Stick with the 870 I know and love? Or go Semi Auto?

Grizz Axxemann

Grizz Axxemann

BANNED
BANNED
BANNED
EE Expired
Rating - 96.2%
25   1   0
Location
Edmonton, AB
Well, I need a new shotgun.

I sold my old 870 a couple years ago and never bothered to pick up a new one. Now I realize how empty my life has been without a 12 gauge. So I've been thinking... pick up a simple, bare bones 870 to run the #### out of because I know them rather well from my time driving armored cars, or do I get adventurous, and try a semi auto?

If I go semi auto, I'm thinking about a gun with a 3.5" chamber, just to stuff as much ammo as possible into the tube. The Versa Max and Super Black Eagle both appeal to me there. I'd be happiest with an 18.5" barrel, but even a 20 or 22" barrel would do the trick.

I hear all this stuff about how awesome rib sights are, but I'm used to either a simple bead or a red dot. Someone care to explain this one to me? I've never really spent a lot of time with a rib sight.

Chokes are kind of irrelevant to me, since all I've ever run is Cylinder or IC, and that's probably all I'd run anyways.

I'll be using this mostly for 3 gun and the zombie apocalypse, but I wouldn't mind trying my hand at busting clays or using it on upland birds (overkill, I know,) which is why I'm leaning towards a semi auto, despite being able to run an 870 fairly quickly.
 
I'm a die-hard 870 fan, myself. I grew up shooting one, and it just feels right to me. It's all I can ever imagine using for 3-Gun. If someone gave me a Versamax or an M2/M4, I'd honestly sell it and buy practice ammo. I just don't like them that much, and the pump slows me down really only a very little bit in the grand scheme of how a typical stage is set up.

GENERALLY, the auto will drop your gaming split times by a measurable degree, and it will feel softer to shoot. The way I've seen most multigun stages set up, however, shotgun split times are a very small factor in comparison with how much time is eaten up elsewhere (accuracy, reloads, transitions, movement, etc.). $1000 worth of practice ammo will improve my stage hit factors far more than $1000 worth of shotgun will... The same argument goes for hunting applications, IMO.

You really have to shoot one of the autos a bit to know if you'll like it enough to justify the investment (money and time spent learning the new platform). If it feels good, do it. :)

In my opinion, if the shotgun fits you well, vent rib vs. pedestal bead sight is a matter of personal preference. It definitely adds weight, though.
 
2319855-why_not_both.jpg
 
If you got the semi I think you'll still want a 870 pump. Like mpower said...why not both....but get the pump first!
Personally, I like pumps cause they're generally not as ammo sensitive like semi's tend to be. YMMV
 
I'd love to get one of each, but practicality (and the fact that I have a few rifles that I don't shoot much and have no desire to sell) points me at one or the other. I am leaning towards a semi auto for the soft shooting aspect a little more, just because of a recently diagnosed medical condition, and it would probably be easier to get my g/f into shotgunning with a soft shooting semi auto too.

Then again, most of the "cheap" stuff in terms of 12ga ammo is fairly soft even through a pump gun, and I guess I could spend a little more to get the low recoil slugs.
 
I have both - personally the semi is far easier to shoot with heavier loads - way less punishment on the shoulder....

Pump has great capacity, but can kick like a mule when you're shooting magnum loads.

My semi has only failed to cycle with the lightest of target loads and that was my fault for not installing the correct gas ring. Rem 11-87 if you must know.

I've been eyeing up an inertia driven semi for awhile but haven't found the time to try one out.

So I'm a vote for both.
 
something about a pump just love em.

Price limit?

I find when something goes wrong with your gun, pumps are easy fix. Also I think they are more reliable. So for comp and zombie fighting... Id go pump.

You can get a nice tactical pump with a bead sight, just use diff chokes for your applications (hunting, paper shooting, competition) they are quick and easy to swap in and out. Plus it beats buying different barrels.

I had the exact needs as you do, occasional hunting and clay busting. Mostly being all tacticool and chewing up paper. Ended up getting the rem 870 express tactical.
 
