Obviously it's not required and is all preference but an auto is a better option in almost all circumstances. Easier in recoil, faster follow up, todays versions are VERY reliable, lighter gun just to name a few.
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Worth the switch?
- Thread starter TNBuck2
- Start date
I'll take the 870 off your hands
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woodsman04
Well-Known Member
I'd keep it because it's a remington 870. They are a big deal these days. Wish I had one.
Gobble4me757
Well-Known Member
So I started with a 870 youth pump of mine. I switched to a benelli and now a franchi. I like my semi autos as they weigh less. Definitely keep the 870 pump though.
Until it jams. While likely exceedingly rare, that chance on a turkey is not one I am willing to take. Furthermore, the fact I have to trim hulls for finicky autoloaders (will not routinely eject same 3" hull my 870 will), is just another "thing" that steers me away from an autoloader "for turkey hunting". I have not shot any of the newer $2k autos, so my concerns may be dated and misplaced, but I have witnessed autos jam across all game species. One jam is too many IMO.
Soft Talker
Well-Known Member
And I mean really, are the guys hunting the semi's that big of pansies, that they cannot handle the extra "recoil" and maybe half .lb difference in weight.
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Well folks, I went ahead and ordered a Stoeger m3020 yesterday. I've had this itch, off and on, for the last 3 years and decided to scratch it. Plenty of good points on both sides of the discussion but in the end, the heart wants what the heart wants. Fun times ahead with chokes, patterns and decisions about using a bead or getting an optic mounted. I'll keep my 870 for now because when it comes to having too many guns, I don't think I've hit the limit. 
Sure. Didn't mean to imply they won't. I've shot them for almost 15 years now and that's 2000+ shots from turkey, ducks and clays and never had one jam with a wide variety of ammo. TO ME the VERY limited risk is worth it for all the other benefits it has. Having said that I've always shot benelli guns minus some stoegers I've had (only owned inertia guns)
Funny enough the only gun I've ever owned that completely failed was an 870 pump. Literally fell apart during a duck hunt 15 years go and I was stuck with no other gun to use. Remington replaced it, sold it and went to an auto and never looked back
Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
Congratulations on the new shotgun! That is NEVER a bad choice.
You did the right thing in adding the semi-auto and keeping the 870. I loved my 870's but as I got older, they weren't as much fun to shoot. I sold all my pumps off until I didn't have a shotgun left. My BIL wanted to shoot clays at our shooting get togethers, so I bought a Remington 1100 Competition Synthetic. It's amazing, talk about a cream puff. 12GA goodness.
You'll love it. I cut the front site off of mine because it's permanently attached and added a FF3.Well folks, I went ahead and ordered a Stoeger m3020 yesterday. I've had this itch, off and on, for the last 3 years and decided to scratch it. Plenty of good points on both sides of the discussion but in the end, the heart wants what the heart wants. Fun times ahead with chokes, patterns and decisions about using a bead or getting an optic mounted. I'll keep my 870 for now because when it comes to having too many guns, I don't think I've hit the limit.
Sounds like the common theme is Remington lol
More than likely, the common theme was Remington at the end of their run. For many decades, I suspect most of the shotgun world viewed the Remington 870 as the most reliable shotgun on the market. If you wanted something that could paddle a boat, drive nails, but never fail to fire at a duck, you carried an 870. The abuse they could take and still function was legendary.
The 870 Express-not so much.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Interestingly, many years ago, I ran across a comparative study that demonstrated no significant difference in the number of jams regarding autoloaders vs. pumps, i.e. happened at about the same rate with both.
That's the point I was getting to. Granted my sample size is 4 guns and about 4 other buddies guns with a few thousand rounds and never had a jam. I think people just have an opinion or see someone's that does it so it becomes the norm. I've personally just never seen it with the ones I know. I have seen pumps jam and misfire though but again small sample size
So the discussion has changed from Pump Vs. Semi-auto to Remington Vs. All the company's that's wanted to be Remington?
So the discussion has changed from Pump Vs. Semi-auto to Remington Vs. All the company's that's wanted to be Remington?
Not at all. Remington made some AWESOME stuff for a long time. Obviously that changed years ago and the only 2 examples of total failures happen to be Remingtons in this thread
If you want complete reliability there's only one name in that game ………Mossberg 88 
deerhunter10
Well-Known Member
In a dove field I have seen pumps have problems as well. Most jams around guns especially newer ones are operator error and not gun error. I will be in the minority I hated my 870. If you want to carry around a rock I'll pick up a 835 before a 870. Hated my versamax as well. Only Remington I ever liked is a 1100. We are around a ton of guns semi autos and pumps the ones we see the most issues with is Berettas and cheaper guns in pumps and autos. With that said if yal are really worried about a follow up shot with no jams carry and over and under or old school double barrel. I am fully aware there are lemons in every brand just what we have seen. The guns with the least issues benelli brownings we have a pile of 1100 and 1187s that hunt with us. And plenty of pumps with zero issues. Just our experience. If I was worried about a jam keeping me from owning or buying a semi auto I'd say your stuck in your ways more than anything. Not to mention I can count on 1 hand how many times a 2nd shot has killed a turkey for me and I've killed a pile and been apart of a pile being killed.
