[steve0]

Is the 870 a pump? Why is pump better than semi-auto. I want the speed of a semi-auto, right?

[Little Pig]

The 870 is a pump. They’re much more reliable. The semiautos are tricky, I think because the big recoil bangs things around, and shotgun shells are dirty compared to cartridges.

[UPcrawfish]

Rem 870 is a pump as is the Mossberg 500. Both can be retrofitted with extended magazine tubes. A pump will slow you down and you have a more controlled situation without the fast expenditure of ammunition. The sound of a pump shotgun racking a round into the chamber is quite a sobering sound in the darkness for someone who is not where they are supposed to be.

[flintsilver7]

The 870 is a pump. It has a long track record of reliability and performance. If you really want an autoloaded, the Remington 1100 is pretty good as well. I don’t feel like you’re really gaining much by going to an autoloader.

[gundog]

I want the speed of a semi-auto, right?

You'd be amazed at the speed of a pump. You sound inexperienced. Get a pump...870's hard to go wrong with. And go hunt some birds with it. Work on muscle memory...make it an extension of yourself.