoy it. I found one that was pretty nice for a fair price that I use for a shooter. It was not $325 however.

**44 AMP** · December 14, 2012, 03:17 PM

The COLT, in a hot second. There are millions of 870s, and they are still made. Not quite dime a dozen, but you can find them everywhere. Not so the Colt.

and, its already a collector's gun...not the high demand high dollar kind, yet, BUT they aren't making any more of them, its value will not decrease.

Glenn E. Meyer · December 15, 2012, 11:26 AM

Colt - I'm keeping mine as it is rising in value.

WVsig · December 15, 2012, 03:52 PM

Colt you can buy the 870 later.

Joe_Pike · December 16, 2012, 03:48 PM

Buy the one you think you would use the most and have the need for.

Quote:

As someone who sold a Colt .38 several years ago and have long regretted it – The Colt.

I've sold three Colt revolvers this year and don't regret it one bit. And, one was a DS for $325.

Patriot86 · December 16, 2012, 06:52 PM

I am torn. For me the Remington has more "practical use"

Besides being very valuable for SD/HD , you can also hunt with it. The shotgun is like the swiss army knife of weapons. Doesn't have the range of a rifle, or the size of a handgun but has lots of power close in.

The colt may hold its value, may become more valuable true true and you can CC it but as far as pure utility IMO it scores lower. It all really depends on what you are looking to do with the gun, if this is a collection piece or for something else.

If you were putting me out in the wild with one of these firearms though it would be the shotgun hands down.

PetreTG · December 17, 2012, 07:38 PM

If for Home Defense ... Rem870 all day long.

Really depends on the purpose.

December 11, 2012, 12:48 PM	#1
Southern Shooter Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2005 Location: central Louisiana Posts: 469	$325 To Spend...Remington 870 or Colt Detective Special I have $325 to spend and am torn about which direction to take. I have the choice of a brand new synthetic stock Remington 870 in 12 gauge OR a 1972 Colt Detective Special .38 Special which has been parkerized but is in very sound mechanical shape and with a tight lock-up. Which would you buy and why? Thanks __________________ "My plea is that we stop seeking out the storm and enjoy more fully sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we accentuate the positive. I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment and endorse virtue and effort." Gordon B. Hinckley

December 11, 2012, 02:25 PM	#4
BarryLee Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Location: The ATL (OTP) Posts: 3,946	As someone who sold a Colt .38 several years ago and have long regretted it – The Colt. __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

December 11, 2012, 03:21 PM	#5
ohiomossyoak Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2010 Location: East Central Ohio Posts: 143	I already own a Mossberg 500 an Ulti-Mag 835 so a shotgun is not high on my list right now.. __________________ First it's pretty tires, then it's pretty guns and bows...next thing you know, you're shavin' your beard and wearin' capri pants

December 11, 2012, 04:46 PM	#8
ohiomossyoak Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2010 Location: East Central Ohio Posts: 143	Do you own a shotgun?What do you own(if you dont mind me asking)? __________________ First it's pretty tires, then it's pretty guns and bows...next thing you know, you're shavin' your beard and wearin' capri pants

December 11, 2012, 04:49 PM	#9
Southern Shooter Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2005 Location: central Louisiana Posts: 469	Shotgun Wise... A well-seasoned 870 in 12 gauge, new 870 in 20 gauge, and a new Mossy Maverick 88 in 12 gauge...and, single shots in .410, 20 gauge, and 12 gauge. __________________ "My plea is that we stop seeking out the storm and enjoy more fully sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we accentuate the positive. I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment and endorse virtue and effort." Gordon B. Hinckley

December 11, 2012, 01:32 PM	#2
Yung.gunr Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2010 Location: Phoenix area Posts: 1,442	Prob the .38. I like handguns more than shotguns. Plus, I already have a Mossberg 500, but no wheelies.

December 11, 2012, 02:16 PM	#3
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 6,126	I already have a shotgun. If I didn't, there are lots of fine pump actions out there for half that price.

December 11, 2012, 03:44 PM	#6
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,563	Sort of no brainer - the Dick Special. Even though I myself don't care for Colt revolvers. Dick specials don't pop up for sale all the time. Usually, somebody or another has the 870 on sale every other week.

December 11, 2012, 05:08 PM	#10
Strafer Gott Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,315	King of Snubs everyday and all night long. In your pictures it looks parkerized. Are you certain it's not an agent, which is noticeably lighter.

December 11, 2012, 05:12 PM	#12
Southern Shooter Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2005 Location: central Louisiana Posts: 469	Parkerized Agent Yes, I have actually handled the revolver. It is a Detective Special. The person that owns it now had it parkerized due to some surface rusting. And, yes...I think my answer is beginning to gel...I may be adopting the Colt. __________________ "My plea is that we stop seeking out the storm and enjoy more fully sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we accentuate the positive. I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment and endorse virtue and effort." Gordon B. Hinckley

December 11, 2012, 05:14 PM	#13
Yung.gunr Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2010 Location: Phoenix area Posts: 1,442	Definitely go with the revolver. Looks like you have your shotgun bases covered.

December 11, 2012, 11:40 PM	#14
Mr. James Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2001 Location: The Old Dominion Posts: 1,521	Have to concur. Your shotgun needs are well covered, unless you're into competitive clays! __________________ "...A humble and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Ps. li "When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law." —Frederic Bastiat

December 11, 2012, 11:44 PM	#15
22-rimfire Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 5,323	The choice is not even close. Get the Colt! It will never be a collector gun. So shoot it and enjoy it. I found one that was pretty nice for a fair price that I use for a shooter. It was not $325 however.

December 14, 2012, 03:17 PM	#16
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,818	The COLT, in a hot second. There are millions of 870s, and they are still made. Not quite dime a dozen, but you can find them everywhere. Not so the Colt. and, its already a collector's gun...not the high demand high dollar kind, yet, BUT they aren't making any more of them, its value will not decrease. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

December 15, 2012, 11:26 AM	#17
Glenn E. Meyer Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2000 Posts: 20,064	Colt - I'm keeping mine as it is rising in value. __________________ NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens

December 15, 2012, 03:52 PM	#18
WVsig Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2010 Location: NC Posts: 5,309	Colt you can buy the 870 later. __________________ -The right to be left alone is the most comprehensive of rights, and the right most valued by free people.-Louis Brandeis -Its a tool box... I don't care you put the tools in for the job that's all... -Sam from Ronin -It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle

December 16, 2012, 06:52 PM	#20
Patriot86 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2010 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 1,293	I am torn. For me the Remington has more "practical use" Besides being very valuable for SD/HD , you can also hunt with it. The shotgun is like the swiss army knife of weapons. Doesn't have the range of a rifle, or the size of a handgun but has lots of power close in. The colt may hold its value, may become more valuable true true and you can CC it but as far as pure utility IMO it scores lower. It all really depends on what you are looking to do with the gun, if this is a collection piece or for something else. If you were putting me out in the wild with one of these firearms though it would be the shotgun hands down.

December 17, 2012, 07:38 PM	#21
PetreTG Member Join Date: December 14, 2007 Location: Somewhere in Wisconsin! Posts: 86	If for Home Defense ... Rem870 all day long. Really depends on the purpose.