[el Godfather]

Dear THR,
In your opinion which shotgun is most solid built in terms of reliability? Also consider the use of magnum loads in it.

Thanks


Edited info:
Pump Action
Ranch setting use in home defense

[Milkmaster]

Your question is too broad in my opinion. It is like asking if a Peterbuilt is as reliable as a Ford Focus. Narrow it down a bit for us please sir. Are you talking about a pump, semi auto, fixed barrel, etc? What is most reliable may still not be best suited for your purposes. What do you want to do with it? That will help us to give you better answers.

[el Godfather]

Edited.
Thank you

[Milkmaster]

You didn't say, but I am submitting NEW guns. Lots more choices if you go to used shotguns, but these are my choices for current models. You will do well with any of these and they come in many configurations to suit your needs and tastes...

Remington 870 Easier disassembly and more after market options
Browning BPS Prettier than the 870 and bottom ejection if you like that.
Ithaca 37 Durable and lighter weight if that appeals to you.

Good luck whatever you choose!

[Rail Driver]

I'll second the Remington 870 (get an older wingmaster), as well as the Ithaca 37 and raise you a Mossberg 500

Also, don't discount the cheapo guns like JC Higgins or Stevens pump guns.

[btg3]

You'll do fine with any of the above and without the need for magnum shells.

For solidness, consider polymer furniture instead of wood -- but all mine have wood.

[LeonCarr]

870

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

[DM~]

Another vote for the older 870 Wingmaster.

They are amazingly good shotguns!

DM

[wlewisiii]

I'll vote for the Ithaca Model 37. Sweet handling and nigh indestructible.

[stan rose]

Ithaca 37

[Old Unc']

anything not made in Turkey...

[FMF Doc]

If you can find an orignal heavy walled Ithaca M37, if not, Mossberg 590.

[Fred Fuller]

Remington 870, preferably a Wingmaster or Police, and Mossberg 590A1 pretty well lead the list of currently manufactured offerings IMHO.

[Tony617]

I have two Mossberg 590A1 shotguns myself.

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors//The Remington 870 is hard to beat, they have been since 1950.

Here are my newest and oldest 870s.
163873A 1953, WM, 2 3/4" and a 2005, Express Super Mag, 3 1/2", with choke tubes, both fine working shotguns.

No problem finding parts either.
Hope you find what works for you.

[wwace]

Model 37 in my opinion, great for hunting also

[LawScholar]

Remington 870 Wingmaster or Police

I have a Remington 870 Express Tactical, which is an excellent shotgun, but my dad has my grandpa's 1967 Wingmaster and there is just no comparison. What an outstanding shotgun.

[el Godfather]

Thank you
Seems like 870 is the toughest boy out there.

[Dave McCracken]

Perhaps 95% of all Cruiser shotguns in the US are 870s. That's because nothing else currently made holds up as well in the LE environment of abuse, neglect and half hearted maintainance by semi trained and unmotivated personnel.

My old prison had a training 870 on the line from 1981 to whenever. Hundreds of rounds a month went through that. When I retired in 98, all it had needed was new wood, and possibly a bead.

[Striker]

Rem 870 gets my vote.

[EMC45]

870

[Rshooter]

I own two 870 WingMaster Police and a newer 870 Police Magnum model. If the 870 does not do it for you look at the Mossberg 500/590 series.

[MrDig]

Another vote for the Mossberg 500 series of Pump Action Shotguns.
I own two and am happy with both of them. I also own a Benelli Montefeltro but that is another thread.
I like the simplicity of the Mossberg from a field stripping stand point. all the other "Walmart" priced pumps seemed uncomfortable or complicated.

[dataDyne]

How about the benelli M3

[pezzulli]

Remington 870 Police or Wingmaster.

[vba]

I'll also agree with the Rem 870. I also have the 870 Express Tactical, excellent shotgun. Used to have a Mossberg 500 but the stupid plastic safety broke in pieces and I then got a small piece of aluminum and ground down to make a new one.

Why do they still use plastic on the 500's ? I believe though, that the 590 is metal.

[dober83]

870. I've heard a lot of talk about the poor quality of the new models but I have a 2011 870 express magnum and as far as functionality, it is great. Fit and finish of the stock leaves something to be desired but I didn't buy it as a show piece.

[snooperman]

wonderful Ithaca model 37. They have been around the longest with reliability and good workmanship as their strengths. As a farmer and hunter, I would not want no other.. Snoop

[Gunnerboy]

870

[smokeyandthebandit05]

I love my Browning BPS

[PT92]

Simple answer is a Mossberg 500 or Remington 870. However, there are some Chinese or Turkish makes of the same gun for less money.

-Cheers

[Robert]

My 590 has never missed a beat and has only been cleand once or twice in a few thousand rounds. 590 or 870. Either one is great.

[CSA 357]

mod 12 winchester then 870 remington

[Tom Held]

I guess I'll weigh in here a little. My choices for best built and reliable would have to be:

Pump action : Winchester Model 12
Autoloader: Winchester Super X 1
SxS: Winchester Model 21
OU: Browning Superposed or BT99
Single barrel : LC Smith Trap Gun

[Uniquedot]

870 Wingmaster.

[jmr40]

mod 12 winchester then 870 remington


These are the only 2 with a proven track record to back up long term reliability claims. The Browning and Ithica may well be as good, but have not been been proven in long term use nearly as often. There are many documented cases of the 12 and 870 being used for years and several hundred thousand rounds in competition use and still working fine.

Nobody has ever put a Mossberg to any real long term test. They have never been the choice of any serious shooters to find out what they will do. They are decent guns that will probably work well for most peoples lifetimes, but I don't see any aluminum framed gun lasting anywhere near as long as the steel framed Winchester 12, Remington 870, Ithica, or Browning. I've read estimates of their life expectancy to be around 30,000-50,000 rounds.

There are many 870's still going strong with 5X-10X that number of rounds. Some of the other steel framed guns have matched that, just not as many of them simply because the 870 is more common.

[Happypuppy]

Ithaca 37. Simple design and has been in use a long, long time.


Sent from my 300 baud modem

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // The Remington 870 reached ten million sold on April 13, 2009.
Winchester's Model 12 sold two million total, if you count those special built till the 1980s.


In six more years the 870 (first produced in 1950) will have been available for 68 years, like the Model 12 ( 1912- 1980).
I believe there will be plenty of older 870s still going strong.

Just think of all the added chances the 870 has had to ruin its reputation.:D
No disrespect to the Model 12, they are fine shotguns.

[whalerman]

No one can argue with the 870's, the Ithaca's, and the Mossbergs. They've been there and they have proven themselves. Whichever you like and whichever fits, buy.

I will say for the purposes of discussion I love my BPS. And my new Nove defense shotgun has been a very pleasant surprise. Things do change, now and then, from time to time, if you keep an open mind.