Which one would you buy?

[FM]

I bought an 870 express super magnum this fall. Works flawlessly, but as a few people have mentioned the finish is terrible. If you get any metal on the gun wet dry it as soon as possible, because it is very prone to rusting. I would try and find an older 870 or go for a NOVA.

 

[9jrl1]

What FM said.

Bought an 870 super express magnum in September. I've barely used it at all, and the forearm has already started to visibly rub off some of the finish on the magazine tube. But, I guess you get what you pay for.

 

[mdbuckle]

Out of the list you provided I would go with the 870, but if it were me I would spend a little extra and get a Nova. You may not like all the plastic, but mine has been tortured while duck hunting. Dropped a million times, lost it in a pond for a couple days, put about 5000 rounds through it since with no problem at all. My 870 needed a total rehaul after a season of duck hunting. The Nova is worth every penny IMHO. For durability and reliability it is second to none...

Just my 2 cents...

 

[Claven2]

Claven,

You have some very good points that help understand your choice of shotguns. With that in mind, have you thought of getting a Browning BPS? They have all of the craftsmanship that you describe and seem to be looking for. They are not that expensive ($529 or $549 the last time that I checked at my local dealer).

Still, I do not want to be a pain but I would strongly recommend that you look into the Nova if you have put the Stoeger P-350 on your list. Get the real thing. Once you go black you...ha,ha...just kidding

Let us know what you bought.
BT

I'm not shotgun shopping - have too manyalready! lol...
I have looked at the BPS before. It's nice and all, but frankly Browning makes the only Auto I want (vintage Auto-5). The 870 feels more substantial to me than the BPS.

The P-350 IS a Benelli Nova in Stoeger clothing (all owned my the Beretta parent company!).

 

[Claven2]

I've got to disagree. If you put my 85' Sportsman 870 beside todays Express 870 you be hard pressed to say that the guns were made by the same company, let alone from the same parts bin. I recently purchased a Remington shotgun online. Not seeing a new Remington in the flesh (for years now) I was quite surprised in the difference in fit and finish between the older and newer gun. I sold my Nova not long ago and regret it. The polymer design is genius, a very durable, dependable gun. Its not on the list... .

I agree that the current crop of expresses have a crappy finish. My express is an older, pre-dimpled mag tube version. The older ones used a military grade Parkerizing. the newer ones have a less durable and cheaper Spray N Bake type finish that I'm not fond of. The parts ARE the same, but the higher end guns are better fit, polished and finished. the end effect is aesthetically very different to be sure, but they will both work as reliably. The Express takes a little while to wear the slide bars in unless you do some polishing to speed the wear process up though. Hey, they gotta cut SOME corners to drop the price more than in half!

I'm not argueing that the Nova is a good shotgun or not, it is. It WILL work. But it's plastic, and like a dependable Glock, I have no desire to ever own one. I DO like Aluminum and plastic AR15's though... weird huh? But for shotguns and pistols, I like cold hard steel.