Rem 870 Tactical or Benelli M4 - both SBS

[Irving]

I think the Benelli has plenty of field experience, but probably a lot less people who've cut one down.

EDIT: Hey, what kind of stock are you thinking of having? I'm still trying to decide myself.

[SA Friday]

The Benelli M4 is an inerta operated semi-auto with two gas pistons to back up the inerta system for low recoil rounds like less-than-lethal rounds.

The Rem 870 is a pump action shotgun.

It's hard to compare a semi to a pump, but I think it boils down to the reliability of the pump and the faster cyclic rate of the semi. Both are minor differences in this case as the Benelli's are pretty damn reliable for a semi, and with practice you can really cycle the snot out of a 870. The second thing is price. The Benelli is going to cost at least double if not triple the 870.

You want the cool factor and can afford it, go with the Benelli. You want reliability and cheaper, go with the 870.

Then, go practice with it with your wife, a lot.

Side note, I prefer 18" barrels over 14" barrels. We had both in OSI, and the 14" barrels had a buckshot pattern that could hit three people at 25 yds. The 18" barrels would at least keep the shot on one target at 25 yds. This was with what the military gave us to shoot. I'm sure with the new federal shot cups it would be differen, but I never found the 4" of barrel to be a problem when manuvering through a house or structure.

[Daniel_187]

Benelli's are super hard to get parts for. I had a M2 and hated it with a passion. Now I only buy American made stuff. There shot guns are Ok but with a 5 year warrnty and parts hard to find, I would get the remmy

[BigBear]

I appreciate the input. 18 inch it may stay then. Cool factor is fun at times, but I'm more of a practicality person.

Stuart, I have not given thought to stock options yet. I'm not too fond of the ar15 looking aftermarket one that most people have. A folding stock I'm not too interested in either. I like things to feel solid.

[Irving]

SA Friday, do you know anything about choking a SBS shotgun? I've asked before, but it seems to be an off the wall question and not many people seem to desire that sort of thing.

[BigBear]

Speaking of chokes.... how about some info on chokes and slugs... I've heard that you ought not shoot slugs if you have a choke system...

[Irving]

The rifling built into the slugs is partially to spin the round, and partially to compress through the choke. I've shot rifled slugs out of my modified choke in the end of my 26" 870 barrel and didn't have any problems. Just make sure you aren't shooting Sabot slugs out of a choked barrel. I'm under the impression that MOST chokes are okay for rifled slugs, but would be careful to make sure you don't have some esoteric choke like the square duck choke.

[SA Friday]

SA Friday, do you know anything about choking a SBS shotgun? I've asked before, but it seems to be an off the wall question and not many people seem to desire that sort of thing.

As I understand it, it depends on how the barrel is made. If the barrel is straight bore and the same diameter at the new shorter length that it was on the end that was threaded for the choke, then it's a matter of getting a gunsmith to rethread and cut it for the desired choke pattern.

On a home defense shotgun with a 18" ish barrel, there's really no reason to have anything other than a basic IC on it. Lot's cheaper to have it IC or cylinder than to spend the serious cash to have it set up for chokes.

I've never looked at putting chokes in a chopped barrel, so this is all theoretical. I've been extremely happy with my 21" iron sighted Rem slug barrel with permanent IC choke on the end for home defense. So, never really looked at anything else other than what I shot for the military in a short barreled shotgun. I fricken hated the 14" chopped 870's we had. They looked cool and shot like shit. 20 yds and those things were nothing but spray and pray guns. I personally, like to aim.

[Irving]

See I get the, "It doesn't matter for a home defense gun" line all the time; but your experience tells me differently. I'm sure I'll use my HD gun at the range a lot more than I will in a HD situation.

[BigBear]

Here we go with teh acronyms... IC stand for? "Integrated choke" maybe?.... Help.