“Are you saying there are better combat shotguns than the 870, or that you don’t like shotguns for combat? Just a curious question, no flaming intended whatsoever.”
If I may....
The Remington 870 is THE preferred shotgun for combat and “law enforcement” (hate that term!). I personally like it and the Mossberg 500. Both can be “sporting” guns with a variety of barrel sizes and chokes. They are reliable (pump action), simple, short and preferred weapons when used for close range situations where you are worried about stray rounds penetrating walls or passing though your target to do damage “back there.” A cheap, but reliable clone of the Mossberg is the New England Firearms “pump pardner.”
I appreciate the input. I’ve got an 870 that I very occasionally use for hunting or clay birds. I was wanting to buy a shotgun for up close and personal social interactions of an intense, negative sort should the need ever arise, and was considering either another 870 or a Mossberg (primarily because of the price). Simultaneously I had some reservations about the Mossberg because of the price, figuring that it might be a lesser weapon for that reason. I haven’t owned one of course, so hearing it from a couple of other guys that they’re good guns gives me a bit more confidence in the choosing. Thanks