Wilson Combat

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Jul 9, 2005
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I m thinking about buying a wilson combat border patrol model. Is it worth the price?
 
I called a Wilson dealer and was told the wait time was just over two months from Wilson. Also read a police officer's post that it was the best 870 he had ever owned and carried his on duty...
 
Its alot of money compared to remington, I just want to know if anyone has one and if there worth the price?
 
I would have a tough time paying for something I could fit out myself using an 870 for a base. I don't know if Wilson makes the shotgun completely in house or has them made for them...would be interesting to know.

I would start with an 870 Express Tactical for 400 or less and go from there.
 
Wilson will also do their "Remington Steal" package where they will custom modify your 870. That may be worth looking into. I have a Wilson Combat handgun, and in my opinion, it's the best .45 made. Bill
 
WhitleyStu said:
I called a Wilson dealer and was told the wait time was just over two months from Wilson. Also read a police officer's post that it was the best 870 he had ever owned and carried his on duty...
Click to expand...

PT Partners shows to have one in stock, but he has not updated the inventory list in a while.

Terry is a good guy to deal with.


You will pay for Wilson products but they have a good reputation for reliability and service. I have never handled the shotguns. If I recall correctly, they bought the old Scattergun Technologies company a number of years ago and that is the genesis of their shotgun line.
 
I have one and absolutely love it. Is it worth the money? Well, sure, you could cobble something together on your own for less; I've done that too. But the Wilson gun has everything done exactly right. That's worth a little extra to me.

It also makes a difference if you ever, God forbid, have to use it to shoot someone. Do you really want to give the prosecutor the chance to say to the jury "the defendant used his home-made, cobbled-together commando shotgun that he modified from the factory gun to make it more lethal?" OK, we all know that's BS, but I can just hear some shmuck attorney saying it to a jury right now.
 
IIRC, Wilson Combat bought Scattergun Technologies, so that is what you are getting. Everything that I have read says that those guns are about a good as you can get on the 870 frame.
 
Not at all. You don't even know it's there, except for the extra weight it adds when it's full of shells. That's a good and a bad thing, but it sure does cut down on the recoil.
 
Wilson bought the old Scattergun Technology name, and I have no idea if it is as good as what they bought, but the original Scattergun Technology was in a class all of it's own, with the Border Patrol version a perfect home defense firearm. A bud of mine bought one, spent right at $800 for it, and after shooting his, I wanted one as well, but was not going to spend that many bucks. Looked around, checked pawn shops, finally after two years located a used not too high priced Remington 870, and started pricing items. Soon realized I could send it to Scattergun, have them do the rebuild and upgrade, and did so. Well worth it, and while it did cost relative big bucks, it is perfection, will last longer than I will, and one of the slickest pump actions now you have ever handled.
 
I hate to burst anyone's bubble, but all Wilson does is refinish an 870 Express and bolt on some parts, most of which he doesn't make. The Scattergun Tech. sights were good in their day 15 or 20 years ago, but there is much better on the market now. Wilson doesn't even make the sights.

I'm not knocking Wilson's products. You just have to understand that there is a LOT of hype in the gun business. For the great majority of people, a stock Remington 870 or Mossberg 590A1 is all that's required. Most of the tactical gadgets are actually pretty useless.

If you are considering a "tactical" shotgun, take a look at those by Vang Comp Systems and Nighthawk.
 
I gotta agree with Uffda. Its an 870 Remington, not a Swiss watch :D..
Very few parts and very simple to work on...

They do make a fine product, but it is not going to do anything any better than an out of the box 870.
I have an older 870 that I paid 125 bucks for at a pawn shop. Completely stripped it, shortened the barrel, cleaned up the action and finished in GunKote.
I replaced the springs and put an extended mag tube and side saddle on it.
Other than my time, I'm probably in it about 175 bucks. Other than not having the Wilson Combat stamped onto it, most people couldn't tell the difference.

I have ran it hard and it has never had a malfunction of any kind.
 
IIRC wilson does not make them in house anymore, if they ever did,

a bud has a scattergun tech 870 which is similar to the wilson and its a good one, i dont know if its any better than if ya bought an 870 and added the other stuff though.
 
If I was going to build up a tactical shot gun in a pump today I think I would start with an older Ithaca rather than Remington. I do prefer the bottom eject and the slam fire capabilities of the Ithaca. The rest is window dressing and can be added to any shotgun. I do like the Cera-Coat finish, I had a S&W Model 12 done in it and I think it is a great finish.
 
i still have my wifes old ithaca 20 gauge w/a 20" bbl, i got it for her in the mid '80's and its been a good one, i also like the ithacas they are one of the smoother actions imho, i probably like it as well as an 870 but i dont know about better, the 870 is pretty darned good too, but imho the ithacas are smoother than mossy's and most other pumps.
 
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