Help me pick a shotgun

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Alex45ACP

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Looking for a shotgun and having trouble finding one that meets all my criteria. Primary role will be home defense.

This is what I'm looking for:

1. Shortest barrel possible without getting into NFA stuff, I believe this is 18".

2. Magazine tube flush with barrel. I don't see any reason not to have the most rounds possible.

3. Parkerized finish for durability

4. Wood stock and foreend. I just think it looks better :)

5. Bead sights

6. Pump action

7. 12 gauge

The only one I can find that meets all of these so far is the 870 Police, but nobody seems to have them in stock. Any suggestions?
 
Last edited:
Rem. has an 870 tactical. it's parkerized.You can replace the stock but it doesn't have a bead front sight.
 
Hey I'm in the same boat, and looking for many of the same criteria except I don't really care if its 18" or 20", I feel those are effectively the same for 99.99% of circumstances. And I'm open to other types of sites.

I've narrowed my search down to:
PUMP: Rem 870P (Check Gun Genie), Browning BPS High Capacity (no longer in production but can still get), Ithaca 37 (trying to learn more about this one ....)
SEMI: FNH SLP 18" ($$$$)

I'm leaning towards pump, because there's something really attractive about its simplicity to me. My favorite so far is probably the 870P with Wilson sites (Rifle Rear site with tritium bead front site) - but I've heard some not so great things about Remington's recent build quality. Apparently, even the 870P series is having failure to extract issues. And, like you said, they're really tough to get a hold of - I think pretty much you'd have to be ok with paying top dollar and having it shipped to a dealer near you (paying shipping and paying the dealer a fee). This is the direction I'm leaning - Unless I happen to come across an Winchester 12 in some local shop between now and when my LTC comes through in June and I can actually hit the buy button!


EDIT:: I didn't see you wanted wood stock ... maybe you are then limited to 870P and Ithaca 37.
 
It's easy enough to change furniture on an 870, and nice takeoff Police gun walnut is out there, sometimes not awfully expensive. Last set I got a few months ago had the new R3 recoil pad, as new walnut, stock/stock bolt/recoil pad and forearm for $30 plus shipping.

Shop around...

lpl
 
Bead sights should be an easy add-on by any gunsmith.

::EDIT:: The only reason I didn't add a midbead to my 870 was the turnaround time was too long. (I was home on a break from school)
 
Make sure chamber and magazine are clear.

Mark off 18" on a dowel and insert dowel into the barrel with the bolt closed.

If the mark is out of the barrel when the dowel is in the barrel you do not want to take it home.

This is not a joke.

I would not take one home if it could not cover 18.25"
 
Hello friends and neighbors // Look for the 870 Express Tactical with Ghost Ring Sights to go on sale at the same time Remington has a rebate.

The sights come in a tube and sometimes are installed at the store with glue. Ask for one with the sights uninstalled and have a bead put on later, or keep the Ghost Ring.

Change the furniture when possible, the fore arm is a little slick ( I sprayed mine with plastic coat) and the shoulder stock has a clothes grabbing rubber recoil pad , I'm looking for a six shell butt cuff with a smooth leather recoil pad built in. Apparently a new invention for someone, just send me 2% of profits and the first prototype or a link to a site that sells them.

I purchased mine with a scratch "damaged goods" 12% discount.
The store had the Express on sale and I had completed a 3min. online survey from my last purchase earning a $10.00 off instore coupon.
Remington had a rebate offer.
The planets started to align.........

I'm very happy with my 870, still breaking it in.
Good luck finding whats right for you.
 
I would not worry about finding a Parkerized finish.

Older Remington 870's and all Mossberg 500's can, I think, have the magazine extended with an aftermarket add on.

Get a gun with noce furniture that fits you well

I think 18.5 on the Remington will let you have a nice flush magazine. 18 and I think the magazine will stick out a bit.
 
What has worked best for me is the same rule that applies when I buy shoes, pants, belts or a jacket.

Look at what strikes you and "try it on"... Now you may not be able to test fire each SG to help you make a decision but you can pick each up and shoulder it. You can rack a few times to get an idea as to how it feels.

Do this and then go with the SG that feels best in your hands. For me the Winchester 1300 series fits best. I also have a Mossberg and other SGs but the 1300 fits the most natural. Easy to swing, comes to the shoulder naturally almost like it's part of my anatomy.

Try a bunch on before you select.
 
This thread got me looking into and researching the Ithaca M37 and I gotta say -- I might be in love. It seems to be everything the original poster is looking for, as well as myself! I had an idea in my head of what I wanted, but then when I started watching youtube videos and reading reviews of the M37 8-shot with the wood finish ... I'm really really liking this gun. I hope they're easier to get than the 870P. Doesn't appear that Gun Genie lists Ithaca as a manufacturer under their search criteria. BUT you can buy them right from the Ithaca website and have them shipped to a local FFL dealer.
 
Older Remington 870's and all Mossberg 500's can, I think, have the magazine extended with an aftermarket add on.
Click to expand...

The 500's can't be extended except by changing to the 20'' barrel. That gives you 7 shots I believe. I bought a Mossberg Maverick, if I could do it over again I would get the 590 7 shot. Doesn't fit the wood stock criteria though.
 
Honestly, although the original Ithaca 37 is a wonderful design (by JMB, too), the good ones are too old and the new ones are not on the same quality plane as a Remington 870, Winchester 1200/1300 or Mossbert 590/500 pump. In addition, if you care about your ability to tweak the gun with accessories, staying with either Remington or Mossberg will make life a lot easier.

I did actually once buy a second hand 870 that had been shot loose, but there was a good reason, and it is almost impossible to find one in that condition. Factory service and consumer parts availability is incredibly deep. I'd start scouting gunshops, local and online, for a lightly used 870. It doesn't even have to be a short-barreled police gun - barrels are plentiful and not expensive. My $0.02, YMMV, etc.
 
I'm not sure if Remington made or makes the 870 Wingmaster with an 18" barrel but I really love mine with a 20" rifle sighted barrel. Most Wingmasters I've seen come with a much longer barrel but I believe you can find a 18 or 20" blued finish barrel. The bluing on the Wingmaster is much better than the bead blasted finish on the Express.

Its just my opinion, the above mentioned models will serve you just fine.

870Wingmaster.gif
 
Like this'n...
Al
 

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