Many hours of research went into this post. Hopefully some of you will find it useful. I have handled the 982 and the Savage 350. Still haven't handled on the RIA M5s. Maybe reddog1 or someone who has purchased one from him could provide some more info on them.
Interstate Arms Corp 982
Pros:
Remington 870 clone. Parts and accessories are plentiful.
High carbon steel receiver and trigger guard (no plastic!)
Machined extractor and ejector (no MIM parts!)
Aluminum Trigger
The forged barrel is thicker than Remington 870s
Excellent set of ghost ring sights once you replace the screws with M4 and M3 socket screws.
Will feed pretty much all ammo even the cheapo stuff
15+ year proven track record of US importation, with tons of them sold here.
The 982 is used by military and police overseas.
The stock is actually pretty good, with a nice high quality recoil pad (similart to a limbsaver but not quite as soft)
Steel safety
Cons:
Remington barrels don't fit as the 982s barrel locking nut/ring is in a different loaction. NEF/H&R barrels do fit though, and are easily ordered.
Below average park finish. With it being parked it would be easy to coat with gunkote or cerakote.
870 Mag tube extensions won't fit with modifications.
Some 870 accessories might take a bit of tweaking to get the right fit.
Weak mag tube follower spring (but easily replaced)
Stamped steel follower (easily replaced)
Heavy trigger pull
Lack of warranty and customer support
It's Chinese
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Savage-Stevens 350 Security Pump
Pros:
Ithaca 37 clone. A simple and solid, proven shotgun design
High carbon steel receiver and trigger guard
Machined extractor and ejector (no MIM parts!)
Steel trigger
Dual action bars (the Ithaca only has one)
Same excellent ghost ring sights as the IAC 982
Fiber optic front blade sight (green) with protective steel wings
Forged barrel
Quality Savage warranty and customer service
Bottom ejection (no side cuts in the reciever). Could be a pro or a con depending on your preference
.
Lefty friendly
Decent matte blue finish.
Heavy duty stock and for end
Cons:
It's Chinese
Parts and accessories are only somewhat plentiful.
Average recoil pad
Trigger pull is heavy
Mag tube extensions are hard to find
Stamped steel follower (easily replaced)
Weak mag tube follower spring (but easily replaced)
Some Ithaca 37 accessories might take a bit of tweaking to get the right fit.
Cost a bit more than the RIA m5 or the IAC 982
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Rock Island Armory M5 Pump Shotgun
Pros:
Hi-Standard clone made in the Philippians. The Hi-Standard is a proven high quality design.
Also similar to the Winchester 1300
Lifetime warranty with excellent customer service!
Vented heat shield
Steel reviver and trigger guard
Nice parkerized finish.
Nice fit and finish. Better than the Norincos out of the box
Jeweled bolt which looks cool IMO. Could be a con depending on your preference
From what I understand most Mossberg stock fit the M5
Can be bought locally from a OSA member (reddog1)
Cross bolt safetly located at the front of the trigger guard.
Nice polymer buttstock & forearm
Nice trigger pull
Can get them with a Nickle finish.
Nice price at $200 out the door (reddog1)
Cons:
20” barrel. For HD I would prefer a 18.5”. Could be a pro depending on your preference
Bead sight. I prefer the ghost ring set up. Might be a pro depending on your preference
Receiver is not drilled and tapped
Parts and accessories availability
Not sure on mag tube extensions, if they are out there they are hard to find.
Just not a lot of info out there on them.
Interstate Arms Corp 982
Pros:
Remington 870 clone. Parts and accessories are plentiful.
High carbon steel receiver and trigger guard (no plastic!)
Machined extractor and ejector (no MIM parts!)
Aluminum Trigger
The forged barrel is thicker than Remington 870s
Excellent set of ghost ring sights once you replace the screws with M4 and M3 socket screws.
Will feed pretty much all ammo even the cheapo stuff
15+ year proven track record of US importation, with tons of them sold here.
The 982 is used by military and police overseas.
The stock is actually pretty good, with a nice high quality recoil pad (similart to a limbsaver but not quite as soft)
Steel safety
Cons:
Remington barrels don't fit as the 982s barrel locking nut/ring is in a different loaction. NEF/H&R barrels do fit though, and are easily ordered.
Below average park finish. With it being parked it would be easy to coat with gunkote or cerakote.
870 Mag tube extensions won't fit with modifications.
Some 870 accessories might take a bit of tweaking to get the right fit.
Weak mag tube follower spring (but easily replaced)
Stamped steel follower (easily replaced)
Heavy trigger pull
Lack of warranty and customer support
It's Chinese
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Savage-Stevens 350 Security Pump
Pros:
Ithaca 37 clone. A simple and solid, proven shotgun design
High carbon steel receiver and trigger guard
Machined extractor and ejector (no MIM parts!)
Steel trigger
Dual action bars (the Ithaca only has one)
Same excellent ghost ring sights as the IAC 982
Fiber optic front blade sight (green) with protective steel wings
Forged barrel
Quality Savage warranty and customer service
Bottom ejection (no side cuts in the reciever). Could be a pro or a con depending on your preference
.
Lefty friendly
Decent matte blue finish.
Heavy duty stock and for end
Cons:
It's Chinese
Parts and accessories are only somewhat plentiful.
Average recoil pad
Trigger pull is heavy
Mag tube extensions are hard to find
Stamped steel follower (easily replaced)
Weak mag tube follower spring (but easily replaced)
Some Ithaca 37 accessories might take a bit of tweaking to get the right fit.
Cost a bit more than the RIA m5 or the IAC 982
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rock Island Armory M5 Pump Shotgun
Pros:
Hi-Standard clone made in the Philippians. The Hi-Standard is a proven high quality design.
Also similar to the Winchester 1300
Lifetime warranty with excellent customer service!
Vented heat shield
Steel reviver and trigger guard
Nice parkerized finish.
Nice fit and finish. Better than the Norincos out of the box
Jeweled bolt which looks cool IMO. Could be a con depending on your preference
From what I understand most Mossberg stock fit the M5
Can be bought locally from a OSA member (reddog1)
Cross bolt safetly located at the front of the trigger guard.
Nice polymer buttstock & forearm
Nice trigger pull
Can get them with a Nickle finish.
Nice price at $200 out the door (reddog1)
Cons:
20” barrel. For HD I would prefer a 18.5”. Could be a pro depending on your preference
Bead sight. I prefer the ghost ring set up. Might be a pro depending on your preference
Receiver is not drilled and tapped
Parts and accessories availability
Not sure on mag tube extensions, if they are out there they are hard to find.
Just not a lot of info out there on them.