Here’s a blast from my past: the Remington 870 SPS Marine Magnum. My first home defense shotgun, snagged about a decade ago when I was a wide-eyed rookie in the gun world. I’ve had this scatter gat forever but never wrote about it—heck, a quick blog search shows zero mentions. Why spill the beans now? Because writing’s my thing, and a late review beats no review. Plus, it’s a chance to share some laughs and lessons from my early gear days.

Back then, I knew squat about guns, especially shotguns. My purchase was fueled by sketchy internet “expert” advice on armed home defense. Shotguns had this mythical aura fueled by rampant fuddlore: “The racking sound scares intruders away!” or “Just fire two into the air!” If those sound foreign, good. When you hear them, run. They’re red flags of cluelessness.

I lucked out, though. The Remington 870 SPS Marine Magnum’s a dang fine defensive shotgun. Not flawless, but solid. It’s short enough to maneuver in tight spaces yet long enough to skip the tax stamp and ATF paperwork. I haven’t shot it much or trained with it, though. By the time I got serious about defensive shotguns, Langdon Tactical’s Beretta 1301 semi-auto was the hot ticket. Being the gear nut I am, I grabbed one, and it’s my go-to for home defense. The 870? Mostly a dust collector. I nearly sold it but held on—and I’m glad I did. More on that later. First, let’s dive into this special purpose scatter gat.

The Special Purpose Scatter Gat

I bought this 870 ages ago, so the price tag’s a blur. The package was bare-bones:

• The shotgun
• A cable lock
• A manual

All in a flimsy cardboard box. No frills, but with ammo, it’s range-ready out of the box.

This 7.5-pound, 38.5-inch shotgun is built for business. The 18.5-inch cylinder choke barrel is shorter than typical hunting shotguns, which rock 20–30-inch barrels. That compact length keeps it nimble for home defense, a key “special purpose” feature. The fixed cylinder choke suits its anti-personnel design—think two-legged threats, not ducks. Law enforcement 870 models share this 18.5-inch barrel and stock setup, though the 870 Police Marine Magnum version swaps the bead sight for proper sights.

Speaking of the bead sight, it’s my biggest gripe. Perched just behind the muzzle, it’s the same silver as the barrel, making it slow to pick up and near-useless for precise aiming. Beads work for tracking clays or birds, not defensive scenarios where you must aim, even at close range. If you’re using this for home defense, swap that bead for real sights, stat.

Under the barrel, the six-round magazine tube holds 3-inch magnum shells—plenty for defense, where more capacity is always better. A barrel clamp keeps the tube aligned and adds a sling swivel stud. The forend, which you pump to cycle the action, is no-nonsense plastic. I upgraded to a Magpul MOE M-LOK forend—longer for easier handling and with slots for accessories I haven’t added yet.

Behind the forend, action bars connect to the featureless receiver. On the right, the ejection port shows the 3-inch chamber or magazine tube’s orange follower (empty) or shell (loaded). Below, the loading gate, trigger assembly, action bar lock, safety, and trigger sit. The trigger’s decent: about a quarter-inch of take-up, a crisp 3.25-pound break, and minimal overtravel. It’s no LTT 1301, but it gets the job done.

The synthetic stock—now a Magpul SGA—shortens the 14-inch length of pull for better control. The electroless nickel plating, giving it that silver Marine Magnum sheen, protects against corrosion in humid or salty environments, perfect for marine settings.

On the Range

Remington 870s are known for affordability and, historically, dependability—though post-quality-control-dip, that rep’s shaky. They’re not famed for soft shooting, and this lighter Marine Magnum packs a punch, especially with magnum slugs. It’s fun but brutal on the shoulder. A solid push-pull technique tames the recoil, but it’s not beginner-friendly. Newbies might prefer a heavier shotgun to ease the bumps and bruises of learning proper form.

Still, it’s a pump-action 12-gauge that does what it’s built for: reliable, no-frills performance. It’s not fancy, but it works.

Future Plans

I’ve already modded this Remington 870 Marine Magnum with the Magpul forend and stock, aiming to make it a backup home defense shotgun. Why? It’s here, it’s functional, and it fits the role. Home defense is a top priority, but my Beretta 1301 covers it well—this 870’s a nice-to-have addition, not a must-fix gap.

It’s ready for duty out of the box, but I’ve got plans to refine it:

• Swap the bead for a front sight and ghost ring rear.
• Add a red dot.
• Mount a side saddle for extra shells.
• Attach a white light for highly-unlikely low-light use.

No rush, though. When I get around to it, you’ll probably see another post, because that’s how I roll.

Final Musings

I’m glad I kept this 870, and not just because it’s a solid home defense option. While writing this, I added it to my deals site, unclezo.deals, to help readers find good prices. Shockingly, it’s nowhere in stock. Remington still lists it, with no news of discontinuation, but the scarcity makes me glad I held on. No clue why it’s vanished—supply chain woes, maybe?—but it feels like a keeper now.

The bead sight’s a letdown for home defense; upgrade it if you’re serious. To folks eyeing a pump-action as their first home defense shotgun because “the internet” says they’re king, pump the brakes. Pumps are fine, but semi-autos like Mossberg 940s or Beretta A300s are easier to master, with less recoil and solid affordability. Tech’s moved on—don’t buy into fuddlore.

Shotguns aren’t magic talismans. The idea that racking one stops threats is nonsense. Get training from a qualified instructor to cut through the noise—fuddlore’s everywhere, from forums to gun shops. Need help picking a shotgun? Hit me up on socials, and I’ll steer you right.

Got 870 stories or tips? Drop ‘em in the comments—I’d love to hear ‘em!