Yesterday we shared the word that Remington will soon produce its 10 MILLIONTH 870 pump shotgun.
Hunters around the world know the reputation of the 870. It was about 40 years ago when my friends introduced me in a very rude way to the 870 pump.
At the time I shot a Remington 1100 semi-auto. This was back when we actually had real winters around here and I remember all too many waterfowling days when my 1100 would "freeze up." One day in particular stands out... it was 1977 and like it was yesterday, I remember hovering over a feeble fire far behind the duck blind trying to "thaw out" my 1100. Meanwhile my friends rubbed salt in the wound, dispensing regular shot volleys from their 870's as flock after flock of ducks poured into the decoys.
That was the day I knew that on my next duck hunt, I would be carrying a Remington 870.
See "My 870 Over the Years" Photo Gallery below.
Granted, it took me a while to learn to "pump." But I picked it up fast, and soon realized that I could typically unleash faster shots, with greater accuracy, with a pump than I could with the semi-auto.
Of course a shotgun of any variety has a hefty recoil, which forces the barrel up and off the target. I soon realized that the "pump action" of instinctively forcing the forearm forward, also pulled my barrel back down, allowing to me to re-acquire a target even faster than I could with the semi-auto.
And through four decades my original Remington 870 served me well... never failing me through miles of mud, blood and freezing conditions. In spite of one wayward "used" 870 I bought, I am absolutely convinced they are the most reliable firearm ever produced under any conditions.
I must admit that a couple of years ago, I upgraded... or so I thought. A good friend offered me an excellent deal on a Benelli Nova Pump he won at a Ducks Unlimited banquet. I decided it was time to retire the original 2-and-3/4 inch 870 for the 3-inch Benelli Magnum. I succumbed to the modern-day peer pressure that more firepower is better.
It was a mistake.
I quickly learned that the Benelli had a terrible trigger pull... something I never realized could be a factor on a shotgun. But time after time my finger applied the same amount of trigger pressure required during decades of shooting the 870... and nothing happened. Then I lost my swing on whatever game bird I was tracking, jerked the trigger to force the Benelli to fire, and of course, missed.
I've had a gunsmith hone down the Benelli trigger pull. It is better.
But everytime I leave the house with a shotgun these days... I turmoil over which gun to carry.
Trust me... 10,000,000 Remington 870's can't be wrong.