It was 2009 when I decided to buy a gun for home defense. I researched the topic on the Internet and decided on a shotgun. Further research led me to choose the Remington 870 because it is used by law enforcement, by the military, and has a decades long reputation for reliability. I compared the Remington 870 to the Mossberg 500 and just liked the fit and feel of the 870 better.
When I purchased the shotgun, which by the way was a very basic model in black parkerized with bead front sight. The cost was $330.00 and I bought the gun over other 870 models because I thought the cheap basic model would do the job just fine, which it would. I familiarized myself with the 870 because I didn’t have any prior experience with a pump shotgun. Became familiar with the safety, loading, and racking a round into the chamber. Shot a box of shells at the range and decided I didn’t care for the bead front sight. So went back the gun shop and traded the basic model for an 870 with ghost ring sights. The model was the Remington 870 tactical with ghost ring sights and tactical breaching device. The breaching extension allows the muzzle of the gun to be placed on a door lock or door hinge to blow the door open. I don’t really have a need for the breaching device but it looks cool.
A trip to the range with the new shotgun proved that I was right to get the ghost ring sights. No guess work here, just put the sights on the target and hit the bulls eye. I learned that a shotgun is a versatile and very accurate weapon.
The knockdown power of the 12 gauge slug is devastating. A 12 gauge slug is equivalent to .730 caliber, a full ounce in weight, and travels at 1600 FPS.
The effect of 00 buck is like getting hit by nine .33 caliber pellets all at once.
The shotgun shot spreads at the rate of about 1.5 inches per yard depending on the type of ammunition, the barrel, and the choke. My Remington 870 has about an 18″ pattern using 00 buck at 15 yards. The spread at 7 yards is about 8 inches. At the distances that would be encountered inside a home a pattern of 6″ to 9″ could be expected.
Model number 81198, black parkerized with tactical extension breaching
My Remington 870 Tactical features
- 18 1/2″ tactical barrel with XS® front blade sight
- Rem choke tactical breaching device
- Drilled and tapped receiver
- XS Ghost Ring sight Rail fully adjustable
- SpeedFeed III pistol grip stock with tactical style fore-end
- 6 + 1 total capacity of 2 3/4″ or 3″ shells