Advice on choosing an 870 or clone needed.

Claven2

Claven2

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OK, well the choices are down to:

-Remmy Express 18" synthetic regular 870 config
-Remmy Express 18" synthetic extended mag (bbl band farther out)
-Norinco N870 18.5" (has extended mag & bbl band farther out)
-Norinco N870 24" (has extended mag & bbl band farther out)
-Norinco N870 28" regular 870 config

Looking for advice. All above guns are priced between $250 and $350 at some dealers in Canada.

I want the gun as a deep brush slug & SSG beater, but it would be nice to also have a field bbl too. Must also be 3" shell capable.

I thought of getting the 28" Norinco as I know where to find a used 20" cylinder bore bbl, but it's the gun's blued and I like the matted park look.

Some of the other models look attractive (all Norc's are parked, the express has whatever the Express finish is?). All have black synth furniture which I want. So the question is accessory compatibility. Is there a down side to getting one of the models with the longer mag tube and barrel with the band positioned farther out? For example, if I get one of those, will a normal used 28" Remington barrel still drop in, or would I have to find one which also has a farther out band placement?

Advice please?

Thanks!!

(also looking for a used 870 fitting above criteria if the price is right. I have a WTB in the EE and got 3 bites so far. All from people with Norinco 870's and all guys wanted over $400 plus shipping??? Like I can't read the Marstar site or anything...??? Everything's still in stock except the 14" version I don't want anyhow... $400 is more than a real 870 express brand new from Russel Sports. Some people are just opportunistic, I guess.)
 
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Other than a NIB 14 inch, your correct on the pricing for the Norinco's. Of course, $400 even is what I paid for my Norinclone 870.

On the 870's, I don't believe any of them actually move the barrel band from the standard position, although for those with the extended mag tubes, a second support clamp is often used.

For the use you are talking about, it might be worth your time to check out Dark International who had a combo set. A Norinco with the 14 inch barrel and a second 20 inch (?) for about $450.
 
If you look at the pictures in the Russel Sports catalogue or on the Marstar website, it looks pretty clearly like a longer mag tube with distant band, not a support clamp - but I've not seen them in person.

I don;t need a 14" bbl AT ALL. Which is why I didn't include that price. Also, on Norinco stuff I don't pay shipping. I live close by Marstar ;) So definitely, my cost on a $250 gun is nowhere close to $400. And I certainly wouldn;t expect to pay more than retail for a used one.

If I get 2 barrels, they will be 18.5" and a 26" or 28" field barrel. The 14" is really too short for my purposes, it's not a defence shotty I'm looking for.

I would consider a used 14"-er though as I have an option to pick up a 20" cylinder bore bbl from a buddy for under $100.
 
I have an Remington Express Magnum. I have had nothing but joy from it. I would stay away from the NORC ones all together. Just read any NORC thread. The story on those is as follows: It works great... after grinding this drilling that or a trip to the gun smith. Save your self the pain and get a Remington, Mossberg, Benelli etc. If the $100 price difference is the key buy used.
 
remy

for the same price or even a hundred more, buy a used, near new Rem.
I was on the range with 4 guys that bought 4 brand new Norc's and 2 failed.
I'm not bashing Norc, they can be good guns, I like the cheap 1911. but when it comes down to it , if I can buy known name brand near the same price, that's what I would do.
 
-Remmy Express 18" synthetic extended mag (bbl band farther out)
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I bought one of these somewhere between 5 and 7 years ago. It is my beater gun, although I do take care of it, and it has never dissappointed me. For the price you can't go wrong.
 
OK, well I just picked up a wood stocked 870 express with 20" rifle sight slug bbl from the EE for a good price. Synth would have been nicer, but wood will do. :)

Hopefully will work out well ;)
 
Ya know... it's interesting how some people are "Remington 700" people and yet others are "winchester Model 70" people. Yet when it comes to shotguns, I hear no-one, Winchester 70 ppl included, singing the praises of the Winchester 1300 shotgun.

It seems the only guns getting good press are the 870 and the Mossy 500/590.

I never even hear anything good about Ithaca which at one time had a good rep as a reliable all-steel shotgun. Chinese clones aside, in the 80's Ithaca was well regarded in Canada. I suppose though their lack of service and sales outfits in Canada is to blame(?).

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to trying the 870, once I drop in an old Uncle Mike's lefty safety I've had squirelled away for years in anticipation of owning an 870 (something else always came up). Yes, I know they make lefty 870's, but I prefer right handed pumps as long as the safety is lefty.

