[Dave McCracken]

In 40 years plus of using 870s for everything shotguns can be used for, I've yet to hear of any wearing out.

I've seen a few rendered unusable by neglect. One had a truck run over the barrel and forearm. I
dunno if the owner repaired it,but a new mag tube was the only smith installed part needed.

Back on TFL, our ancestral board, I wrote about an 870 I had heard about cracking the receiver. The anecdote told me was that the owner, a trap hustler, admitted to 250,000 practice rounds plus registered targets.

But anecdotal evidence is as worthy of trust as tales of sewer gators, alien abductions and Sasquatch.

But now, over on trapshooters.com, a thread mentions an 870 used by the current Illinois State champ, one Steve Cameron.

He used it recently at the State shoot to go 200 straight for singles,followed by 100 straight to win the shootoff, followed by a 99 to win the handicap part. 399/400 is pretty good shooting, IMO.

Cameron has had the thing long enough to wear off the bluing, the stock is a replacement made after the original "Fell apart",and he estimates he's run 250,000 shells through the thing.He used Krylon paint instead of rebluing, BTW.

Obviously, 870s will go the way of all flesh given long enough,hard enough use. Remington does offer an oversized locking block to tighten up the headspace on well worn 870s, but I've never met an 870 that had one.

Any of us out there have needed one? Please respond if so.

Meanwhile, my TB has had maybe 9K of trap loads since I got it 2 years ago, and little has changed besides a tad of wear on the mag tube. I will attempt to run another 241,000 through it, but at 56 I may wear out first.

Will advise(G)....

[cslinger]

Part of the reason I bought an 870 variant is that I know many police officers and have seen many 870s and even the ones that looked like a steaming pile still ran like a dream.

I have seen them pieced together with some interesting home gunsmith remedies when parts are short and they still work.

I have also talked to a couple of PD armorers and they only keep a handful of parts around for the 870s because they so rarely need to fix anything with the exception of a spring here or a small part there.

There were enough antecdotes and fact mixed together to lead me to the 870 and I have been 100% satisfied with mine.

We just bought a Benelli Nova for my wife. I like it but not as much as the 870. It isn't as smooth, but it is new. I will probably never put enough rounds through either to wear them out but I am anxious to see how differently they show wear.

My 2 cents that is worth about .7 cents after taxes and inflation.

Chris

[Sgt]

While not in the same league as Steve Cameron, I was given a then brand spanking new 870 Wingmaster for Chistmas when I was 14, by the most wonderful Dad anyone ever had. This Christmas, that well worn shotgun will be 30 years old. It has fired in excess of 50,000 rounds of everything from trap reloads to heavy duck and pheasant ammo and never coughed once. Oh it doesn't have a lot of bluing left and the stock is scarred up, but she works like a charm everytime. I have several shotguns, some really nice trap single barrels and a really nice Remington 3200 Special Trap. They are all nice guns, but I'd part with everyone of them before I'd ever let my 870 go. In fact, if I didn't have a child to leave it to, I'd have it buried with me.;)

IMHO, you cannot go wrong with an 870.

Semper Fi, Sgt

[Dave McCracken]

cslinger,spare parts for the 30 or so 870s at my old institution fit into a shoebox.The combination of reliability and durability make the 870 a LOT of gun for the money.

Sgt, we both had great Dads. At 50,000 rounds, you're just getting it work polished nicely. Bet it shucks slick as heck. BA/UU/R....

[CRUSHER]

Mt 870s at work look handled to death , but still just keep getting smoother and smoother

[Sgt]

You're right there Dave, she's slick as can be!;)

Semper Fi, Sgt

[Dave McCracken]

Slick indeed. The action bars on Frankenstein, my parts 870, started life at the Md Pen like the receiver did. Super slick.

My TB, with 9K rounds or so behind it in the last 27 months or so, is getting there.

My oldest 870 darn near shucks itself.

