Remington 870 Tactical

[checkenbach]

I have been thinking about getting a shotgun to dabble in shotgun games, maybe a class or two and just because I WANT one. I'd rather not have a bazillion dollars tied up in another gamer setup, so that pretty much rules out a Benelli, or FN SLP. I went to my local FFL to pick up a pistol, and he had a consignment 870 Tactical (order #26472 on box) with a factory pistol gripstock(pre Knoxx) and +2 extension that looked brand new for $550.00.
I tried to search for the order number off the box to see how old it was and how much it sold for new, but came up empty handed. It says Tactical on the receiver, not Express which is it???? It looked great, but that seemed a bit spendy to me. I also have a line on a NIB 870 Police with a +2 extension and walnut stocks for $625.00 shipped. Or I could buy an Express Tactical with the breacher choke setup and use different chokes for more useability in gamer situations, or get a Big 5 Mossberg 590 and call it a day.

[BigDogatPlay]

Aippi will correct me if I am wrong but, largely, an 870 is an 870 is an 870. They differ a bit internally (particularly in the Police model) and manufacture (the Police model is built in a tightly controlled, fully separated area from the rest of the manufacture), but other than cosmetically they are largely the same. I believe they've been making the "tactical" model since 2005 or 2006. There are a lot of them out there.

The breacher choke set up is relatively worthless from what I've read here and elsewhere.

[GundamCL]

I would suggest getting the standard 870 18" or 20" model. The tactical model doesn't really offer much in upgrades. You should be able to pick one up from Big 5 on sale and with one of their coupons for around $350.

[hnoppenberger]

if price is the only sell point, I have two moss 500's in tac setups that work great and are around 300 new.

[FatalKitty]

there are cheaper 870 options that will do just fine.

[checkenbach]

The cheaper 870 looks like the hot setup, as I'm sure I'll be modding it anyway. The biggest reason to get the breacher barrel model is that you can use Remchokes on it. The other models(Police, Tactical) seem too expensive for what you get. Will be sale shopping this weekend!!!

[JohnFLand]

Remington Model 870 Express Tactical 12 Ga. 18.5" Pump Action Model 81198 -- Bud's Gun Shop for $453, shipped. Has the breacher barrel, Picatinny top rail, and ghost ring sights; 6+1 shells. No pistol grip.

EDIT: the price may have gone up; bought that last month.

[DougJ]

Grab one of the Big 5 coupons and get an 870 "Security" on the cheap. I did, great shotgun! It's just the Remington 870 express, synthetic stock, 7 round cap, 18.5" barrel.

[shrap]

The cheaper 870 looks like the hot setup, as I'm sure I'll be modding it anyway. The biggest reason to get the breacher barrel model is that you can use Remchokes on it. The other models(Police, Tactical) seem too expensive for what you get. Will be sale shopping this weekend!!!

A short breacher barrel setup isn't that great for clay games. A vent rib barrel at least 26" long would work a lot better.

Plus some shotgun ranges (traditionalists) won't allow you on their range with that short of a barrel.

[checkenbach]

I have a Winchester 1200 30" full choke 12 ga. for trap work, this purchase will be for tactical gaming and maybe a school or two. I don't want ghost ring sights, as I can fudge a bit with a bead when shooting slugs, I'll probably be putting a 20" vent rib barrel with chokes on it if I can find one. I went to GF&S to go shooting, and handled a bunch of stuff, the Remington stuff looked OK, the Mossbergs looked better finished and I handled a Benelli M4 and M2, VERY NICE, but ridiculous money. Still thinking, so far the 870 Security is in the lead.

[gunwurkz]

Grab one of the Big 5 coupons and get an 870 "Security" on the cheap. I did, great shotgun! It's just the Remington 870 express, synthetic stock, 7 round cap, 18.5" barrel.

What he said, you could pick a cheaper one at Big5