[USP45usp]

And please, don't say the Mossberg 500, I just threw mine away :cuss:

Reasons:

1. Safety keeps on breaking. I'm tired of it spending more time at the factory than in my home.

2. Last straw: The carriage that brings the shell to the receiver just quit working! I only had maybe 100 rounds total through the gun and if it breaks when I would need it most, it's not the gun for me.

Here is what I need:

- Can hold 5+ shells and maybe be able to put an extention tube on it.
- Can be outfitted with a shoulder stock that has the built in pistol grip.
- Can fire 3"+ magnums (if they make a 3.5, I really don't know)
- Has a barrel no longer then 20" (18.5" preferred)

I've heard of the 870, how good are these and what is an est. cost of one. Any others that you may recommend?

Thanks in advance.

Wayne

[R.H. Lee]

Winchester Defender 1300 or Rem 870. :)

[BlackCat]

You've already waited too long. Go get a Remington 870 Express. I'm very satisfied with mine after 7 years and thousands of rounds fired. They can even be found at Wal-Mart. A hair over $200. If you're looking for a short barrel you may have to special order something, as I believe the standard barrel is 26", which is 8" too long in my opinion.

The shortest barrel you can get standard is 25" according to their website. :(

There is a rebate though http://www.remington.com/promo/04_870express.htm

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Win 1300 Defender.

[anapex]

The Winchester 1300 Defender or maybe one of those Remington Ranch (I think that's what they're called 5 round 20" barrel or something) ones or something would do. I prefer the 1300 though so of course I'll recommend that.

[TNT]

Get either the Remington 870 Express with 18" barrel and extended magazine for about $300 or the Winchester 1300 Defender with 18" barrel and extended magazine for between $250 and $300.

They are both excellent shotguns.

[MrMurphy]

Remington 870 Police Magnum. Well worth it.



As to the Mossberg 500, probably put 500 rounds through several different Mossbergs, never had a problem. Lemons do escape the factory occasionally.

[orangeninja]

Remington 870 Express....hell....I can't say it enough. There are a ZILLION after market parts, they are tougher than heck...I have one that is over 20 years old and one that is a year old...guess what? Both work all day every day. My Dept. Issues a Remington 870...you simply cannot go wrong with it.

[tc300mag1]

Remington 870 only way to go

[Mannlicher]

Most of the time the words 'good, and inexpensive', are exclusive of the word 'reliable'. With guns, as with most other things, you get what you pay for.
I have always recommended going the 'pre owned' route. That way you CAN get those words all in the same context.
Ithaca............ great guns
Browning.............great guns
and yes, the Remington 870

[wdlsguy]

Browning.............great guns

Wish I could find a magazine extension for my BPS...

[RandyB]

I like the 870, the 1300 and the Ithaca 87. The 87 is a lot more $, but I love the bottom ejection. That being said I have a police 870 and love it. 0% problems with any of them.

[Tomac]

Saiga-12 converted to pistol-grip configuration. 5rd mag is std but 8rd mags (though pricey) are available.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/Tomac/Saiga-12001s.jpg
Tomac

[Shanghai McCoy]

Used to have a 500 but traded it for an 870 Express many years ago.Good,reliable gun for hunting/defense.You can find the 870 Youth model in 20 guage and it comes with a 21" barrel and is shorter overall.

[Rupestris]

another vote for the 870 Express Magnum.
Mine just spent 10 hours in the rain and cold deer hunting and from what I can tell, it loved every minute of it.
Bone stock the 870 express magnum holds 4+1, has tons of available add-ons, and doubles as a boat oar.
Retail price is about $199.
You won't be disappointed. My son has a 870 Wingmaster 20ga. built in 1961 that has been 100% reliable. I wish the action of mine was as smooth and clean as his.

As for the pistolgrip stock, I've seen 870 stocks at smaller sporting goods stores like Dunhams for very reasonable prices.

[mnrivrat]

If not the 500 then I also recommend the 870 Remington.

Wish I was there to catch the 500 - I like them too, and problems are generaly minor & easy to fix.

[Dave McCracken]

870.....

[VG]

Funny you should bring this up, I was at a gun shop last week and a guy brought in a brand new Mossberg 500 - purchased the week prior - that he was trading in for an 870 Express Synthetic.

[USP45usp]

I found an 870 Magnum Express with the Mariner finish at $439 used. Good or bad price?

I was/am late on the 870's new as well as the 1300 Defender, the companies don't make them any more :(.

