Remington Model 870 Hardwood Home Defense

I shop at Walmart, from time to time, and I drive a well broken in Ford. McDonald’s loomed large in my selection of fine cuisine… or at least it did until my heart and arteries decided they could no longer share in that experience. I’ve had more, I’ve had less. I’ve been all over the world, military and business, but I still like being in Maine, home, the best. In short, I am an average old guy.

Expensive, fine firearms occasionally pass through Real Guns hands, I admire them, photograph them, shoot them, then clean them and send them back to the manufacturer before they are damaged in handling. I personally own none. I am not a collector, I am a shooter, and see value only in accuracy, reliability, quality of materials, and quality of assembly.

So I was very happy about the arrival of the Remington Model 870 Hardwood Home Defense as it would make my post article life free of angry email… for the most part. There is no big price tag to rile up the masses, there are no superfluous features to attack. There is no fancy walnut to scratch, there is no glossy finish to attract the attention of intruders. It is a shotgun by any other name, robust in design, reliable in function and constructed of durable materials.

The Remington Model 870 was announced in 1950 as the sixth in a progression of Remington pump shotguns, which takes Remington into its 106th year of producing this type of product.

The Remington Repeating Shotgun of 1908 became the Model 10… in 1911. It marked Remington’s first foray into pump action shotguns. Solid breech, 12 gauge, hammerless and bottom eject. A total of 275,542 were produced with a limited number outfitted with bayonet lugs or without the lugs, but with 20″ barrels, that saw WW I service.

The Remington Model 17 was a 1913 John Browning design, licensed by Remington. Over the course of its run, 72,644 were produced. The Model 17 was also a bottom load and eject shotgun, however, it was a take down model and lighter in weight. IN 1919, after design refinements were made by John Pedersen, the Model 17 was made available in 20 gauge.

The Remington Model 29 offered 12 gauge 5 shot, rather than 3 shot capacity. It also has a simplified take down system and a cross bolt safety. Production was 37,933 over its run. The Remington Model 31 was produced in 12, 16 and 20 gauge versions. Magazine capacity was 4 or 2. While this was also a bottom load, hammerless, take down, it was Remington’s first side eject shotgun. A total of 160,000 were manufactured.

This model, the Remington Model 870 has been in production since 1950. A new design that borrowed from Remington’s 11-48 autoloader, it featured a more secure lock up in a hardened barrel extension, a new locking block and a redesigned and improved slide. Over the years is had been produced in 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge and .410 bore. In continuous production for 64 years, over 10,000,000 have been produced. Over the years, Remington built a well earned reputation for designing and manufacturing superior shotguns.

A shotgun for home defense…

My primary weapon for self defense is a handgun, revolver or autoloader, typically with standard velocity, medium to heavy expanding bullets. A handgun is compact, so there are few mechanical appendages exposed for an intruder to grab. Penetration in a target can be determined by match up between gun, caliber and ammunition. A handgun is fast handling in close quarters. A handgun, in most cases, has relatively high capacity.

Parked in a safe place with all occupants present, while waiting for law enforcement to arrive, offers a different set of circumstances where compact and fast handling compromises might be traded off for close in lethality. Close in, twenty feet or so, a shotgun torso wound is devastating and practicing point and shoot targeting makes for speed and accuracy. I think the difference between a 45 caliber autoloader and this Remington pump shotgun looks about like this…

 

 

There are lots of opinions regarding the suitability of shotguns for home defense and the types of ammunition that are appropriate. Some of it is legitimate, some of it is the basis for selling never ending, trick of the week refresher seminars. In the end, the one that works for an individual and instills confidence is the best, keeping in mind the task is defense, not offense and the average homeowner will not have the skill set of professional law enforcement or people who have served in combat.

While 00 buck seems to be a commonly selected load for 12 gauge shotgun defense, birdshot works for me within the probably 7 +/- a few yards that apply to the circumstances surrounding a shotgun defense; single room, single access all family members present.

If I am away, and my wife is the person welding the shotgun, the choice is: Remington American Clay & Field 12 gauge 2 3/4″ 1200 fps 1 1/8 Oz shot, #7 1/2 birdshot. When I am home, the choice is Remington Hypersonic Steel 12 gauge 3″ 1700 fps 1 1/4 Oz of shot, #2 birdshot. The latter appears in the video above.

Honestly, I don’t know if one outperforms the other. There are 394 lead pellets in the Clay & Field, there are approximately 156 pellets in the steel load. Recoil for the former is modest when fired from the Model 760 Home Defense, more… robust with the steel load. I’m old and brittle, but I’ve been able to shoot the Remington steel loads accurately, within a confined space, when shouldered or fired from the hip. Don’t like birdshot? Buckshot, smoothbore slugs and less lethal ammo are options.

In the words of Chicago… What else can I say?

The Remington Model 870 Hardwood Home Defense shotgun is low in cost, but it isn’t short on looks. The matte finish is uniform on all surfaces and it goes well with the darkish satin finished hardwood. The barrel/magazine clamp ties things securely together and it is a handy attaching point for a sling. The six round magazine is a good choice for a shotgun with this intended application.

The stock pull at 14″ is pretty standard for a pump gun. The slide is full in the hand, the finger grove at the top falls in the right place when gripped, the side operates, ejecting and chambering, smoothly. The Model 870 is compatible with all standard 870 barrels, requiring no modification for use.

The bottom is clean, the crossbolt safety and action bar lock are typically located. Actuation of controls is crisp. The receiver is plain, matte, but part of an overall good look.

Personality

I hauled the Remington Model 870 Hardwood Home Defense around with me for some days and shot it in the surrounding woods, putting many threatening tree stumps to rest. Probably more fun than work is supposed to be, but that made up for the truly lousy weather. At 10°F, in snow showers and ice crusted snow, the Model 870 worked without a hitch. I never once felt like I was carrying a value priced shotgun, even though I was, as there is nothing cheap about the way this shotgun is made. Remington seems to be working overtime to make sure their customers know they make firearms of excellent quality, regardless the price tag. I like it.