Remington 870 TAC w/ Folding Knoxx Stock: Worth the PRICE???

[Doc_Jude]

The Remington 870 TAC with a Knoxx folding SpecOps with a MSRP of $680.

Model 870 Express With Knoxx® SpecOps™ Stock MSRP $479

Considering both have Knoxx stocks of almost equal price, what the heck do you pay $200 more for??? It's nice, don't get me wrong...

[earlthegoat2]

If you like tacticool then yes.

Other than that they tend to fit everyone a little bit wierd. I prefer the standard stock in walnut or synthetic for my money.

[Lee Lapin]

Buy a good used Wingmaster or older model Express and save a couple hundred more...

lpl

[Doc_Jude]

I'm getting it mostly for home defense, & it would fit my needs perfectly (I believe). I shifted over from a Mossberg Tac Cruiser with 18" barrel & 6+1 that I was going to just buy a folding Knoxx stock for.

Yeah, I think I'm going to look for a nice used Wingmaster & throw a short barrel & Knoxx stock on it. I guess I'm just so apprehensive about buying a used gun. I've never bought a used gun, it just smacks of buying used underwear or shoes to me...

Oh well. May has well take the leap. A used Remmy is as good a place to start as anywhere, I suppose.

[Lee Lapin]

Doc,

Unless the 870 is a specific trap or skeet gun, it's highly unlikely to have enough rounds through it to be worn out. 870 receivers have a lifespan of about 250k rounds as a rule. They don't break parts too often either as a rule.

Most of what you have to look out for are the deleterious effects of kitchen table "gunsmithing." People who have no need to detail strip guns- and who lack the proper tools and knowledge to do it correctly- are the biggest cause of problems with ANY used gun, IME/IMHO. Look for a gun that appears to be basically 'stock.' Guns that have neato tacticool schtuff already mounted on them may have been 'messed with' otherwise in non-helpful ways as well.

If a used 870 functions properly (get some 'action proving' type dummy rounds to check- http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=6811&title=ACTION+PROVING+DUMMIES or the like), there should be no major problems with it- and few minor ones either. You should be able to easily field strip and reassemble the 870 before you start shopping for a used one. You should be familiar enough with your dealer that they don't have any problem with your doing a simple field strip in the store before selecting a particular gun, or alternatively they should have a simple return policy/good guarantee program/inspection period or the like. If you feel uncomfortable picking out a used gun, ask around to see if any of your family/friends/coworkers are more familiar with the design, and will help you get up to speed on it, or even help you shop for a gun.

hth,

lpl

[Doc_Jude]

Lee Lapin

Thanks for the tips!

Oh, & I have a couple of your books. Great reading! "For Entertainment Purposes Only", of course.... ^_^