[AFdude]

well, I just made a thread about benelli pump vs remington pump, but someone said to check this gun out the Charles Daly pumps, and I'm liking the field tactical, all weather design, and price seems great, as long as quality is there. I would be changing the barrel for hunting though. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with these weapons and what kind of insight you can give me as far as quality/reliability/all that good stuff. the thread that came up on them said they will pay for shipping and stuff if anything happens to it. sounds like a good deal. any insight is great, thanks!

[nollsp]

I am by no means an expert with regard to pumps, although I have had a few over the years.

FWIW I would either get a non blinged 870 or a Mossberg 500. These are two VERY solid and proven pumps with tons of after market products and neither are much more than the Daly.

I got my Wingmaster when I turned 14 and have been shooting it for 25 years without a single problem. In a few years it will go to my son and in 40 more to his...these are lifetime guns.

I bought a Mossberg 500 as my Wingmaster is too pretty to bang around in the rocks and mud and I have to say it is a very fine gun. For $200, I could not have done better and could not be happier with the performance.

This is not a dig on the Daly's at all...in fact, I may buy a Daly for the simple fact that the president of the company is active here and that speaks volumes for where the company is headed.

[Dave McCracken]

The Daleys haven't been around long enough to have a track record.

Shotguns like 870s and 500s have been.

Spend x dollars for a Daley, or spend x+$100 at most for a used 870 or 500 that will last long enough to gladden the hearts of your grandkids.

And for the 870, make that your great grandkids.

[AFdude]

thanks guys. I have decided not to go with the charles, and go with most likely the 870, maybe the 500 if I find a good deal. thanks again!

[Robert Hairless]

I watched your other thread with interest.

You might want to consider that the Remington 870 was introduced in January of 1950. It's hands down the bestselling pump shotgun. Although sales don't necessarily make the 870 the best in its class, I don't think it's too much to say that the 870 is the most adequate. The 870 is accurate, reliable, and durable.

It's such a proven, satisfactory platform that one way to think of the 870 is as the receiver with stuff on it. There's a vast amount of stuff made for the 870. You can change barrels and get different kinds of barrels that fit the 870 receiver. You can change stocks and get different kinds. You can get a forend weaponlight or take other approaches to putting a light on it. You can choose among a variety of sights. You can put optics on it ... a bayonet ... a breaching device ... a folding stock ... a pistol grip .... You can make it pretty or make it ugly.

What's hard to do is make it not work. The only two ways I've found to do that short of screwing over the action is to short stroke it when shooting and to use cheap Winchester bulk ammunition.

The one thing I prefer about its Mossberg competition is the position of the safety. As for the other pump shotguns in roughly the same league, I haven't used one I really didn't like. I've some others that are very nice but what I want is the most adequate and there the 870 has its place for me. I put in the ammunition, I point the 870 at where I want the ammunition to have an effect, and I pull the trigger. It always works and there's always the desired effect.

Don't mistake what I've said for partisanship or missionary zeal.

[Dave McCracken]

It rained Friday when I was at the range. Instead of my Beretta O/U, I broke out an 870.

Yclept Frankenstein because of it's put together nature, it's been an everything gun since the late 80s for me. I built it.

The receiver, action bars and trigger group came from the Md Pen. The forearm wood from my first 870, made in 1950. The stock currently on it is 60s wood, with gloss finish.

The barrel I used was a newish Light Contour, Remchoked 26" vent rib barrel with a F/O bead. Another barrel is 21" long, VR and has the old Truchoke system.

The receiver's serial number indicates made in 1973. The parts run a span of over 50 years.

It pure D works. Pumps like a dream, locks up like a bank vault and has a track record on game from Ruffed Grouse to Quail to Dove To Mallards to Teal to giant Canadas.

I have other 870s for slugs, but it will put three KOs into less than 3" ETE at 50 yards with the shorter barrel and skeet choke.

It's a junkyard mutt of a shotgun that cost $140 to build.

It had a sister on the range. I had a friend, 72 years old, who decided he needed a shotgun. He had never shot one, though he has some experience with handguns and a long time romance with Garands.

He walked into a gun shop somewhere in PA and told the owner he wanted a shotgun that would do it all. He was shown a couple and picked a classic 870 Wingmaster with 26" LC barrel and nice wood.

The owner told him that if any shotgun could cover all the bases and have zero probs, it was that one.

That's the 870s rep.

Over the last 50 years or so I've shot a fair amount. Much of that has been with 870s.

Total round count HAS to be approaching six figures.

Total number of parts needing replacement, two. Both were firing pin springs in a high mileage trap gun.

As for the 500, not my first choice but a sound, reliable shotgun with lots of happy owners.

Get what FEELS best.

HTH....

[Vic303]

Anybody know if all the 870 aftermarket gear will fit the Charles Daly 870?