What Is The Big Deal About The 870?

Oh, man. It took me ten minutes to read that history lesson. I thought I had enough shotguns, but now I think I'm gonna have to go out and get me one of them 870's.
 
Which model made in the 70's had exploding barels? Didnt they have a recall or something? I thought I heard it was the 870. Or maby it was a winchester pump......:confused:
 
Although there are the usual disputes as to shotgun brands among civilian owners, there is no doubt about who who makes the most durable and reliable gun.
The fact that you have to look long and hard to find a law enforcement agency that DOESN'T use the 870, tells the tale.

When more than 95% of someone is using ONE product to the near-exclusion of anything else, even when it costs MORE, you have to figure they know something.
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While this line of thought may be true for the 870, it certainly isn't a universal truth. For example, I don't know the statistics but feel comfortable saying that Harley-Davidson is the department ride of the vast majority of m'cycle cops...yet even the most die-hard brand loyalist will not argue that they are the most reliable and well-made bikes available.
 
Edward 429451: Either you've got an extremely rare (prototype?) 1300 or a faulty magnet. Winchester introduced the 1300 in 1978 and, in my experience and from all the reference material I've seen, it has always been made with an aluminum alloy receiver. I'd certainly be interested in seeing any counter documentation.
 
No such thing as a "faulty magnet that sticks to alum)..Might have some steel parts...Or the shaft on the end of the barrel that goes into the reciever.
 
The "faulty" magnet quip was intentionally faceitious. Still would like to see evidence of a steel 1300 receiver.
 
Its cheap, it works well, and parts are available everywhere. More exotic alley brooms will usually work equally well, but they are often more expensive, and harder to get fixed.
 
The 870 is just an all-around damn-fine weapon that keeps proving itself over and over. Had mine for years, can't even estimate how many tens of thousands of rounds I've put through it. It looks quite a bit rougher than it ever did new, but it performs the same now as it did the first day I bought it--smooth and reliable.
 
The Infamous, Remington "exploding barrel" was a case of corporate bean counters deciding to pay off some predatory lawyers rather than fight it out in court.

The lawyers were a group that makes a living picking a juicy company, finding a supposed "defective product", basically hiring "clients" on whose behalf to sue, then raising the ante by making it one of the infamous Class Action law suits to put the pressure on.

Remington blinked, and the pay off was owners of "defective" 870 shotguns got $20.00 and the lawyers walked off with millions in cash.

The argument was, Remington's barrels were too thin and "exploded".
Not mentioned was the little fact that the barrel first had to be plugged with mud or a 20 gauge shell dropped in the barrel before the 12 gauge.

In any event, to Remington's regret, they allowed themselves to be extorted, and this came back to bite them in the famous "defective Model 700 safety" case.
There were also thinly veiled hints from other makers that Remington's guns were unsafe, and Remington nearly lost some police contracts to the whisper campaign.

In the Model 700 case, some incompetent kid shot and killed another.
The family claimed the Model 700 safety was defective.

I seem to recall that Remington had learned it's lesson, fought and won this one largely based on the proven safety of the rifle AS LONG as no one had tampered with the trigger trying for a "better" pull, and on the fact that in order to shoot someone, you first have to point a loaded gun at them and pull the trigger.
 
The argument was, Remington's barrels were too thin and "exploded".
Not mentioned was the little fact that the barrel first had to be plugged with mud or a 20 gauge shell dropped in the barrel before the 12 gauge.
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After watching mythbusters I find even this feat hard to manage.
 
Either you've got an extremely rare (prototype?) 1300 or a faulty magnet.
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Ok, just talked to my bro and he confirmed for me that we bought this SG in 1976. It is a 1200.

It was a strong magnet I tried on it so maybe it was attracted to the steel parts inside the receiver? I'll check a little closer and see for sure.
 
"The 870 is totally dependable."
That pretty much says it all...My 12 has been through the absolute worst I can throw at it and, still works as good as the day my father bought it.

He purchased it around 1984 if that helps any.

Not to mention it is the first gun I reach for to defend my home, hunt for dinner, shoot skeet, and a myriad of other things.

Oh yeah, it has put 5 slugs in a 2" group at 100yds. too!:D Unfortunately, I am not capable of such a feat.:(
 
What's the big deal about the 870?

As many have said, it is truly the best pump action shotgun on the planet. Remington did it right the first time with the 870...no need to change it.

That said, I don't like how they now use more plastic and have that damn lock on the safety...I sure hope they don't cheapen the 870 further...or make it more politically correct.
 
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