Is this shotgun worth the money?

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ObsceneJesster

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I took a trip to one of the many brick and mortars in my area hoping to find a nice tactical type shotgun to add to my collection. I do not have a tactical shotgun and it's something I've always wanted. I narrowed my choice down to a 870 due to the many parts available for them but I've been hearing the Express model is prone to rust.

Anyway, the shotgun that caught my eye today was the Remington 870 Express tactical. It's the one with the ghost ring sights and breaching choke on the front. I've seen this model before but this one particularly got my interest because it also had a Cerakote finish which would fix the rusting issues.

I didn't purchase it right away because I wanted to do my research on the Cerakote finish which I've never heard of. The same exact model they have minus the Cerakote finish is on Buds listed for $550. My local brick and mortar is asking $700 for it. My question is. Would the Cerakote finish be worth the extra $100?
 
I have the same model 870 with the standard finish and I have to say that it is barely more than a simple paint job. So if something more than a bare minimum finish is worth $100 to you, than I'd go for the Cerakote model. Though I have no experience with Cerakote, it almost certainly has to be better than the standard finish.
 
Sounds like a lot for a shotgun. I picked up a used Mossberg 500 clone and did a diy. Got a little over $100 in it including a red dot. I kept the barrel at 20" so it can still be used for hunting. Also got to enjoy the build.
 
No doubt the 870 is a nice shotgun but there are a lot of preowned.shotguns that can be had for a nice price. My Mossberg 835 cost me $200 and looks like brand new and that's Cabelas price. My 500 is going out for cerakote, its a good finish and I think tougher than duracoat. Then it gets a collapsing stock and forend. Maybe $300 in it all together and a good shotgun.
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NO, a Cerakote shake & bake spray paint finish is not worth an extra $100 dollars.

You can do a similar job yourself on top of Parkerizing for 1/3 that.

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...s/gun-kote-oven-cure-gun-finish-prod1150.aspx

On the other hand, Parkerizing has been the go to war and come back finish by itself for over half a century.

There is no rusting issue to fix!
If you take 30 minutes time out of your busy schedule to clean & oil your weapon every once and a while when they get sweat, mud, or blood on them.

And rust can start under a tiny scratch in a paint finish where you can't see it, no matter what you call it, or try to do to stop it.

rc
 
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Rc is right, shake & spray isn't worth it. I'm sending mine in for a baked finish which I understand IA quite durable.
 
After doing some research, I am under the impression that Cerakote is not shake n spray and that it is baked on. I see companies charging over $200 for a Cerakote finish on your shotgun.
 
The gun isn't worth $700 and the finish $200. I don't care if they lick it on. Last Police Ithaca 37 'Deerslayer' I have seen was only $279. While it hard to find one for that bargain price it's far superior shotgun to any 'Express' pump Remington could ever make.
 
I have the 870 Express Tactical and think it's a very nice shotgun. I removed the silly breacher and replaced with a Improved Cylinder choke. I then repainted the whole gun with spray on black krylon.
 
If you want new and good one try to find BPS with long magazine tube. Not sure what those were called, but the weapon had some kind of smooth parkerized finish that makes the action very smooth. Last one I seen was over year ago and these are seldom seen in new gun racks but well worth seeking out. Price is around $400 if I recall correctly.
 
rcmodel said:
NO, a Cerakote shake & bake spray paint finish is not worth an extra $100 dollars.

You can do a similar job yourself on top of Parkerizing for 1/3 that.

On the other hand, Parkerizing has been the go to war and come back finish by itself for over half a century.

There is no rusting issue to fix!

If you take 30 minutes time out of your busy schedule to clean & oil your weapon every once and a while when they get sweat, mud, or blood on them.

And rust can start under a tiny scratch in a paint finish where you can't see it, no matter what you call it, or try to do to stop it.

rc
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Agreed on all points in general; in OP's specific case, the 870 Tactical is built on the Express platform and isn't parkerized. The Express has a matte bead blast that looks a somewhat like park but is well short of the same level of protection.
 
That model is a Tacti-fool pile of junk. The Extended Tactical Joke, which we fondly call it in my shop, does nothing but add length to the weapon and give you horrible groups with buck shot and slugs wobble out of the thing. The sights are not fit for fighting and will shut down your peripheral vision when you use them. However this mess is all on a solid shotgun.