I wonder if anyone makes a steel trigger asembly for the 870?
 
I've never owned a 1300, but I did own a 1200 deer/slug gun for a while with a 20" smoothbore. I loved the feel and handling of the gun, and the rifle sights. Hated the aluminum reciever and the action. I was never able to build up a proper cycling rhythym with it in rapid fire. It really does feel different than a Remington or Mossberg type action, and I found my habitual motion broken and hesitant. Consequentially, I shot the 1200 jerkily and slower that I did an 870. I suspect that this is the reason that many of shotgunners who have built up their habits firing other brands of guns are not that fond of the 1300.

The Ithaca 37 is also a neat gun, but I think that the reasons it is not as popular are:

1. Complicated mechanism. Difficult to dissassemble and reassemble.

2. The one I used to have was finicky to feed. It would jam frequently on handloads that cycled fine through other guns, and clearing a jam from it was a major endeavor. It would also jam on occassion with factory loads if you were hesitant on working the action. I also observed these issues in other 37's, and suspect it might be common to the design.

3. They just haven't sold a lot of them in Canada in the 10 years before they went under, so they are not as common.
 
Claven2 said:
It seems the only guns getting good press are the 870 and the Mossy 500/590.
Click to expand...

You forgot about the Nova. It gets quality press (along with its clone the Stoeger P-350).

BT
 
BT said:
You forgot about the Nova. It gets quality press (along with its clone the Stoeger P-350).

BT
Click to expand...

Let me rephrase that then, I meant the only reasonably priced mainstream pumps getting good press are the 870 and the 500/590.
 
The 870 is a sweet gun. You can change out the chokes, u can get a rifled barrel etc etc. Get the Express Super Mag and you can shoot 2 3/4", 3" and 3 1/2 and they are rated for steel shot as well.

By the way, I am left handed as well and have no problem with this gun, I actually like the right handed saftey better to be honest with you, push in to turn it on with your left hand. I like that setup better then a left hand cross bolt saftey.. call me weird but that's just me, guess I am used to it lol.
 
Claven2 said:
Let me rephrase that then, I meant the only reasonably priced mainstream pumps getting good press are the 870 and the 500/590.
Click to expand...

Ha, ha, ha:D That is a very politically correct Scandaltown answer;)

BUT, the Nova goes for $516.94 at Lebaron's:

http://www.lebaron.ca/pdf_fall_pgr/hunting/benelli.pdf

AND the P-350 goes for $392 at the same store:

http://www.lebaron.ca/pdf_fall_pgr/hunting/stoeger_tikka_benelli.pdf

But I'm just yanking your chain:p

Congrats on your new pruchase:)

BT
 
Rohann said:
I picked up a Wingmaster second hand for $150. Look around a little, I'm sure you'll find something.

-Rohann
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Rohann,

This belongs in the "Being in the right place at the right time!" thread:D

Congrats on the $150 Wingmaster...I missed a good deal like that last year:mad:
 
I was at Sharps Guns in Dunnville ON recently. All the Ithaca parts and service there you'll ever need...




Claven2 said:
Ya know... it's interesting how some people are "Remington 700" people and yet others are "winchester Model 70" people. Yet when it comes to shotguns, I hear no-one, Winchester 70 ppl included, singing the praises of the Winchester 1300 shotgun.

It seems the only guns getting good press are the 870 and the Mossy 500/590.

I never even hear anything good about Ithaca which at one time had a good rep as a reliable all-steel shotgun. Chinese clones aside, in the 80's Ithaca was well regarded in Canada. I suppose though their lack of service and sales outfits in Canada is to blame(?).

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to trying the 870, once I drop in an old Uncle Mike's lefty safety I've had squirelled away for years in anticipation of owning an 870 (something else always came up). Yes, I know they make lefty 870's, but I prefer right handed pumps as long as the safety is lefty.

I wonder if anyone makes a steel trigger asembly for the 870?
Click to expand...
 
Hey
I love my 1300 and wouldnt trade it for anything....

I would be hesatant to buy another only because of Winchester's financial problems....

It was my first shotgun that I owned and have never had a missfire in the 12 years I have owned it.

Like any gun you will find people who like em and those that hate em.

Just go with what fits you and feels right to you when you try them out.

The only way to choose wrong is to buy one without ever picking one up.
 
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