They used to produce shotties, and they might start again in the future.
Right now, it hardly matters. Most agencies that are in the market for new guns are looking at patrol rifles intead of shotguns. There are various things pushing this trend, but the biggest one is bottom line; running with the assumption that an agency needs a patrol rifle, you can either get a patrol rifle which can do most everything a shotgun can do and fulfill the needs of a patrol rifle, or you can get a shotgun and go without rifle capabilities, or spend the extra scratch to buy and have both.
Most agencies are looking at buying rifles, not shotties. Most agencies already have shotguns, but many/most don't have rifles. There may or may not be a market for replacing the existing shotguns when they wear out (if they are replaced), but the real growth sector is on the rifle end of things. S&W is, for once, looking like they are ahead of the curve. Many agencies that are considering going with patrol rifles are also retiring their shotguns (though, thankfully, not all).
NOTE: I am well aware that the rifle and the shotgun are different tools with different advantages and disadvantages. That horse has been whipped to death. It is also not an integral part of this thread. If you feel the need to argue that "AR-15s can't do everything an 870 can do", please feel free to start a new thread. I will post on it and agree with you.
But lets not clutter up this thread.
Mike
Right now, it hardly matters. Most agencies that are in the market for new guns are looking at patrol rifles intead of shotguns. There are various things pushing this trend, but the biggest one is bottom line; running with the assumption that an agency needs a patrol rifle, you can either get a patrol rifle which can do most everything a shotgun can do and fulfill the needs of a patrol rifle, or you can get a shotgun and go without rifle capabilities, or spend the extra scratch to buy and have both.
Most agencies are looking at buying rifles, not shotties. Most agencies already have shotguns, but many/most don't have rifles. There may or may not be a market for replacing the existing shotguns when they wear out (if they are replaced), but the real growth sector is on the rifle end of things. S&W is, for once, looking like they are ahead of the curve. Many agencies that are considering going with patrol rifles are also retiring their shotguns (though, thankfully, not all).
NOTE: I am well aware that the rifle and the shotgun are different tools with different advantages and disadvantages. That horse has been whipped to death. It is also not an integral part of this thread. If you feel the need to argue that "AR-15s can't do everything an 870 can do", please feel free to start a new thread. I will post on it and agree with you.
But lets not clutter up this thread.Mike
What is the world coming too! Well if S&W can sucessfully make and market a 1911 pistol then they sure can make a decent AR. Though like the early S&W 1911 most of the parts will probably come from other suppliers until S&W is able to gear up manufacturing. The price also seem competive for the police/military market. Actually, unlike another American manufacture, S&W is trying to take maket share away from the European companies that have long dominated police and military sales. While at the same time trying to expand their current civilian product line. Granted some people will never buy their products again, because of the deal with Clinton. At least S&W is trying to make up for it with an active R&D departmet that actually listens to their clients, and is coming up with winners. I hope S&W does well in their new endevors.
