Unless it's electronics, Asian manufacturers are usually associated with the adjective "cheap." When it comes to weapons, the first thing that comes to mind are the AK license builds.

But then there's SDM from Beijing. Here we have replicas as well, but with a high quality promise. We took a closer look at the M870 Adaptive Shotgun in 12/76 caliber, imported by Horner Arms.

First Impression

If you don't know what's in the package, you'll be surprised when you open the box you received: A lot of gun for the price of €325 (RRP); Contents:

• M870
• MOE Clone Forend
• MOE Clone Stock
• Ghost Ring Sights
• Breaching Compensator
• Small tool kit

So, let's break it down into the main components and inspect the gun. Disassembly works just like the original and the components match as well. Furthermore, original replacement and add-on parts from Remington and other manufacturers can be used. So the M870 Adaptive Shotgun is a faithful replica of the original M870.

Detailed Inspection

After the initial positive impression, it's time to inspect the individual parts. The quality of the add-on parts, especially the MOE Clone stocks, seems very high, even though the finish is more like cheaper plastic than the polymer of the original parts. Nevertheless, these parts are very well made and robust. The length of the stock can be varied with the included spacer pieces. The rubberized butt plate provides a comfortable grip.

The Ghost Ring sights are adjustable and screwed onto the gun's housing. This allows them to be replaced with other sights, although it's not necessary because this is a very well-made product. The Ghost Ring is installed as a single component with a side guard that not only protects the ring, but also prevents unpleasant reflections and reduces side light, resulting in a clear sight picture. The front sight is high, allowing for quick, accurate aiming and, in conjunction with the Ghost Ring, a very intuitive target acquisition. If desired, the front sight and the ring can be painted with a bright contrast paint, although this is not necessary. It must be admitted that the breaching compensator of the shotgun gives it a very brutal appearance, but behind it is actually a very useful accessory. Even if the shotgun is not used for creating access to barricaded houses, it's worth considering keeping this accessory on the gun. The cleverly placed holes redirect gases to the sides and upwards, resulting in a very effective compensation of muzzle movement. In short, you save money on an expensive compensator. Of course, this can be removed and replaced with something else using the included tool. The thread matches the original again.

The overall mechanism is very smooth and works flawlessly. Cycling works out of the box without any issues – which is not always a given for pump-action shotguns. Different cartridge sizes are reliably fed and ejected without any problems. The tube magazine holds 7 rounds (12/70), but due to import regulations, it's limited to 5 rounds. If you want to use the full capacity, the limiter can be removed by opening the magazine tube. A larger limiter can also be used, for example for hunting purposes in Germany (2+1).

As mentioned earlier, the gun is fully compatible with the original Remington M870 parts; meaning the original barrels can also be used if you find the included barrel too long.

Shooting Test

As good as the gun has been so far, the purpose of a gun is to perform when firing – and let me tell you: The M870 Adaptive Shotgun performs excellently in shooting!

Testing was done with the following types of ammunition:

• B&P Big Game FLG, 12/70, 1 1/8 oz
• S&B Trap 24 Super, 12/70, 7/8 oz
• S&B Rubber Buck Shot, 12/67.5, 7,5 DIA

For each type of ammunition, 16 shots were fired in rapid succession (2 full loads of 7+1). The M870 Adaptive Shotgun handled all types of ammunition without any problems.

Shotgun Ammunition

Despite the relatively strong load, the shotgun ammunition was very pleasant to shoot precisely. Rapid shots with target changes were also easily achieved, thanks to the compensator. The rubberized butt plate not only provided some cushioning but also prevented slipping in the shoulder.

Trap Ammunition

The trap ammunition was also very pleasant to shoot, even in rapid shots with target changes. The barrel with a cylinder choke and attached compensator ensures a surprisingly even distribution of the shot and keeps it relatively tight within about 10-12 meters, resulting in good coverage without large gaps in the target area.

Rubber Buck Shot

The hard rubber buckshot (7.5mm) is the weakest load in the test but was easily fired by the M870 Adaptive Shotgun. Due to the low charge, the shooter hardly feels the gun being fired, as the recoil is barely noticeable (comparable to a .223 Rem) and the muzzle movement is almost imperceptible. This allows for effective follow-up shots in very rapid succession, as the gun practically stays on target. This is mainly thanks to the barrel length and compensator, which create a very effective and uniform pressure distribution behind the shot, directed outwards by the compensator.

In addition, this combination with such a low-loaded ammunition offers the advantage of keeping the shot closer together, resulting in good and regular coverage in the target area.

Conclusion

The SDM M870 Adaptive Shotgun offers a lot of gun in high quality at an absolutely amazing price. The gun does not have steel shot testing, but as a 12/76 shotgun, it is approved for magnum calibers, allowing for the use of steel shot.

The system is fully compatible with Remington's M870 and can therefore be combined internally and externally with all available add-on/conversion and replacement parts on the market.

The gun can be easily shot with all types of ammunition and works flawlessly, with no malfunctions to date (over 800 shots so far). Maintenance is as easy as it is uncomplicated. Thanks to its very good manufacturing, the SDM M870 also forgives a little dirt, water, and a missed cleaning (which should not be done too often with guns in general!).

All in all, this pump-action shotgun is a lot of fun right out of the box. And it tempts you to take a few more shots. The gun is highly recommended for both hunting and sport shooting.

In the test, SDM presented itself excellently with the M870 Adaptive Shotgun and promises great things for the other models of the manufacturer.

In this sense - Good shooting, happy hunting, and all the best!

Khi Pa

The guns from SDM are imported by the company HORNER ARMS: