What did I buy? Did I get taken?

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unterseeboot

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I just made an impulse purchase of a brand new Wilson Combat Border Patrol 870 shotgun while stopping into an out-of-town gun shop to buy ammo for my revolver and to ask some questions about shotguns. I have been in the market for a home defense shotgun and doing web research for a few months and I had pretty much decided on the Remington 870 Police but when I handled this Wilson shotgun I got caught up in the moment and the next thing I knew I was walking out the door with it and I was $1,215 (plus tax) poorer. After thinking about it later I got serious buyer's remorse because I am afraid that all I really got was a Remington Express with a few extra bells and whistles that I could have put together for a lot less than $1,200. It came with an adjustable Knoxx stock, ghost ring sights, soft case, tactical sling, extended magazine and a six round sidesaddle shell carrier (but no tac light). Can somebody tell me what it is that I bought that makes it worth all that extra money? I realize that I didn't get any great deal and that I should have done more research before buying it, but can someone at least make me feel better by telling me that I didn't get played for a total sucker? Thanks!
 
Well, for the rest of your life you'll remember this deal and it'll make you a much smarter consumer.
Some people get taken for thousands. You got off pretty cheap and got a nice shotgun out of the deal.
That ain't so bad. :)
 
Nah, you did fine, I mean you did pay $1200 for a shotgun that's really no more or less effective than one that costs $250 NIB, but hey, as long as you like it...
 
Let's put it this way, I've got a lot less money in my custom 870 and I thought that was too much. Still, you've got a nice gun and there are far worse things to spend too much money on.
 
I got serious buyer's remorse

I think you pretty well answered your own question. I wish you'd asked here first... and I hope you feel better anyway.

lpl
 
I hope they at least took you out for dinner and drinks before they scr@#ed you.
 
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Post some pics and take pride in your new 870. You may have paid more than it is worth, but if it is worth it to you all is well.

Take it out and shoot it a little - you might feel less remorse that way too!
 
Is it Parkerized?

Is it based on a Police model?

If so, the basic gun on which it's based is a lot more expensive than an 870 Express. The basic 870P with a short magazine, basic wood stock, plain cylinder barrel with a bead and nothing else is $500 on the street.

Also, what other stuff is in it? Does it have upgraded internals, like an aluminum follower and other such stuff? Choke tubes? Sights? All that does add up.

I mean, it may not have been a killer deal, but if you really look at the details, it might not be such a bad one, either, if you want all the stuff.
 
i feel sorry for you. its not even hard to put extras on a basic 870. you could of made that gun your self for 600 bucks.
 
the only part of the wilson thats even has a point is the extended mag,and does it have an oversized safety and metal follower?
 
The Wilson combat guns are nice. They are not simply the equivalent of a $250. Is there a premium in there for the name? Yes a big premium, like a Polo shirt. One could put together a gun that is the functional equivalent of that model for much less but the Wilson is a good gun and probably holds value better than a one off build. I personally wouldn't buy one for that money but its not like you got a piece of junk.

It has an improved follower, a jumbo safety. I guess a side saddle doesn't have a point if you never reload your gun (or you simply prop it up in the corner and never shoot or use it). If it has the armor tuff finish that is a nice finish 10x better than the express finish. It is much more durable than the poor factory finish on the express. I guess there is no point if you don't mind rust. GR have a point. They are superior to a bead for shooting slugs. Because the way you use (or don't use) a shotgun doesn't require a piece of equipment doesn't mean it doesn't have a point.
 
Wilson makes very good stuff. Enjoy the gun and don't look back !!!!!
 
someone within the last couple months sent an 870 somewhere and had some upgrades put into the gun and posted the specifics on this forum. Iirc they had 1200 or more in the gun. Personally I didn't see the point BUT it was his gun. It may have been wilson, or maybe nighthawk, I don't remember. If yours is similar to what he had done it might be the going rate.
 
You bought a quality gun

Yes you could have spent less , but you obviously like it. Now go out and shoot it and really enjoy that excellent home defense gun. I have seen them and I like them too.
 
You also have to understand that the law of diminishing returns applies to shotguns in spades.

Remington, Mossberg, and Benelli have pretty much perfected the art of manufacturing a very functional pump gun for $200-400 retail. To do so, they make use of parts that are just good enough, made of plastic or metal formed through cheap processes.

Mossberg's 500, for example, has a plastic safety. That's no big deal for duck hunting, but the military version, the 590, uses steel. The 500 is a really great value; the 590 is pretty significantly more expensive.

If you get something like a Wilson Combat gun, they go through and replace the parts that are "just good enough" with low-volume custom parts that are a lot more expensive. They refinish the gun in a superior coating that costs a lot more than the standard gun's finish. In short, they go back over the gun and re-do everything that's been manufactured to a price point.

Hence, they make the gun a LOT more expensive, but they also fix flaws, and things that aren't reallly flaws but could be improved.

$1200 isn't all that much for a shotgun that isn't built primarily to be cheap. You could easily spend $12,000 on a shotgun, or $120,000 for that matter.:)

A functional shotgun can be made cheaply with modern methods, but a REALLY NICE shotgun still costs as much as it ever did.
 
Take it out and get very familiar with it. Shoot it a lot. Then go borrow someone's 870 Express and shoot it a bit. You WILL tell the difference. Maybe you didn't need it. Maybe you could have built one a little cheaper. But you got a good gun, a very good gun. Don't despair.
 
