I'm a diehard M37 owner, but I can see in a combat situation where it might be easier to slap one round into an empty, open chambered M500 or 870 than it is to speed load an M37 for that one shot with your life on the line. The follower arms of the M37 have to be just right and touching the "roof" of the action to drop a round into position with the gun upside down for the bolt to shove it into the chamber with one motion. It can be tricky enough to do it in broad daylight without stress. Otherwise, the round must be shoved into the magazine and the action cycled back and forth to load the chamber.
Yea. All of that happens about as much as a single action bar (Mod 12, 37, 31, etc) binding up. Which is practically never. The only time Ive ever seen that issue (follower arms) on a 37 is on clapped out, abused jalopies. Any gun is going to have issues if its out of tune, right? Feed ramp spring bust..most all pump guns & autos are going to be busted. Happens often enough. Properly cared for, well maintained, properly tuned guns are usually 99.9% reliable.
The preferred Bear gun for a lot of years for many guides up in the AK was a cut down, extended mag 37.
