QUOTE: "... In the '70s as we all know S&W wheelguns were the only thing in their holsters and the 870 rode in the rack. Although it is a very nicely made gun (the S&W Model 3000) offered nothing over the 870..."
Or maybe it did. I stated in an earlier post (no. 10) in this thread that, "...There are some who argue that the Model 3000 is actually superior for police/self-defense use over the Remington Model 870 for the reason that it is not subject to a certain type of jam that the Model 870 is potentially vulnerable to...".
Though the Model 3000 looks an awful lot like a Remington Model 870 and has a steel receiver to boot, in an old police journal, from an article entitled "Riot Gun Shoot-out", Sgt. Gary Paul Johnson reported, "...If the Remington Model 870 has one shortcoming, it has to be the stoppage prone situation resulting from a cartridge falling back into the carrier when not loaded completely into the magazine tube. Loading in a hurry can provoke just such a situation. It can also happen with worn weapons. If the stuck round is the first into the tube, there is no problem, as the action can be cycled to clear and chamber it. It becomes more critical, however, with the second or third round, due to the increasing magazine spring pressure, and if it's the fourth round, as is most likely, the action can not be cycled in the normal manner and there is a stoppage. This condition can also occur in short-stroking the action, or not bringing the fore-end fully and sharply to the rear, especially with a damaged round. Stoppages are particularly dangerous in police work, because when an officer cycles his shotgun, it is because he needs it at the moment. It is not that this stoppage cannot be quickly cleared, because it can by placing the butt on a firm surface and sharply pulling the fore-arm back with both hands. Or if this fails, by slamming the butt down, using the same hold.
"In a gunfight, however, seconds are precious. Mr. Madden (Smith & Wesson's Eastern Region Sales Manager at the time) explained that this problem had been engineered out of the Model 3000, and that any round so slipping could be easily and quickly cycled through the action.
"Anxious to compare the two guns, I took the Smith & Wesson Model 3000 to the range along with a near new Remington Model 870...I loaded the Remington with four rounds, and with difficulty, I artificially produced the stoppage condition described. The action could not be worked normally, and it took both hands on the fore-end with the butt placed on the floor to clear and cycle the action. The Smith & Wesson Model 3000 was then loaded with four rounds and, with difficulty, I artificially created the same stoppage. Even with the full magazine, the Smith & Wesson cycled in the normal manner, clearing and chambering the 'jammed' round with ease.
"Normally, such occurrences are rare, and with new guns and good ammo, I had to work at creating them. While I do not fear it happening to me in the line of duty, I would dread for it to occur to an officer unfamiliar with the problem, unless he or she was using the Model 3000-but then there really would be no problem..."
I thought some of you folks might find this interesting, if not informative.
Untouched by me, other than shooting, cleaning the barrel and action and an occasional wipe down. I suspect the finish, a satin version of the gloss found on Wingmasters, is synthetic; a urethane of sorts. Remember that these were made by Howa for S&W. Howa has made rifles for Weatherby and others; all fine hunting rifles with superbly-figured woods. I was fortunate to find this shotgun in the previously-owned rack at my dealer here in Los Angeles (Martin B. Retting, Culver City, CA).