Yes, it does have the Armor-Tuff finish. I was told by the guy at the gun store where I bought it that it was "blued" but then I read somewhere on the Wilson Combat site that they "parkarize all carbon steel barrels and then apply the Armor-Tuff finish". I think the 870 express barrels Wilson uses are carbon steel and thus my Wilson Combat Border Patrol 870 shotgun is "parkarized" and then "Armor-Tuffed", but please correct me if this is not right. Yes, it does have the jumbo-sized safety and a "ghost ring rear sight paired with a ramp-type front sight with a tritium self-luminous insert". It has an "improved follower", but in answer to chevyforlife21 it does not appear to be metal. It looks like yellow plastic.
 
Can anyone tell me anything, good or bad, about this "Armor-Tuff" finish I got on this shotgun? Was the receiver parkarized first and then coated with Wilson Combat's "Armor-Tuff"? Was the coating just applied on top of the stock 870 Express surface? Does anyone know exactly what "improvements" go into this gun aside from the obvious changes to the 870 Express stock and sights? Is the trigger guard aluminum? I can't tell and the Wilson Combat website doesn't give much information on the specific changes that were made.
 
Best I can do for you using a ten second yahoo search.
http://www.wilsoncombat.com/info_armor_tuff.htm

As for the shotgun, yeah you probably paid too much but the wilson is top quality and reliable. I wouldn't spend that much on a hd shotgun but I'm kinda cheap and couldn't afford it anyway. You have already bought it, so even though the resale will be higher just for the name you probably can't get your money back out of it so forget about the money. Be proud, post some pictures, and enjoy it.

Here is another link to wilson with the description and upgrades done to your shotgun
http://www.wilsoncombat.com/s_borderpatrol.asp
 
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I thought the website gave a pretty good description.

SCATTERGUN TECHNOLOGIES™

BORDER PATROL MODEL

The Border Patrol Model has an outstanding, well-earned reputation as the workhorse of Wilson Combat’s shotguns. The US Border Patrol uses thousands for daily service, in some of the harshest conditions a firearm may encounter. Unqualified quality and relentless reliability are the minimum requirements demanded of a firearm for their mission – and the Border Patrol Model has met their expectations for years.

The cylinder-bore barrel is available in 14”(NFA only) or 18” length with a 3” magnum chamber, ready for whatever type of ammunition your job requires. The included magazine extension tube offers increased capacity for a total of 6 rounds with an extra-power heavy-duty stainless magazine spring for sure shell feeding in any situation, and a high-visibility, non-binding follower to indicate an empty-magazine tube at a glance.

The Border Patrol Model is fitted with synthetic butt stock and fore-grip. We offer a standard buttstock length, with an optional shorter buttstock – or your choice of an optional Knoxx SpecOps Stock or AR collapsible stock.

Other included features include a Jumbo-head safety, multi-purpose tactical sling, buttstock sling swivel and a rigid magazine tube front sling mount. Our adjustable TRAK-LOCK® Ghost Ring rear sight is paired with a ramp-type front sight with a tritium self-luminous insert for fast and accurate aiming.

Wilson Combat’s® finishes the Border Patrol Model with our extreme-conditions tested Armor-Tuff® - proven around the world as the toughest and most durable practical finish for all environments.

12 gauge is standard for the Border Patrol Model, but we can build it for you in 20 gauge if that is your choice. Whichever meets your needs, the Border Patrol Model is mission-ready and offers complete reliability for the best-value in today’s market.

FEATURES

Sights Adjustable Trak–Lock® Ghost Ring rear sight, ramp-type front sight with tritium self- luminous insert
Magazine Tube Extended Magazine Tube, total capacity: 6+1 rounds
Stocks Synthetic Speedfeed® Buttstock and Fore Grip
Follower High-Visibility, Non-Binding Follower
Spring Extra-Power Heavy-Duty Stainless Magazine Tube Spring
Safety Jumbo Head Safety
Sling Multi-Purpose Tactical CQB Sling
Sling Attachments Buttstock Swivel and Rigid Magazine Tube Sling Mount
Finish Mil-Spec Black Manganese Phosphate (Parkerized) on Barrel and
Steel Components or Armor-Tuff® Finish

PRICING
Shotguns
SBP-A Border Patrol, 18 1/2", Armor-Tuff 1,050.00

SG-BUP Border patrol Upgrade Package: Knoxx stock and Mesa-Tactical 6-shot side saddle for Border patrol Model $165

I'm guessing that would make the MSRP $1215 You probably could have got it for less but not like you spent hundreds more than it's worth.
 
Thanks for the information Hub. It seems like the first 11 or so replies that I got were basically saying "Yes, you were taken for a ride and you are a complete idiot" and after that other members were saying that Wilson Combat does more than just tack on a few whistles and bells to a Remington 870 Express when they customize their shotguns and maybe I didn't get totally ripped off after all. I would still like more details on what exactly Wilson Combat "upgraded" within the shotgun other than the improved follower (a six dollar item) and the heavier duty spring in the magazine. What other budget Express parts, if any, did they upgrade? For instance, is the entire trigger group aluminum like the Police 870? Regardless, I will enjoy it and get good with it. In addition to some people with drinking and drug problems in my very remote area, we have wild animals that can attack without warning. Last month the guy in the cabin next to me had to shoot a seven foot bear that was breaking down his door to get to him. He fired one shot from an old, poorly maintained, low budget rifle before it jammed but he was lucky enough to get the bear through the heart with that shot or he would have been breakfast. I decided I needed something better than my revolver.
 
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