Hatfield shotgun

[jjaba]

Looking at getting my kid a shotgun.. anyway looking at walmart they have the Hatfield Semi-auto for 226?  haven't heard of them?

question is are they worth it or just shell out for the old Mossberg 500 or Remington 870?  using primarily for upland birds.

thanks.
jay

[300rum]

Everyone should have at least one 870.   

[cooltimber]

870's are the one to buy,
they were used in Vietnam and totally reliable.

[Bullkllr]

I don't know anything about the Hatfield, but I would question any new auto for barely $200.

And if I had to choose between a sketchy auto and a reliable pump for the same $, I'd take the pump every time.

[CP]

870's are the one to buy,
they were used in Vietnam and totally reliable.

I've always heard that but the only 870 I've ever owned was a consistent jammer.   

[jjaba]

thanks all.  will probably go with 870 or the moss.  I use the 870 at work and no problems... but also have owned mossy's for over 25 years and no problems there either.
thanks for replies.

[Stein]

870's are the one to buy,
they were used in Vietnam and totally reliable.

I've always heard that but the only 870 I've ever owned was a consistent jammer.

Same here, any piece of grass or dirt and the thing is a bear to cycle.  Works great for clays, but not so good in the duck blind.

[Bullkllr]

870's are the one to buy,
they were used in Vietnam and totally reliable.

I've always heard that but the only 870 I've ever owned was a consistent jammer.

Same here, any piece of grass or dirt and the thing is a bear to cycle.  Works great for clays, but not so good in the duck blind.

A lot of the newer 870s have earned that complaint. To keep costs down and to keep up with the demand for semi-disposable pumps, the finish quality is not what it used to be in the cheaper models. You can get a Wingmaster for $700, or an Express for $250; what do you think most people buy? Most of the problem seems to be spent shells not leaving the chamber cleanly. It's worse with some shells than others. Polishing the chamber cleans it up generally, from what I've heard.

We have two 20 gauge express models and I haven't seen the issue with either. I have a 70s Wingmaster that has been sunk, buried, etc. and fired thousands of times. I finally started to get some ejection problems a few years ago. Reaming out the chamber with a chamber brush to remove plastic build-up had it working as new again in 5 minutes. 

[JDHasty]

Get an Ithaca 37.  It is without a doubt the finest pump action shotgun ever made.