I think on this one, I am going to remove the inexpensive part. You get what you pay for and the Mossberg is a prime example (in my mind). I only paid like $150 for it new and it didn't last.

Now, that doesn't mean that I can go high end. And I like pumps, I don't know why but I do, maybe something that you have to do (pump) makes it feel as if you are part of the gun, or something :D.

Thanks and please give a shout out on that 870 listed above for price.

Wayne

[TNT]

Who told you they don't make these models anymore? Sounds like a load of BS.

[USP45usp]

TNT,

Going on both sites and looking and also looking at the dealers catalogs, both Rem., and Win., aren't selling the above mentioned models any longer.

They just changed the names, charged more money, for the same thing. The 870 is now the "marioner" (sp) and the 1300 is now the "camp defender". At twice the price of the original.

Check it out on their sites, don't take my word for it.

Wayne

[FPrice]

Here's a nice used Remington 870 for sale. Seems to fit all your needs.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=113133

[BlackCat]

Remington 870 Express Marine Magnum is cool. 18" barrel, I think it has 8rd capacity, 7 at least. Stainless/Synthetic. My friend has one and I can bust clays with it just fine, very nice gun I think.

[TNT]

They still make the Defender and that is only the Manufactures Suggested Retail Price. They sell between $250 and $300 at gunshops.

www.winchesterguns.com/prodinfo/catalog/detail.asp?cat_id=512&type_id=104&cat=012C


Here is the Remington version. Remington doesn't list this on their site but they do make it still.


www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=26105437

[PirateShot]

http://www.remington.com/firearms/shotguns/870expsyn18.htm

[ruger357]

870.

[TNT]

Thanks for the link PirateShot. :) Gander Mountain sells this model for $299.

[lbmii]

When I was poor I had a $75 H&R 12 gauge single shot for home defense. I got to where I could reload that thing pretty quick.

If you are in the ~$300 range and want to buy new; you might consider the Winchester 1300 Defender.

[USP45usp]

Okay, here's what I've found so far:

"Police" 870: $350
Defender 1300: $295
Used 870 Express with ?satin? finish: $439
Stroger Coachgun: $230 ( :D , had to put that in there)
J.C. Higins(sp) (Old Sears and Robock): $200
Mariner(sp) with nickel finish: $500

I like the "police 870" and the 1300 but I am "eyeing" that Mariner. I also like the stage gun (but it's only double barrel).

Wayne

[wdlsguy]

Do you have an Academy nearby?

Mossberg Persuader $229
Winchester Defender $269
Mossberg 590 $279

http://www.academy.com

[SkaerE]

another vote for the Saiga 12 gauge.

i bought mine for $215 out the door, and after converting it to pistol grip config, getting new stocks, an AK front sight, 2 - 8 rnd mags, and some other crap i'm still in it under $500.

its a 12 gauge AK man. nuff said :evil:

[Fred Fuller]

For a good (heck, excellent) quality used 870 Police, see our own sgtb at
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=107119 . I bought a police trade-in from him, it's a blued 870P in excellent condition. He has a few parkerized 870P's still available, at $275 delivered to your FFL dealer IIRC.

You should be able to get a good used 870 Express for $200 or less- at least they regularly go for that in eastern NC. Last one I bought was a 21" turkey gun for $145 out the door, from a pawn shop.

If you need a 'boat gun' or are in a salt air or other demanding environment, the 870 Marine Magnum is a good idea. For 'normal' use it is overkill, and too expensive IMHO.

Good luck in finding _your_ perfect gun- it is out there,

lpl/nc (who thinks the looking and experimenting is fun)

[orangeninja]

You can buy my Remington Express Magnum with extension for $200.00....I think I'll list it for sale.

[psyopspec]

+1 on the Win 1300. IIRC, got mine for about 230 bucks nearly two years ago.

[USP45usp]

alduro,

I appreciate the offer but the gun shops around here want 10% of the cost of the firearm and then they want $50 to $75 for transfer. The cost would end up being the same as new :(. (I know, but these "gun shops" around here want you to buy from them and make transfers cost prohibitive).

I'm still just looking right now, I have plenty of time to decide and I'm starting to look at the finish because they do tend to rust around here really quickly due to the dampness that is Oregon.

Wayne

[jefnvk]

Seems like you want an 870. Never had a problem with mine, except when the sling kept getting caught up in the slidy thing one day.

[Remington788]

870 all the way.

[orangeninja]

USP45usp..........bummer :uhoh: