great review! I am surprised the hammer shows even that much wear after 8000 rounds.... I have over 6000 through my 500 now and not a hint of wear on the hammer like that.....I guess that could be one of the Turkish quality flaws coming out.

 

Cool. I always liked the 1300 (predecessor to the SXP) action compared to the rem 870 even though a lot of people consider the 1300 of lesser quality than the 870. Although of late I'm really liking the Ithaca 37s over either.

 

Nice review. I've posted a couple reviews of my SXP camp/field combo also. I really like it. I'm coming up on about 4000 rounds and have not noticed any wear on the hammer. Definitely something to look out for.

 

Thanks for the review; looks like a good gun at a great price! I paid nearly 50% more than that for a BPS.

 

Thanks for the kind words everyone, I'm going to post some reviews of my Fabarm XLR Composite and my Citori Satin Lightning as soon as I get the time to shoot them a little more.

 

!!!UPDATE!!!

I broke 1 of the action bars today. the gun still functions but has a hard time going all the way back. As upset as I was that a part of my gun broke, I wet back to my list to find that it took nearly 11,000 shells before I had any problems with it, it is still IMO, the best deal on the market. For what I paid for it, I would still recommend this gun to anybody looking for a good pump.
I will post pics of the break as soon as I can.

 

Sorry, but too many unfounded and/or biased opinions, in my opinion.

 

I just bought an SXP after getting a heck of a deal on one at Sportsman's Warehouse. I've taken it out twice so far, once skeet shooting and once chukar hunting and it has performed flawlessly for both. Has shot target and upland loads just fine and it is VERY fast for a pump!

 

The speed pump action is great, soaks up a lot of the recoil and on occasion, ejects the shell without any effort on your part. Many have complained about the Remington 870 being a little ammo picky, but the SXP with eat up anything you put in it's 3" chamber.

I have a question for you or any other reader with a SXP.
You say the gun don't have a problem with ammo.
What have you used? High brass? Low brass? Slugs? Buckshot?

Full disclosure.
I just worked my way through a Mossberg 500 that had trouble extracting high brass shells.
I believe it's fixed now. I kinda enjoyed the work it took to fix it.
But I'm curious why some models have no problem
and even most Mossberg 500 owners have not reported my type of problem.
I assume not all 870's have the picky eating disorder.

I found it somewhat amusing that Winchester still lists a SXP trap model with the 32-inch barrel. I think for that price, I'd like to get one.

 

Have to find credibility a little lacking when someone starts off talking about a pump action soaking up recoil.

 

Have to find credibility a little lacking when someone starts off talking about a pump action soaking up recoil.

How about sharing some of your knowledge on solid breech guns, felt recoil and what makes a gas action shotgun easier on the shoulder?

 

With a gas semi, the gasses start accelerating the bolt and the action parts to the rear. This pushes forward on the rest of the gun, reducing the peak recoil force reaching the shooter. In fixed breech gun, and inertia actions, the whole gun moves to the rear under recoil. Two piece stocks and such can be used like a second recoil pad to reduce the force reaching the shooter. Gun fit and weight also have an impact, but that's the basics. In my opinion the inertia and fixed breech gun lovers mention gun fit a whole lot more than the gas auto shooters. I think there is a correlation.

 

No pump is going to soften or reduce recoil. For goodness sakes, it's is effectively a fixed breech gun until after the shot is fired.

Currently my oldest pumps are from 1948. Not a single one of them has ANY hammer peening like what's in that picture. I would be worried if that was my gun.

 

Currently my oldest pumps are from 1948. Not a single one of them has ANY hammer peening like what's in that picture. I would be worried if that was my gun.

1. Does that 1948 have 11,000 shells through it?

2. That deformation makes me think the firing pin is made of a much harder steel.

Why worry about it? It's a $400 gun.
Parts may need replacing after you shoot 25,000 or so.
Or just buy another $400 gun to try.

 

I have pumps with many times more than 11000 shells through them , and my hammers are just fine. BTW you can buy an older pump for the same price and NEVER have to replace it.

 

Old guns are like old houses.
The appeal is there for most people.
But more often than not, you have to spend lots of $$$ to get it looking and working the way you imagined.

Money pit! LOL

 

Yeah right. I have poured a ton of money into my 1976 Wingmaster Magnum. In shells.

 

I have no idea how many shells through my 1948 model 37. I've owned it for a year or so. I know that it's all original and well used before I got it.

I've shot old guns all my life Remingtons, Ithacas, Mossbergs, etc.... Never have I seen a hammer peened like that. But hey, if ya like pot metal, go for it.