I love my 870,
it's like the girl that looks good dressed down to help fix your truck, or turns every head in the room when dressed up for the ball.
MD
 
Grizz Axxemann said:
I am leaning towards a semi auto for the soft shooting aspect a little more, just because of a recently diagnosed medical condition, and it would probably be easier to get my g/f into shotgunning with a soft shooting semi auto too.
Click to expand...

It pains me to say this, but those are all very good reasons to go semi. ;)
 
Let's get you back into the 870 fold: cue up the movie scene of the Untouchables where Al Capone's warehouse for smuggled goods are about it be raided by plain clothes police played by Kevin Costner, Sean Connery , Andy Garcia and others. :)

Before they raid the crooks' nest they "ready" the 870 in our most fond memory/sound!

And hat another reason for Netflix and YouTube!

Cheers and enjoy he 12 gauge addiction.

Barney
 
I grew up on Remington and Winchester pumps. My first shotgun was a Winchester Model 120 with a ridiculously long barrel and full choke, but it served me well in my teens. I've had numerous 870's over the years and liked them too, but my all time favourite go-to shotgun ended up being a Remington 11-87 with a 26 inch barrel and matte finish. For me that was the perfect length for upland or waterfowl hunting, and back in the day when it was legal I even modified it with a 10 shot extension and used it for tactical shooting!

I've since sold that gun and have gone to different tactical/hunting format. For hunting I now use a Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag 3-1/2 inch with 20 inch barrel and adjustable poly choke - good for anything from turkeys to rabbits to geese, and the poly choke is great in that I don't have to carry a pocket full of chokes with me and with a twist of the dial instantly can go from cylinder choke to super full or anything in between.

My tactical setup is a Mossberg 930 SPX. Holds 5 shells of the 3 inch variety and 6 of the 2-3/4, has nice ghost ring sights and is super sweet and smooth to shoot. I'm partial to semis myself, especially for a tactical setup. The Versa Max is a nice platform, but for now lacks the aftermarket part availability of the Remington or Mossberg guns.
 
I'm partial to a semi myself. I owned a mossberg 590 for many years and bought a semi. Shot the semi all the time, the pump collected dust so I wound up selling it cheap to a friend that needed it.
 
ThrowBack said:
I'm partial to a semi myself. I owned a mossberg 590 for many years and bought a semi. Shot the semi all the time, the pump collected dust so I wound up selling it cheap to a friend that needed it.
Click to expand...

Now that's what a good friend does! My only recent experience with a semi is my buddy's Benelli M4 14". Great SG and I wish he would sell it to me cheap (because I need it:)) But then again it would probably end up collecting dust cause I like pump action SG's…also, revolvers, bolt action rifles, manual trans cars, etc. I think I'm onto something….
 
Ive used both for IPSC matches cuz I can run the course twice.

I like the fact that its two types of shotguns with different styles of operating and most importantly: reloading.
Here is my son and I using a pump and a semi..




 
So far there have been a few used shotguns that have piqued my interest... A few 870s (I'd probably buy a new express and set it up for my personal preferences... it's not that hard or costly, and probably cheaper than some of the ones on the EE) and a couple of 11-87s.

I'm not all that familiar with the 11-87, anything special a guy would need to know with regards to running cheap target loads/generic slugs? possibly in alternating succession?

Should I hold out and save for a Versa-Max? Or an M2/Super Black Eagle? The 3.5" models appeal to me for a certain reason :D

What about the Hatsan? I know the Turks have a reputation of making some great shotguns, and some ugly yet reliable ones too.

I'm actually leaning away from something with a pistol grip, and intent on mounting a red dot.

Those of you who have said to get both... YOU ARE NOT HELPING AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!
 
My pump action 590 is my favourite shotgun. Followed by my D.A. Grizzly 870 then my Hatsan MP-A. Semi auto is lots of fun but for a real "go to" shotty I'll always stick with a pump. Unless I could get my hands on a Benelli M4 haha..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom