Wilson Combat Shotguns?

[chuckd1277]

Does anyone have one or any info on them. I have read everything on their website...just wondering if anyone has any personal opinions about them.

Thanks,
Chuck

[dfariswheel]

In a word...Over priced.
Especially since Wilson uses Express models as the basis.

If you want something like the Wilson but at a down to earth price, and based on a better grade gun, look at buying a genuine Remington 870 police model.

All you have to do is find a dealer that buys from a Remington Law Enforcement wholesaler.
Not all Remington wholesalers are LE wholesalers and many local dealers don't want to go to the trouble to order one special for you, so be prepared to be told a load of BS about how Remington won't sell police guns to "civilians".
An email to Remington will confirm this.

To see what Remington offers, look at their LE web site.
http://www.remingtonle.com
These genuine high-grade Police guns sell for MUCH lower prices than the Express-based Wilson guns.

[AZ Husker]

Nice buys for the guys who wear designer camos and drive BMW's. For the rest of us it's a dressed-up 870 at double the cost. I agree with the 870P.

[ranburr]

I don't have any direct experience with the new Wilson models. But, I have used the original Scattergun Technology Border Patrol models. There is no comparison between the old SGTs and anything that comes from the Remington factory. I am assuming that Wilson's has stayed true to the SGT design, if so they would be very hard to beat. Smooth, accurate, reliable, rustproof, and anything that was aluminum has been changed out with a forged steel part. Simply put, they are the absolute best tactical shotguns ever made. They are very pricey. Thus, if you use a shotgun everyday, save your pennies and get the best. If you want something for home defense, buy a standard factory offering.

ranburr

[liliysdad]

Id have to agree. The wilsons/SGT guns are leaps and bounds above the factory offerings.

Thjis being said, I wouldnt shell out the extra cash for one. Everything that is done to a Wilson can be done to a base 870 yourself, and for much cheaper.

[phivo]

I've never shot a Wilson shotgun but I've had my 870 Police Magnum for almost two years without any problems. It's reliable, accurate, and much cheaper than the Wilson. I'd spend the money saved on accessories.

[proven]

i also have an 870P. looked at wilson and think they're great, but i can buy the parts from wilson and have the same setup for much less. to my knowledge, they don't perform and action or trigger work. so your getting an 870 express with bolt-ons. the finish on an express should last quite a while, and the 870P is parkerized and should last even longer. you could always have wilson amor-tuff your shotty down the road if neccesary.

[Mute]

Overpriced for what is being offered. You'd be better off putting on those items yourself or letting Robar or Vangcomp do some work on your shotgun.

[chuckd1277]

Thanks a lot for all th info. I will look into finding a dealer that can get the LE version of the 870.

Thanks again,
Chuck

[Ricky T]

I read these posts and it appeared that it's all about the 870 based guns. Does anyone have any ACTUAL experience with the Wilson 11-87 based shotguns? compared to the Remington 11-87 Police.

[Mistral404]

I would offer a comparison.
There are quite of 3 gun shooters out there. I am fairly inexperience in the 3 gun matches. But I do not know of anyone who uses a Wilson.

Almost everyone uses:
Remington
Winchester
Benelli

These guns get a high volume of usage and rounds downrange.

So depending on how you are going to use the shotgun should help you make a decision. Wilson makes nice stuff but...I have yet to see one in competition. This is not to say ONLY competition critieria should be used to deciding but it should influence your decision.

Most guys will trick out their shotgun for less than a Wilson.

[SteveW13]

Ricky T,

I have both the Wilson 11-87 Scattergun and a Remington Police 11-87. Unfortunately, Wilson no longer offers the 11-87 version of the Police. Frank at Wilson's told me it was because they had too much flak from customers trying to shoot light loads through them and then calling them and complaining that they were having reliability problems. On the 11-87 scatterguns, Wilson used actual Police models. The Police models are set up for full power loads. They don't operate as reliably with target/skeet loads. I haven't shot either of my 11-87s. They are both very nice.

Wilson does not do any action jobs or trigger jobs on the 870s or the 11-87s. The 870s are based on the Express model.

As for the 870s, I would buy a Police model, with a bead front sight and the standard, short mag tube.Then I would have the Track Lock sights installed, a Wilson mag tube extension (if you wanted an extension), sling mounts and a Side Saddle. Add a large-head safety and your done. It's already parkerized.

A couple of things about the Police models - I've been told by Remington, that they go through more QC checks than the regular consumer line. They also have a heavier sear spring, which causes a heavier trigger pull. I would replace the sear spring with a standard power spring. The Police models also don't come with the ridiculous "J-lock". (Remington is discontinuing the J-locks on all the 2004 production guns.) The Wilson will have the J-lock on it, unless you ask them to install a jumbo-head safety. It will still have the trigger guard with the white and red dots from the J-lock, though.

You won't go wrong with either a Wilson or Police. They both work completely.

Steve

[Ricky T]

Originally Posted by SteveW13

Ricky T,

I have both the Wilson 11-87 Scattergun and a Remington Police 11-87. I haven't shot either of my 11-87s. They are both very nice.

I know.

Thanks for the report Steve.

[thelovedaddy]

If I was going to go for a custom shotgun based on the 870 format I think I would try the Robar offering. You send in gun to be modified so if ya don't want it based on the express (Walmart special) ya can ship em a wingmaster if ya wanted. Myself I will stick w/ the cousin of the Ithaca 37 the Browning BPS.

[Bimmercat]

A friend of mine has an early Scattergun Tech. 12 gauge pump. it is a nice shotgun, but was a bit pricey.

I never shot it, so I cannot comment on its shootability, but by handling it, I could tell it WAS a quality built product built on an existing Remington 870 shotgun - a proven pump-gun design.

- Bimmercat