Nightcrawler
New member
I'm new to shotgunning, but I'm hooked. Many people here have decades of experience on me, and many have their favorites that they swear by.
For some it's the tried and true Remington 870, talking of its steel receiver and half-century of continued production. Detractors are quick to mention Remington's PC buttlicking, including no longer marketing 18.5" riot barrels to non-LEO, with the exception of the Stainless Marine 870, which costs quite a bit more than the standard.
Others swear by the Mossberg 500, 590, and/or 590A1. It's "Mil-Spec" design (A1 only), its passing of the 3000 round US Gov't endurance test, etc. And, truth be told, the Mossberg 500 series has been around for awhile too, and has had no trouble selling. Detractors say its overrated, and say its internals are poorly made.
Then there's the Winchester 1300, and its older cousin, the 1200. It features a neato-torpeedo rotary bolt, which apparently allows very fast cycling. Detractors say its flimsily manufactured. It has, however, been around for awhile too.
In my opinion, none of these shotguns are "junk". All three have been around for years, and are proven designs. All have been used by this law enforcement or that military agency; in fact, the 870, 590, and 1200 have ALL been USGI issue shotguns at one point or another, though now all the new ones are 590A1s, pending the deployment of the Benelli M4 semiauto.
And all three are well-made American shotguns. If you take care of them, they'll last you decades. I've talked to people who own all of these and love them, and I've talked to people who own all of these and hate 'em. I guess it depends on what works for the individual shooter.
Just m $0.02.
For some it's the tried and true Remington 870, talking of its steel receiver and half-century of continued production. Detractors are quick to mention Remington's PC buttlicking, including no longer marketing 18.5" riot barrels to non-LEO, with the exception of the Stainless Marine 870, which costs quite a bit more than the standard.
Others swear by the Mossberg 500, 590, and/or 590A1. It's "Mil-Spec" design (A1 only), its passing of the 3000 round US Gov't endurance test, etc. And, truth be told, the Mossberg 500 series has been around for awhile too, and has had no trouble selling. Detractors say its overrated, and say its internals are poorly made.
Then there's the Winchester 1300, and its older cousin, the 1200. It features a neato-torpeedo rotary bolt, which apparently allows very fast cycling. Detractors say its flimsily manufactured. It has, however, been around for awhile too.
In my opinion, none of these shotguns are "junk". All three have been around for years, and are proven designs. All have been used by this law enforcement or that military agency; in fact, the 870, 590, and 1200 have ALL been USGI issue shotguns at one point or another, though now all the new ones are 590A1s, pending the deployment of the Benelli M4 semiauto.
And all three are well-made American shotguns. If you take care of them, they'll last you decades. I've talked to people who own all of these and love them, and I've talked to people who own all of these and hate 'em. I guess it depends on what works for the individual shooter.
Just m $0.02.
