Choosing an old style police/riot pump shotgun

[IanC]

I have always thought the Mossberg with the thumb safety and the action button behind the trigger was always the slickest set up available but I find the recievers are too high so I went with an 870 20ga with 9 shots in a very small package. It just fits me well.

Edit, might as well toss in a pic.

 

[Bartok5]

Here is my 14" 870P, which I also use for weekly Clays with an Xpress 28" Vent-Rib Barrel left over from an old combo long since sold.




I have shorter shotguns, like this Kel-Tec KSG factory Short-Barrelled-Shotgun (SBS) with its 11 rounds of 2 3/4" capacity. I still prefer the 870P however...




The Benelli M4 "Entry" with factory 14" Barrel and 7-rds (Ghost-loaded) capacity is a strong performer in a semi-automatic shotgun.....

 

[crockett85]

Many 1897 available for cheap parts at every gun show

Are you talking about original 1897 parts or the Norinco?

 

[crockett85]

The High Standard K1200 18-7 Riot..........

Pekinpah!!!!!!!!!

LOL Yeah this movie is what came to mind when I thought of a High Standard or Winchester 1200/1300. When Hickok45 did a video on the 1200/1300, he blamed this movie for wanting to buy one.

The remake with Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger is pretty good too, but it doesn't beat the original.

 

[0faustus0]

Here is my 14" 870P, which I also use for weekly Clays with an Xpress 28" Vent-Rib Barrel left over from an old combo long since sold.

View attachment 965692


I have shorter shotguns, like this Kel-Tec KSG factory Short-Barrelled-Shotgun (SBS) with its 11 rounds of 2 3/4" capacity. I still prefer the 870P however...

View attachment 965690


The Benelli M4 "Entry" with factory 14" Barrel and 7-rds (Ghost-loaded) capacity is a strong performer in a semi-automatic shotgun.....

View attachment 965691

Wait a min ... are these black walnut stocks? Very classical old school police shotgun looking .....

 

[crockett85]

I have em all except for the High Standard, so can’t speak on that one.

My 870’s and Winchester 1200/1300 Defenders get the most use, by far. You can’t go wrong with either.

If you want something new, it’s obviously gotta be the 870P. Don’t bother with the SXP.

When it comes to fixing on your own gun, if you are talking worst cast scenario, the Winchester 1200/1300s doesn’t require any special tools to replace key components like ejector and shell latches. The 870 requires a special tool for both.

There are still plenty of parts available for the 1200/1300 so don’t shy away from them just because of that. Smoothest action I have is a late 60’s Winchester 1200 Trench Gun. Like glass.

My advice: go out and buy which ever you think looks the coolest. Shoot it, and if you don’t like it, sell it and move on to the next. That’s what the EE is for .

If you ever make your way to Prince George, I’d be happy to let you test drive a few .

Thanks for the reply!

Are your 870s the newer variety or older ones? I don't mind if a special tool is needed to work on these. As long as there is a tool available to allow me to work on the gun itself, I'm happy. How involved is the job of replacing ejectors and shell latches?

Regarding the SXP, that was on my list originally. But after watching/reading some reviews about the SXP, I'm inclined to agree with you.

It's good that there are parts still available for the 1200/1300. It sounds like I just need to get out to some gun shops, test some in person, and pick the one that gives me the warm and fuzzy feeling. From the responses so far, it sounds like I can't go wrong with any of the shotguns listed.

I appreciate the offer to try your shotguns. Unfortunately, it would be a long drive to Prince George lol (I'm in Victoria).

 

[crockett85]

I have multiple 1897s and so does my cousin, in all versions. Super cheap for parts still, even from trade shows or even buying a full gun from an auction. You can order pretty well any part from Numrich gunparts, and all pretty well ship to canada, atleast i havent had any issues yet.

I'm assuming that you're referring to real Winchester 1897s and not the Norincos?

 

[crockett85]

Personally I wouldn’t be too hung up on getting a 3” chambered gun. The vast majority of loads run through them are going to be 2 3/4” anyway. Yes the versatility is nice but it’s not a deal breaker. ymmv

I am a die hard 870 user myself. I would lean toward the Ithaca as a second choice.

