H&R Pardner Protector 12GA Pump 18"

[zephyp]

I've been in the market for an HD shotgun and have been looking at the 870. I saw the Pardner protector on sale yesterday at Dick's for $199 compare it to an 870 and picked one up. I've read nothing but good reviews about them. It feels pretty solid, has a nice action, and I've read 870 accessories (other than barrels) are interchangeable. Anyone have any experience?

[rklessdriver]

They are good guns at a fair price. The only down side to them is the act that they are actually made by Hawk Industries in China. They have actually been imported under several names since the mid 1990's by Brolin Arms, Norinco, Hawk, Law Man, and now H&R/Marlin. Yes most all parts are interchangeable with a Remington 870 except the barrel as the retaining ring is too far back on them.

The Chinese mgr dosen't bother me a whole bunch like it does some folks. It does bother me - but the US Govt allows them to copy Remingtons desgin and sell it here... So my axe is to grind with our own Govt more so than the Chinese slave labor that makes the gun itself. As a comsumer I see a good gun at a cheap price.... Cheap price won out over my "buy USA pride".

I have one that was imported by Brolin Arms that I bought back in 1996 at the PX when I was stationed at Camp Lejeune NC. It cost me $179.00 back then. It's been a great gun and never let me (or anyone I've ever loaned it to) down. Speaking of loaning it out, I lent it to my brother to use for so long (few years) that forgot I even owned the thing until a few years ago at Christmas (I bought him a nice used Remington 1100 semi auto that X-Mas) he asked me if I wanted "my old Chinese 870" back....

If you do a search on the web about them you'll find that they are solid well built weapons and everybody who owns one is happy with it's performance and those with an axe to grind about the piss poorly manage Chinese trade sceme our Govt runs, hates them out of principle.
Will

[zephyp]

Thanks, Will. I've had mine out a couple times and do like it. I had a small problem but it was operator head space. I know alot of folks dont like to trust their defense to a $180 shotgun but this one is definitely a keeper.