This is kind of random, but here is what I've got so far:
First thing I learned is that they're Chinese-built copies of the Remington 870, with only a few obvious changes. The biggest change is that without adding a spacer sleeve, you can't use an 870 barrel, because the distance to the mag tube nut is longer on the cheaper shotgun. With a sleeve to space it out, you could use an 870 barrel on the Chinese copy, but I don't see how you could go the other way around. This shotgun is built by Hawk Industries, who makes it for Norinco. The PLA apparently fields these shotguns, and my experience with communist weapons so far has been that they might be a little rough about the edges, but they tend to be very rugged and reliable so I've got good feelings there.
The mag tube nut is the same size as the 870. Magazine extensions should work just fine. As far as I can tell, the magazine is identical. The stocks are interchangeable. The stock screws are the same diameter and thread pitch, too.
The receiver on the Chinese gun is a fair bit stouter from what I can tell. It appears to be thicker in every area, especially with how they extended the flat portion on top of the receiver back farther toward the stock.
I compared this side by side in the shop to Mossberg's offering in the same price range, which was the Maverick 88. The action was nowhere near as smooth, I wasn't impressed with the safety's placement or its operation.
For $190 at Academy, I've got something that will work with the majority of 870 accessories out there. It has what appears to be a black phosphate finish and a drilled and tapped receiver ready to take a sight rail. Unlike the base model 870s and many Mossbergs, this shotgun came with a metal trigger guard.
I picked this one up for the wife (it's an 18" home defense model), but I think I'll be grabbing one for myself eventually. I'd been thinking about an 870 for myself, but what I just picked up today changed that.
Should be hitting the range with it next weekend. I've got a couple boxes each of #4 buck and 00 buck. Might have to grab some slugs for giggles, though the Mrs. wouldn't enjoy them so I won't even suggest it. I'm seriously considering putting a Knoxx stock on it, possibly the less expensive NRS version of the Spec Ops so that she can have a pistol grip on it.
First thing I learned is that they're Chinese-built copies of the Remington 870, with only a few obvious changes. The biggest change is that without adding a spacer sleeve, you can't use an 870 barrel, because the distance to the mag tube nut is longer on the cheaper shotgun. With a sleeve to space it out, you could use an 870 barrel on the Chinese copy, but I don't see how you could go the other way around. This shotgun is built by Hawk Industries, who makes it for Norinco. The PLA apparently fields these shotguns, and my experience with communist weapons so far has been that they might be a little rough about the edges, but they tend to be very rugged and reliable so I've got good feelings there.
The mag tube nut is the same size as the 870. Magazine extensions should work just fine. As far as I can tell, the magazine is identical. The stocks are interchangeable. The stock screws are the same diameter and thread pitch, too.
The receiver on the Chinese gun is a fair bit stouter from what I can tell. It appears to be thicker in every area, especially with how they extended the flat portion on top of the receiver back farther toward the stock.
I compared this side by side in the shop to Mossberg's offering in the same price range, which was the Maverick 88. The action was nowhere near as smooth, I wasn't impressed with the safety's placement or its operation.
For $190 at Academy, I've got something that will work with the majority of 870 accessories out there. It has what appears to be a black phosphate finish and a drilled and tapped receiver ready to take a sight rail. Unlike the base model 870s and many Mossbergs, this shotgun came with a metal trigger guard.
I picked this one up for the wife (it's an 18" home defense model), but I think I'll be grabbing one for myself eventually. I'd been thinking about an 870 for myself, but what I just picked up today changed that.
Should be hitting the range with it next weekend. I've got a couple boxes each of #4 buck and 00 buck. Might have to grab some slugs for giggles, though the Mrs. wouldn't enjoy them so I won't even suggest it. I'm seriously considering putting a Knoxx stock on it, possibly the less expensive NRS version of the Spec Ops so that she can have a pistol grip on it.