Yeah, even if I did have a 3-inch chambered gun, I seriously doubt I would shoot very many 3-inch shells. I've shot some 2-3/4 buckshot and slugs through a short barrel shotgun (Churchill 612) at an indoor rental range. Plenty of power for me. The range went pretty quiet after I let loose with the slugs lmao

 

[crockett85]

I have always thought the Mossberg with the thumb safety and the action button by the trigger was always the slickest set up available but I find the recievers are too high so I went with an 870 20ga with 9 shots in a very small package. It just fits me well.

I forgot about that part--the location of the controls. Yes, the Mossberg is very intuitive with where the safety and slide release is. I also like the Ithaca for this reason.

 

[crockett85]

I'm a Mossberg/Ithaca 37 guy .
But for classic looks , Remington 870.

For the smoothest action, Ithaca 37 , it's like glass .
The Ithaca will also cycle mini shells.
And there's a trick were you can load a round stright into the chamber with practice ,be careful, especially if it can slam fire , you don't want a ND.

The Winchester 1200/1300 has a recoil assisted slide , which is cool , speeds thing up a little.

And my personal favorite, the Mossberg 590 14inch barrel with wood.

View attachment 965332

That is a nice gat! I shot something similar to it at a rental range a while ago. Those short barrels really throw out some fire when using high brass buckshot and slugs.

 

[Gordlat]

Are you talking about original 1897 parts or the Norinco?

Original, I always see ones at gun shows for under 300$ they are rough but if you need a part it’s worth it

 

[Painkillers]

My Police-ish 18" Wingmaster from the 1980's. Slug barrel with factory rifle sights (which are excellent). The stock wood on it was so nice I couldn't bring myself to drill it to install a QD cup, hence the odd sling. And of course, a stock 590A1 retro (20" barrel, Ghost ring sights {also excellent}) that wears a Hunter leather strap for the 1907 pattern-feel.

 

[Painkillers]

...and with the "get along 'lil doggy" device attached.

 

[ivobb]

Mossberg 500 would be my choice "retro model"

 

[Painkillers]

I have always thought the Mossberg with the thumb safety and the action button behind the trigger was always the slickest set up available but I find the recievers are too high so I went with an 870 20ga with 9 shots in a very small package. It just fits me well.

Can't argue with that. I'll add that Defender Tactical makes what I view as an improvement on the stock Mossberg safety. I put them on all my Mossbergs.

 

[Greenhorse six]

The often overlooked Mossberg 500 18.5 inch barrel with a heatshield and synthetic stock is classic military workhorse.

 

[Switchvoid]

I'm assuming that you're referring to real Winchester 1897s and not the Norincos?

Yes real Winchesters, none of us have the norino yet.

 

[.22LRGUY]

I think the least expensive way to get an "old school" looking gun with superb parts availability would be to build-up a Mossberg 500 or an 870. I've seen the wood "Retrograde" furniture for sale on it's own, mate a set of those to a 14" Mossberg Shockwave and you're set?

Actual old school? Start with a Wingmaster and do some barrel shopping or have a gunsmith cut one down. The Wingmaster/Rifle Sight barrels are out there and excellent.

I like 37s too but I'd rather be working on/cleaning one of these^ models.

The High Standard riot guns are very good, the rifle sights on them about as good as a $50 Crosman airgun. BUT, the guns tend to be super slick and well built. I don't really know the history of them though, if you look at High Standard shotguns (sporting guns also sold under the brands J.C. Higgins and also Sears?) you'll see that the receivers are identical. I've seen almost new-looking JC Higgins pumps sit for a long time @ $300-$350, but they're full length barrels. I think if you did some digging, you might find that there would be parts compatibility between High Standard and these other brands?

 

[Bartok5]

Wait a min ... are these black walnut stocks? Very classical old school police shotgun looking .....

They are all black polymer furniture, with the exception of the aluminum Handguard on the Benelli M4 Entry.

 

[0faustus0]

They are all black polymer furniture, with the exception of the aluminum Handguard on the Benelli M4 Entry.

Bartok5, I think you missed my sarcasm and the topic of this thread!

This thread is about old school police/riot style pump shotguns with wood stocks ... and from an area where polymer stocks and optic sights were not really a thing yet ...