Well, I was looking for a shotgun recently. I don't know that much but knew a Rem 870 was good. So, I shopped and bought a Rem 870 Tactical Desert Recon. Looks neat, I like the ugly colors and the muzzle brake, etc. But, then I did some research and probably could have bought the same for less than I did and should have probably looked for a 870 Police model (as I do like the best).

So, I started my search for a 870 Police, looking in pawn shops and gunstores that have used shotguns. Well, I didn't find one, but found this Mossberg 3000 which seems to be built quite good.

Steel receiver, chrome bolt, 18 inch barrel, speedfeed stock and forearm. The only nonstock item is the mag extension, which is the recommended Choate Tool extension. Trigger guard is alloy.

So, I'll keep the Rem 870 Desert Recon unfired in the box and see if I still like it after I get back from my deployment in Aug of next year...and if not sell it...as this is the shotgun I'll be playing around with.

From my limited research this shotgun sort of moved Rem to improve the 870...and they did...and kicked S&W out of the police shotgun market. I liked it because it was heavy with the steel receiver and seems robust.

I took some pictures of all the markings. Used soap to fill them in for pictures so that's what all the flakes are. Enjoy!

Also, please comment...and what would be some good spares for a shotgun? Egunparts has the remaining NOS parts and almost all are available now.



Magnet sticks.



Notice 3 proof marks? on barrel by receiver.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KPSquared,

That's a great looking shotgun that can be found for next to nothing.

Well except for the soap thing. Not sure what to say about that.

Nice pumpgun! In the early 1980's the 3000 was indeed the thinking man's 870, and Remington "got skeered" and developed the anti-jam feature now well-established on even the lower-end 870s.
My first duty shotgun was an S&W 3000; bought with personal funds. I sold it after switching to a Benelli M1 Super 90 later. I should have kept the 3000, because I dumped the Benelli after a relatively short time. (HK-era Benellis were not as good as today's.)

I have one with a broken shell stopper. It is a single shot without this part and I can't find the parts anywhere. If anyone has any idea let me know. Thanks.

Look here:Look Here

Is it the actual shell stopper plate or the pin/spring? Looks like they're out of the plates.

If so, someone on this board should be able to fabricate it if you still have the broken part.

I had a S&W Model 3000 Pump Police special It was Stolen from my brothers house when he died. I had let him use it. It was one of the First Anti Jam shotguns..and also had a parkerized finish. One of my other friends used to borrow it every deer season..and always got a deer with it. Great gun...

Sadly it is the plate. I have looked and there are no parts available. I do not have the missing ear that broke off. I have heard this was a fairly common problem with the gun. The part if available would be relatively cheap. That is why I prefer the 870 as if it ever did break I know parts are everywhere.

Is it both plates or just one? I would have to look at them but if the two plates are just reversed or mirror image you may be able to still have one fabricated. SIGFORUM member GerryR fabricates folded slide extractors for the P22x pistols may be able to make a plate for you. Check his profile and email him.

Commonly replaced parts will be a problem, as the shotgun hasn't been imported since 1987. If this is a common problem with the shotgun I may also be interested in a few spares myself.

LSG Manufacturing used to have a ton of parts for the 3000. Check with the guy. I don't know what he has left.

The Howa 3000 was manufactured by Howa Machinery Ltd of Nagoya, Japan, and these are fantastic shotguns.
Yes, they're essentially improved 870s.

S&W imported the 3000 beginning in the early 1980s, first calling the 3000 the "1000P". In late 1985 or early 1986, Mossberg took over importation of the 3000. The Mossberg-marked 3000s are exceedingly scarce, as Mossberg imported the 3000 for one year only.

I own three and I'd buy another if I ran across a good deal.



Here's better pics of a beater police 3000 I had HC'd by AP&W.

Short one here.

quote:

Originally posted by RJT:
Sadly it is the plate. I have looked and there are no parts available. I do not have the missing ear that broke off. I have heard this was a fairly common problem with the gun. The part if available would be relatively cheap. That is why I prefer the 870 as if it ever did break I know parts are everywhere.

See a true old-school gunSMITH about it. A true 'smith, as opposed to an armorer/parts changer, might be able to repair the broken part, or fabricate a replacement.

parabellum,

Love that beater police! Certainly put some new life into that one. Mine is just blued except for the mag extension. I don't know if I would like to refinish it, but am thinking about it as a lot of the finish is off the cylinder and there is a few spots on the receiver. You've made yourself a S&W Model 3000 Marine!

Is your mag extension Choate?

Also, thanks for the link to LSG.

I really do like this shotgun (I remember looking at a new S&W at a gunstore o/a 1986) and just happened to see this one sitting in a corner of a pawn shop. Just saw the bottom of it and asked to look at the 870. Got more confused when I saw the Mossberg markings. I knew about the S&W 3000...but other than the mag extension the rest of the shotgun looked original so I bought it.

Being shotgun ignorant, what would be some recommended spares to keep readily available?

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Here's better pics of a beater police 3000 I had HC'd by AP&W.

Whooooooa. I was thinking of getting my '92 870P duracoated then went to electro nickel finished but that hard chrome has definitely got my attention.

If you put a walnut stock on that thing it would have definitely changed my mind already. I'm looking for that metal and wood combo when I'm through.

I just love refinished guns that are brought back to life.