You can't easily single load a round or two before it's empty.
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE REMINGTOM 870 DMhttp://blog.suarezinternational.com/2017/12/the-truth-about-the-remingtom-870-dm.htmlFirst we ask what the shotgun is intended for. The use of the shotgun does not require shooting it empty and then racing to load it. It is not a sustained fire weapon, like the rifle. Itis fired once or twice, and the reloaded as needed. To see the real use of a shotgun in combat, we need to look to US Law Enforcement, not US Gun Competitors whose sport demands speed of reloading.
In a street fight, the shotgun is fired once or twice...perhaps three times, and then it is reloaded with single rounds. Not as sexy as what Remington suggests, but its the way its done. The way Remington is marketing this is by comparing the full reload of an empty tube fed 870, to the full reload of a magazine fed 870. Very clever on their part but absolutely irrelevant.
Instead, lets compare times to the first shot from empty guns on each side. My money is on the chamber load of the tube fed weapon, followed by the tube load (and subsequent racking of the action) of the tube fed weapon in speed over the magazine fed model. Moreover, if we accept that the way shotguns are used in real life is by a "load what you shoot" methodology - in other words, load what you have shot as soon as you have the chance - the tube fed weapon is far easier to keep loaded than the magazine fed weapon.
Not to mention the carry of additional ammunition is far easier with the tube fed methodology of a belt mounted ammo sleeve, a side saddle, or even a handful of shells in the jacket pocket.
