[Min]

I just received my Remington 870 Police today. Looked it over and compared it side by side with my Winchester 1300, both 18.5". These are the differences I notice:

The Remington is significantly heavier. It has a solid blued steel bolt, and steel receiver. The Winchester has a aluminum receiver and rotating bolt.

The mag spring on the Remington is very tightly sprung, with a lot of tension. Makes for very positive feeding.

Overall, I'm not sure which one I still prefer.

[Badger Arms]

When you shuck the Winchester, it will feel somewhat stiffer. This means you'll have to apply more pressure fore and back to get it to work. It's also more complicated and seems more flimsy to me. I didn't notice the weight difference that much myself. I have both.

[sm]

Sometimes it boils down to gun fit, as to which you may shoot best from get-go. Gun fit can be altered on either. For a quick test...
With UNLOADED gun(s) , Close your eyes, and mount 3 times, on the fourth mount, open eyes...what do you see? Looking at back of receiver, down the bbl? If done in front of mirror your eye should be viewed as sitting atop bbl.--looking straight down bbl. Human nature to compensate when mounting, hence the mounts with eyes closed. In real firing, multiple targets you won't compensate, so be honest with this test. Then fit as need.

Both are good guns. On both, BA/UU/R

[Badger Arms]

Let's get this straight, Bring Ammo, Use Up, Repeat... But I just shot all the mirrors in my house and I still have ammo to spare?! Did I miss something in the instructions?

[JerryN]

The 870 is a solid shotgun, but I've beaten the hell out of a 1300 for the past 4 years shooting magnum 3" waterfowl loads. Its still going strong.

[Dave McCracken]

Ladeez and Gennulmen, my $.02...

Nothing out there seems to outlast an 870, except maybe Stonehenge. I've heard too many reports of 870s going 100-250K of shells to discount them as myth and hearsay.

Testimonial, my 870 TB has handled over 11K rounds in the 30 months or so I;ve had it. Total visible wear, mild marks on the mag tube. Zero glitches.

Cameron Lamont of this BB reports 20K rounds through his Winchester sans probs also. I doubt many of us will ever wear a 1300 out. Obviously, the reservations I've had in the past about the 1200, the present Winchester's progenitor, do not apply to the 1300.

If one has a severe shell Jones, and all else equal, I'd suggest the 870 over the 1300. But, if you do not shoot 10K rounds a year, chances are you will not wear too many 1300s out in the course of a long life.

Sure, the 870 has its adherents, including Yr Humble Scrivener. But if the Winchester calls to you, got for it. A fine shotgun indeed...