I'd sure like to check out Fred Etchen's 870, the one he bought in 1950 at the Grand, walked out to the range, and ran the first 100 straight in doubles at the Grand. He did it again with the same 870 in the 80s.

[Sgt]

Wow!!!

100 straight at doubles, with a brand new gun.....simply amazing!

Now that's a Trap Shooter !!!

To me, pumps are more fun for doubles...though I haven't run into many who agree.....

[Dave McCracken]

'Scuse me, that was Rudy Etchen, Fred's son. Rudy was at the Grand as an infant, and as an octogenarian. Sorry....

[rick_reno]

I've got one my Dad bought in 1955, it was used when he bought it. I used it for rabbits/birds in the late 50's/early 60's (he bought me a new M12 for Christmas in 1963). The 870 still works great - I got some grouse with it last year.

[Dave McCracken]

Take care of it, it'll feed and protect your grandkids.

Was it Al Thompson who said that 870s and MEC loaders were the mechanical equivalent of immortality? SO true...

[hunter44]

My goodness; who wouldn't be impressed by all these stories/tribute to the venerable 870? I wonder if there are people out there who can post similar cases of LONGEVITY about Winchester 1300, Ithaca 37, Mossy 500/590. HS/LD what do you think?

[Dave McCracken]

44, I'm sure HS/LD is finding out how many rounds it takes to make a 1300 crumple. We have to admit that 250K rounds is several times what most shotguns ever see.

I'm not bashing anyone's choice. Just a little astounded and pleased about mine....

[ClammaCleeta]

Many thanks to you Dave, and all of you on this board for yet again offering up some great and invaluable information...


I'll admit straight of the bat, I'm new. The whole world of firearms of thrust upon me due to an unfortunate circumstance, and in spite of that, I find myself immersing myself in this, and taking it very seriously. Its slowly becoming more than just a casual hobby.

I'm currently awaiting the arrival of an 870 Marine 12 gauge I purchased online. My friends' father has the same, and highly recommended it.
I've used it at the range a few times and found that it was incredibly smooth and easy to work w/, not to mention obviously powerful. I was reading the Slug 101 thread you had posted, and you mentioned that hunting medium game, such as deer, using slugs fired out of 12 ga. shotguns is often illegal... I'm in NY, and as I type this I'm searching for the legality for this in my state....

Although the primary function for this shotgun will be for home protection and self-defense, I recently accquired a hunting license, and intend to put it to use later this summer. In this case, have I made the wrong decision w/ the 870 Marine? Again, thanks for all your help, any and al info would be greatly appreciated.

[Dave McCracken]

An 870 is hardly ever a wrong choice. Hunt with it, shoot targets with it, and enjoy.

Much of the East Coast has shotgun deer seasons. Check with NY DNR.

And type 101 into the search feature. There's articles for beginners that may help you.

[ClammaCleeta]

thanks , i'll be sure to check out all the 101's.

[DJJ]

Ironically, I prefer the feel and control positioning of the Mossberg, but I'm always on the lookout for used, pre-magtube-dimple 870s priced at $220 or less, just to squirrel away, because of their longevity. Just bought another, so lightly used it came in its original box and there's not even any of the finish worn off the action bars.

[Dave McCracken]

DJJ, I cannot imagine buying a shotgun and just squirreling it away. Don't you want to go shoot them?

[DJJ]

Mostly I shoot the Mossberg, and the most-used 870, but the rest are in reserve, and are stored in different locations - not all the eggs in one basket, so to speak.

[Dave McCracken]

Different strokes for different folks. I'd be shooting them all....

[ruger357]

Mine is going on 28 years old with no problems.

[foghornl]

Hmmmm

Oldest brother has an 870 he bought in mid-60's, and has both the long barrel 28" modified choke, and the short 18"-19" cylinder bore for "Serious Socializing". Uses it for eveything from ducks to deer. AFAIK, nothing has ever been replaced on it.