You will be better served with a Basic 870 HD or Mossberg then that pile of mess. So, you have been given some good information and bad. Now figure out which is which is which.
 
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Why not just look for an old Wingmaster and put the barrel on it you want. You can find them from $250-$275 and if you feel like you need extra rounds you can put an extension on it. If you think you need some type of sight other than a bead you can have it drilled and tapped, but less is better. You can hit a man sized target in the chest area at 75-100 yards every time with a slug and nothing other than a front bead and it doesn't take much practice. As has been said before in many threads the more junk you put on a HD shotgun is just extra weight and extra stuff to get knocked around and hung up on stuff.
 
All of your points are very well taken and I have now decided to stay away from this particular model. I want to buy new. Sorry but I have this phobia about buying used guns ever since I got the shaft on a Browning Buckmark years ago. Ever since then, all of my firearms must be new.

Now back to the topic at hand. What (New) model shotguns should I look at for HD purposes. I don't hunt and never intend to. I would like to stay right around the $600 or under mark and it must have a 18" barrel. I also want one that has a good amount of accessories for it.

What do you guys think about just the standard 870 Express and decking it out myself with quality add-ons?
 
Especially when you can go to Walmart buy a Mossberg 500 for $250, the combo is $360. You can take your savings and get the tacti-cool stuff you want.
 
It seems like everything I read, the 870's hold up better than the 500's. I haven't even thought about looking for a Mossberg.

What about the Benelli Super Nova? I've heard that is a very nice shotgun.
 
What do you guys think about just the standard 870 Express and decking it out myself with quality add-ons?
Click to expand...

You know AI&P can hook you up with anything 870 or you can go to wal-mart and ask to look through their gun book and they can usually order special models...I've done this before.
 
I'm a Mossberg fan since they have never let me down. Personally, I don't care for auto loaders, give the Mossberg 590 a look. Nice shotgun and leaves money left for accessories.
 
It seems like everything I read, the 870's hold up better than the 500's. I haven't even thought about looking for a Mossberg.

What about the Benelli Super Nova? I've heard that is a very nice shotgun.
Click to expand...

For what you are wanting to do with add on options the 870 is the way to go. I think it was Fred Fuller that said in another thread that "the 870 is the lego of shotguns" and this is quite true. As far as the 500's go...well I've had experience with older ones and newer ones (I've bought two in the past few weeks) and they are not of the quality an 870 is and i doubt they will hold up to the round count an 870 will either. I do like one of them i bought though and would not expect it to let me down when it's needed.
 
Upon further research, I am very interested in the 590 models. Below is a link to the 590A1 page on Mossberg's website. There are a couple different models. Any recommendations on which model to go for and should I expect to pay right around the MSRP listed on their site?
 
ObsceneJesster said:
Upon further research, I am very interested in the 590 models. Below is a link to the 590A1 page on Mossberg's website. There are a couple different models. Any recommendations on which model to go for and should I expect to pay right around the MSRP listed on their site?
Click to expand...
Depends upon your needs, but I'll presume home defense is your primary consideration.

I really like keeping it simple for the application:

- 6 round magazine for lighter handling and maneuverability
- 18.5" barrel for same
- bead sight for fast, simple acquisition
- cylinder bore
- 13.8" length of pull standard synthetic (non speed feed) stock
- parkerized

I'd add an Uncle Mike's neoprene shell holder on the stock, and a simple light attachment to the forend.

http://www.mossberg.com/product/sho...69,2274&redirect=1&filterNodes=2265,2269,2274

And that's it. MSRP $565, but should sell for a little less though I wouldn't balk at paying that price if inventory was scarce, and even saw one at a recent gun show new for $470.

If your needs are different, configurations might change.
 
@Glockdude.....I never knew semi-auto was the only factor in a firearms value. :banghead:

I've looked at the Saiga 12 for years now. I just never pulled the trigger on getting one. For HD, I'd rather go with a pump. The failure rate is much less and if something breaks, parts are much easier to find and much easier to fix. A Saiga 12 at $600 is very very cheap for a semi auto shotgun when compared to ones offered by Benelli and Beretta. Personally, I wouldn't own or rely on a Saiga that hasn't been converted.
 
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