Forearm design changes

[leadcounsel]

Just bought an old riot shotty, and have a few others with the classic forearm...

Looking at the classic ribbed forarm, WHY in the world did shotgun makers change to the stippling design? The ribbed forearm looks so darn good and it simply works. The stippling just doesn't look good or feel as good.

Reminds me of the Classic Coke being change to New Coke... what a bad move. I love the Classic Coke just like the Classic ribbed forearm.

Also, Why the change to synthetic vs. wood...? I understand that it may be about money, but the synthetic is sooo unpopular by most folks, and many folks just replace them anyway. So why not offer the option of a better stock, or a wood stock? By a better stock, I mean a speedfeed or other tactical stock that most folks want anyway for a HD shotty.

So the final cost to the buyer is the cost of the synthetic stock, the cost of a replacement stock, and the time spend swapping them out...

 

[dak0ta]

Ribbed forearms look nice a la Ithaca 37.

Remington 870 tacticals come with a synthetic ribbed foreend now so they still do exist. Same with the Mossberg 500/590SP series. They're just made out of polymer instead because they're cheaper and more durable and you feel less bad when you scuff it up.

Clarify what stippling is exactly.. are you referring to a field forend?

I'm blued steel and wood guy myself.

 

[Virginian]

Opinions are just that. There are enough options out there that one should be able to outfit their personal Remington or Mossberg just about any way they could possibly want it. A lot goes in to what the factory puts out, not the least of which being cost, because in WalMart America that is a huge buying point. And there are a lot of people like me, who do NOT like the old ribbed fore ends. I think after Remington made the switch in field gun style in 1963 sales took off even faster, so I am not alone.

 

[BruiseLee]

There are some definite advantages to synthetic stocks over wood. If you are a hunter eventually your gun is going to get wet. Wood parts can swell and warp - and that ain't good, it's not as bad with a shotgun as it would be with a rifle, but it's still bad.

Also, if you live in a humid part of the world (Vietnam and the swamps of the South come to mind), wood parts can actually rot. Of course, the VC were burying their weapons, something you are pretty unlikely to do.

Don't forget, polymer usually means lighter, which if you are humping around your weapon, is a huge advantage.

Finally, there is cost. If you are upland game hunting, do you really need a $400 stock made of English Walnut?

 

[Fred Fuller]

Ribbed is not old school for riot gun forearms.

SMOOTH is what's really old school .

 

[Rshooter]

I have to admit I am partial to the ribbed forearms. I have two riot guns (20 inch) and a third Police 870 in 18.

 

[Youngster]

I like the looks and feel of the classic "ringtail" foreend on my Ithaca 37, but have noticed you have to be a lot more careful about how you hold it as to not burn yourself on a hot barrel compared to a design that encloses more of the barrel.

 

[leadcounsel]

Good point about wetland hunting... I meant to mention that in my post. But I'm refering to home defense or riot shottys.

Also, the design. I can see no advantages to the stipling over the ribbed look. And I'm surprised to hear someone say that he dislikes the ribbed version of forarm, sythetic or wood.