worn out pump shotgun ?

[schneiderguy]

Some people on shotgunworld claim to have 200k+ rounds through their 870s and still going strong

[bickybiskit]

i cant believe 200,000 is a legit number .

[2nd Shot]

When I was researching my Baikal MP-153, I read about a test where an Italian crew put 50,000 rounds through one in FIVE days. They cooled it off by dunking it in water when it was too hot to hold onto. They broke one spring, which was replaced and the gun still works and was put on display.

If a gas op semi auto can survive that, I have little doubt that an 870 that isn't outright abused will do 100,000+

If anybody would know, it's probably a hardcore clay shooter - I think shooting 6 figures worth of ammo is not uncommon in the sporting clay/trap/skeet world.

[bickybiskit]

real shot gunners shoot clays other just hide their precious behind a door

[ScottB]

i cant believe 200,000 is a legit number .

A decent double no problem. Not sure about 870s but with proper maintenance it wouldn't surprise me. Krieghoffs are supposed to be good for 500K before a rebuild. My K32 was built in 1964 and probably has at least 200K through it and its solid.

[BigFatGuy]

I think a more interesting question is: how worn out can a pump shotgun be and still function properly?

I figure, the plastic hull does the real sealing against the chamber, so the bolt likely doesn't need to be especially tight. The sliding action will loosen with age, but most likely see that as a good thing.

Springs get replaced, and as long as the extractor and the firing pin stay solid...

Then again, how much of this longevity is really the "george washington's axe" problem?

(This is George Washington's axe. It's been in my family for 400 years. Sure, we replace the handle every so often and it's had a few new heads, but this is George Washington's axe...)

[mcmikeblues7]

I only have about 1500 rounds through my 870 in the past year. it shows no signs of wear. I would bet it would be in the tens of thousands of rounds if properly maintained.
now, Kim Rhode has over 2 million rounds in her career, and has only used two guns since she stopped growing, and only needed to replace the first one due to theft. Then again, she was shooting a Perazzi.