I am a huge Remington 870 fan/fanatic. I will not apologize for that. Most of my shotguns are 870 Tacticals in some form or another. It’s a weapon that goes from concept to finished product execution, very well. No, it’s not perfect. But it’s very good. Almost excellent in fact.
Yet take that same gun and simply make it Semi-Auto… as in the 1100… and the gun somehow loses something. The 1187 is a bit better… but still. It’s just not right. When we have other Automatics out on the market, the Self-Loading Remingtons just fall short. I don’t know anyone who actually has a Benelli Super Black Eagle II and says “Naw, I like my 1100 better.” That guy is just not there… or he is being dishonest with himself.
Now let’s look at Remington’s latest and greatest… the Versa Max. It’s a good shotgun. It’s gas system is fairly clever. At if it had come out 10 years ago, it would have been crowned Best in Class. Unfortunately Benelli came out with their Vinci and Super Vinci, and Browning has their Maxus. Compared to the Maxus, the Versa Max is like a 73 year old Jane Fonda. Appealing to a few, but well past it’s prime for someone who just isn’t that popular or worthy of praise. Okay, that’s harsh. But true. The Versa Max feels too heavy. It also feels slow. And the stock? I tell you what, I’d rather have an 1187 than a Versa Max just because of the stock. It looks and feels cheap. Yet the Versa Max isn’t a cheap gun. It’s priced in league with the Maxus, which cycles fast, handles fast, and feels good in the hand. You would have to be a complete nutter, or an ex-pro-footballer with a sponsorship to handle a Browning Maxus and say “No, I’d rather have that brand new 10 year old Remington gun.” Seriously, unless you are Remington Freak… and every gun company has their bevets… just buy the 1100 and you’ll not miss a thing and pay only half the price for an overweight semi-auto 12 gauge.
Please don’t lower the class of your posts by referring in any positive way towards Hanoi Jane. Ugly through and through.
Much less, comparing a pretty much worthless, worn-out, defective piece of equipment to a useful shotgun.
I haven’t had enough of the weapons mentioned in your article in my hands to form a valid opinion of my own. I have, however, done enough research and listened to many Vietnam-era veterans (my father included, and many, many members of the USMC I had the honor to serve with) to have formed an opinion of Fonda.
Appealing to a few? Very few, and no one I’d want breathing the same air.
Isn’t that popular? There’s very valid reasons for that. See above, or research for yourself.
Not worthy of praise? How about worthy of Trial for sedition? Treason?
Any time that c*** gets any mention in any press, it’s another wound, another slap in the face, and another piss on the grave of our Men and Women in uniform.
[/rant]
I still need to add an 870 to my armory.
Hanoi Jane needs to be thrown in the blackest hole in Leavenworth for the rest of her miserable, worthless life. Or, better yet, put up against a wall and shot, then buried in a shallow unmarked grave. F***ing traitor.
The Beretta gas system has got more and more refined (I’d still rather have the old 303 than a 1100), the Browning (and Winchester) gas guns just get better every incarnation – but you’re right – is Remington just riding the sales of the great 870 and their auto’s are back burner to them? It’s odd.
That link to the Fonda pictures was just uncalled for. I just ate and have trouble suppressing my gag reflex :/
I’ll just stick with my Benelli M-2, thankyouverymuch.
Man, I want one of those so bad. Never handled one but I like the way it looks, and what I have read about that piece.