For my entire stable of Ithaca 37's from 1948-1952 I've spent a grand total of $22 after cleaning them up, often for the first time since new.

Stick around a while and perhaps you'll learn a thing or two. Learn what and how to buy, stay away from the bottom of the quality barrel, and you'll avoid the money pits. Junk was junk when new.

 

Virginian, just think how much better off you and I would be if we dumped all these old money pits and bought new and improved guns!

You go first, I'll follow, lol!

 

Yeah right. I have poured a ton of money into my 1976 Wingmaster Magnum. In shells.

So you got a good one. Smart you. Lucky you.

For every case like yours there are buyers looking at a used gun as a "project" gun.
To try something without risking a lot of money?
To practice some restoration procedures?
Redoing the bluing? Refinish or replace the wood?

Or in more than a few cases one could end up with a quirky old puzzle.
Poor parts support? Little or no documentation?

 

Who said anything about blueing? I thought we were talking about a peened over soft hammer. You said basket case, which here means doesn't work, needs fixing, etc.. Now you want to talk about total restoration.

How many old 870's have you bought? Ithaca 37's? Remington 1100's? Pray tell, enlighten us as to all the worn out, quality to begin with, shotguns you see on the dealer's shelf?

If you want new plastic, pot metal, aluminum that's fine. Just don't use the excuse that older guns are basket cases. Your argument doesn't hold water.

 

I have no idea how many shells through my 1948 model 37. I've owned it for a year or so. I know that it's all original and well used before I got it.

No offence to any collector with a "bunch" of guns.
But old guns and claims of long life don't mean much.
"It's not the age. It's the mileage."

I've shot old guns all my life Remingtons, Ithacas, Mossbergs, etc.... Never have I seen a hammer peened like that. But hey, if ya like pot metal, go for it.

You made a good point. It's one possible reason to choose another gun.

But framing it inside the $400-gun picture, it's not a deal breaker.
Keep your eyes open and pick up a $11 part for the time you need to replace it.
I'm __guessing__ here on the $11 part.
A typical part such as a Mossberg trigger assembly is less than $100.

For my entire stable of Ithaca 37's from 1948-1952 I've spent a grand total of $22 after cleaning them up, often for the first time since new.

Well, I've passed up a at least a half dozen Ithaca model 37's because it looked too risky or the price is too high. Luck you.

Stick around a while and perhaps you'll learn a thing or two. Learn what and how to buy, stay away from the bottom of the quality barrel, and you'll avoid the money pits. Junk was junk when new.

Not all low priced guns are junk. But I've seen people pay 3 times the money for guns that looks better.

 

Who said anything about blueing? I thought we were talking about a peened over soft hammer. You said basket case, which here means doesn't work, needs fixing, etc.. Now you want to talk about total restoration.

I believe the OP reported the gun still works normally.

How many old 870's have you bought? Ithaca 37's? Remington 1100's? Pray tell, enlighten us as to all the worn out, quality to begin with, shotguns you see on the dealer's shelf?

If you want new plastic, pot metal, aluminum that's fine. Just don't use the excuse that older guns are basket cases. Your argument doesn't hold water.

I'm not interested in the 870 or 1100. But I've been trying to pick up a 37. The ones that I've seen are so poor that I'm leaning towards getting a new one.

Not all old guns are "basket cases." But most of the ones I've seen for sale are.

It's not easy to get a new Model 37 in Canada.
A BPS may be the likely substitute for me.

 

I have 115,000+ rounds thru my 1963 1100. Broke one extractor in 1982. That's it. On my 1978 LT 20 I have replaced no parts. I have owned 11 other 1100s/11-87s all bought used. The newest
1100 was a 1970. The 11-87s were of course post 1987 - pre 1993. Total parts replaced on all of them, one O ring I tore while running my mouth. I spent well over $25,000 on "used" SxSs. Totals parts; zero. I have owned 10 pumps over that time, all but two bought used. Totals parts; zero. So much for good used guns eating parts. I freely admit I did not specialize in basket cases; rather the contrary.
I can't talk about wasting money on new guns, because I did it. Not cheap guns, just "new and improved" and such. I bet I went thru 30 semi autos and shot a bunch more, several different pumps, and two barrel guns. I still look and try to find something to spend money on.

 

Isn't the gun still under warranty? That hammer must be made with defective soft steal.

Broken action bars and damaged hammer at 11,000 rounds? Yeah, that gun is a total winner....Even cheapo cz double guns people on here own are past 25,000 without a single problem.