What Is The Big Deal About The 870?
- Thread starter wacki
- Start date
trigger happy
New member
does anyone ever regret buying the best ? (I still like my Winchester Defender though 
)
)johnsonrlp
New member
Another way to look at it is how good is the 870 when compared to other guns (not pump shottys) especially for the price.
Dfariswheel
New member
That's sort of backward.
The 870 is the modern pumpgun all others are compared to.
The 870 is the modern pumpgun all others are compared to.
Only 870 with any plastic on the trigger gaurd and with the lock which has now been discontinued on all new models is the express
If you want an old style heavy barrel (so thick you cant put a heatsheild on it unless you modify the sheild)with a parked finish metal controls top of the line feed assembly then the old 870 of the past that is carved out of a solid block of steel then you would be talking about the 870 police magnum which I couldnt make up my mind so i recently purchased 2 870p's one with wood furniture and one in synthetic the synthetic was $505 otd and the wood was about $565 there not cheap compared to the express and wingmaster but they are of a heavier construction then any other current brand and I have most of them including an old ithaca I got at the pawn shop for 65 bucks.
I have owned several 870's in past.
Now, it's just the one I bought yesterday.
It has spent it's lifetime bouncing around in a patrol car. Wish it could talk.
I'll clean it up this weekend, take it out next week and try a variety of ammo through it.
Hereafter, it will be in repose near my bedside.
Now, it's just the one I bought yesterday.
It has spent it's lifetime bouncing around in a patrol car. Wish it could talk.
I'll clean it up this weekend, take it out next week and try a variety of ammo through it.
Hereafter, it will be in repose near my bedside.
whats your production date?
I read a letter someone got from customer service saying the lock was going to be discontinued.
Just because you pick something up still in the box or sealed in the bag with oil doesnt mean it was manufactered in 06. I just picked up a ruger GP-100 new in box still seale din the bag full of oil and it was made in 03 most gun shops order from suppliers not directly from the factory.
I read a letter someone got from customer service saying the lock was going to be discontinued.
Just because you pick something up still in the box or sealed in the bag with oil doesnt mean it was manufactered in 06. I just picked up a ruger GP-100 new in box still seale din the bag full of oil and it was made in 03 most gun shops order from suppliers not directly from the factory.
hummelsander
New member
I bought an 870 Wingmaster used. Payed a-like-new price for it. Looked like it had seen quite a bit of field use. Cleaned up just fine and is a great gun. It is nice and tight for a pump...a lot tighter than a new mossberg.
FirstFreedom
Moderator
870
I don't think that the 870 is actually BETTER than say, a Mossberg 500. But, since it is (a) equally good, which is to say very good, and (b) there are more aftermarket doodads/customizations than other brands, (c) LEOAs overwhelmingly prefer them (for whatever reason; probably mostly due to good price), and (d) they are famous for their many excellent rifles as well (unlike mossberg or winchester) they get a reputation that is more than the sum of the parts, and it's a vicious cycle / self-fulfilling prophecy kind of thing going. The rich get richer. Still, it's an excellent shotgun!
I don't think that the 870 is actually BETTER than say, a Mossberg 500. But, since it is (a) equally good, which is to say very good, and (b) there are more aftermarket doodads/customizations than other brands, (c) LEOAs overwhelmingly prefer them (for whatever reason; probably mostly due to good price), and (d) they are famous for their many excellent rifles as well (unlike mossberg or winchester) they get a reputation that is more than the sum of the parts, and it's a vicious cycle / self-fulfilling prophecy kind of thing going. The rich get richer. Still, it's an excellent shotgun!
Dfariswheel
New member
Your reason "C" is wrong.
The 870P Police gun costs MORE than any other police pump shotgun.
The police do get better prices than "civilians" but then Mossberg also offers discounts to law enforcement.
Bottom line on this one is: You cannot make or sell a forged steel shotgun with heavier internals than you can make and sell a cast aluminum gun with stamped internals.
This is why the Mossberg "won" the government contract.
The sole deciding factory was price, and there was no way Remington could beat out Mossberg.
The police use the Remington because of it's 50 year history of standing up to the abusive treatment cops subject shotguns to, even though it costs more.
The Winchester 1300 also cost less than the 870, and after it's disastrous history in police use, no LE department of any size ever again bought the Winchester.
The reason more than 95% of all American law enforcement buy the 870 is it's the only gun yet developed that can stand up to the Night Watch version of "Hold my beer and watch this".
This is one case where quality and proven durability trumps price even to bureaucratic bean counters.
If you want to determine which is the more durable item, you put a few hundred thousand of them in the hands of cops for many years, then check the failure rate.
You can't argue with actual results.
The Mossberg 500 and the Winchester 1300 both failed in the "Real World" and LE refused to buy more of them.
The Mossberg 590 series is doing better, but the King of Reality is still the 870.
The 870P Police gun costs MORE than any other police pump shotgun.
The police do get better prices than "civilians" but then Mossberg also offers discounts to law enforcement.
Bottom line on this one is: You cannot make or sell a forged steel shotgun with heavier internals than you can make and sell a cast aluminum gun with stamped internals.
This is why the Mossberg "won" the government contract.
The sole deciding factory was price, and there was no way Remington could beat out Mossberg.
The police use the Remington because of it's 50 year history of standing up to the abusive treatment cops subject shotguns to, even though it costs more.
The Winchester 1300 also cost less than the 870, and after it's disastrous history in police use, no LE department of any size ever again bought the Winchester.
The reason more than 95% of all American law enforcement buy the 870 is it's the only gun yet developed that can stand up to the Night Watch version of "Hold my beer and watch this".
This is one case where quality and proven durability trumps price even to bureaucratic bean counters.
If you want to determine which is the more durable item, you put a few hundred thousand of them in the hands of cops for many years, then check the failure rate.
You can't argue with actual results.
The Mossberg 500 and the Winchester 1300 both failed in the "Real World" and LE refused to buy more of them.
The Mossberg 590 series is doing better, but the King of Reality is still the 870.