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I will grant that a pistol grip would preclude its use, but for now they seem to work pretty well. This type of glowing report was the main reason I bought an 870 . However, mine and a number of other new owner’s experienced jamming and locking-up of the pump when attempting to extract a shell. Seems the attention-to-detail aspect has lacked and units are being shipped with small imperfections in the chamber that causes the shell to cant sideways and jam on extraction. Numerous YouTube videos demonstrate how to hone the affected area. I contacted Remington to arrange for return/repair and they balked at the idea as I was not using the recommended Remington brand ammunition.
With the polymer stock on my Express it was an easy matter to purchase a short or adjustable stock to fit. If you can swing it the Police, even used, is a great option but I have one complaint. It is very hard to find a short walnut shoulder stock for the Police. You will have to have a gunsmith shorten it if necessary based on your stature. My opinion is the 870 is a great utility HD shotgun. I've had my 870 police magnum for 20 years now, and I'm very happy with it.
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When you rack the 870, the gun feels solid and well-built. When racking the Mossy 500, it feels like it’s about to come apart. While the finish and design on the 870 is sleek and solid, the 500 has some exposed mechanics and a strange slotted lifter design that I just don’t like. Other things come down to personal preference, like my partiality for the Remington’s cross bar safety as opposed to the Mossberg tang-mounted safety. But overall, the Remington is still a clear winner. The pump-action Remington 870 is the classic shotgun in the minds of most people because it’s the one they have seen and been around most often.
It is a matter of personal preference, but the Mossberg 500 open gate offers less snag-ability. Both are high-quality shotguns, and it comes down to personal preference. Out of the box, it seems the 870 does have something of an edge.
Remington 870 Home Defense
The versatility of the Remington 870 goes on from there, with nearly a dozen more variations and dozens more configurations beyond those. The 870 Wingmaster is a favorite for skeet, trap and field shooting, while the compact 870 Tac-14, with its Raptor-style pistol grip and Magpul M-LOK forend is designed for self-defense . Twin action bars prevent binding and twisting for smooth, reliable pump action operation. 870s used to be a quality pump shotgun, now the 870 clones are high quality but the actual Remington 870 isn't worth buying.
While your average 90-degree pistol grip is pretty brutal on the wrist, the bird’s head grip is much more comfortable to shoot full-power loads. Instead, it sits in a category best described as “other,” AKA a pistol grip firearm. Because it’s not technically a shotgun, it’s not limited to an 18-inch minimum barrel length, so the 14-inch barrel that the TAC-14 is equipped with is perfectly legal. Those shotguns were mostly built with 12.5-inch barrels, but some early models had the 14-inch barrels we see here in the TAC-14 models. Regardless, this is the first time we’ve seen something so close to those originals without the NFA being involved.
Mini Shells
This particular model comes with the classic wood pistol grip and forend as opposed to the polymer furniture on the standard TAC-14. With the above said, the ‘Remy HD’ performed flawlessly in my hands and that of my shooting companion. Ten yards seems to be an optimum distance for these mini shells as the shot pattern expands a lot after ten yards. Running a pistol grip on a shotgun that is used to fire mini shells would be no problem. All that said, a pump shotgun that I’ve found superior to the 870 for hunting is the Browning BPS. ALL heavy-duty steel, fine walnut, and smooth as silk operation.
With buckshot out the 15 yards was the tap out point with standard buckshot. At 15 yards, with the TAC-14’s fixed cylinder bore, a couple of rounds of buckshot covers the entire torso of a target. This was a target hit with two rounds of standard Rio buckshot. The Federal 00 Buckshot with the flight control holds up much better. That’s because the recoil isn’t delivered directly into your wrist. Instead, it feels as if travels mostly upwards.
Reviews
I honestly don’t shoot that much, but I see how it can be a bit annoying. It also simplifies cleanup since you don’t have to chase hulls. I like it since I like to switch up shooting from left and right shoulder.
After that experience I fixed the gun as best as possible and sold it. I love this gun and after putting close to 1000 rounds through this gun it’s still running smooth. The 870 has been riding in the back of a patrol car for close to 8 years. Though the Mossbergs are popular shotguns in my experience they are not duty grade by any means I have herd many other stories about negative experiences with them.
Years ago, I went with a Remington 870P-Max for almost 3x more. I don't know if people want to spend that amount or get use out of it for that price compared to Bud's advertised $348 cash price for the Remington 870 Hardwood Home Defense. That said the grizzly thing is theory for me.
Also included is a rubber recoil absorbing butt pad, which is damn near required when shooting a shotgun this light — the gun weighs only a hair over seven pounds. At the top of the stock Remington has crafted in a good-sized comb that gives the shooter a solid cheek rest when aiming the gun, rounding out the fine design of the rear section of the firearm. The differences between 20 gauge and 12 gauge shotguns are already well-known and documented. When it comes to the Model 870 Express, the differences are not too many. 12 and 20 are the only gauges in which the Express is offered, but other versions of the 870 are available in 16 gauge, 28 gauge, and .410 bore. The 870 Express has 3 12-gauge options (one being the left-handed Express), and 7 20-gauge options.
Personally, the 1.75-inch and 2.25-inch shells would be a good choice for indoor or outdoor, close-in work. For distances past 10-yards, I would rather rely on full-power loads to extend the range, maximize the impact on the target, and keep the spread as tight as possible. The Remington 870 Home Defense, as most 870 shotguns these days, incorporates a key-lock safety that is part of the safety button. Personally, I don’t have a use for them, but I know how to use them.
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