I bought a Remington 870 Gatekeeper II, a year and a half ago. The receiver, bolt, magazine tube and of course, barrel are steel. That is unless they make aluminum that a magnet sticks to.

I'm not sure who told you that, but unless they started making a lightweight model that I don't know about, they were wrong. Both of my TAC-14's have steel receivers.

My best buddy is into shorty shotties. He has a Mossberg Shockwave, a Remmy 870 Tac-14 shorty with detatchable mag and now a 870+1 14" bbl w/wood. He just paid $400 for it.

My preference would be the 870-14+1 w/wood (aka: Witness Protection 870) and spend the $200 to SBS and add a Remy factory folding stock, side saddle 6 round ammo holder and add SureFire 870 forend.

Added 10 days later:

My buddy and I took his Shockwave, 870 detachable mag and the Witness Protection type 14"+1 out this afternoon. The 14"+1 is by far the best. Best action, accuracy and function. My Buddy is going to sell off the Remy 870 detachable mag shorty (can't find mags easily and they are very expensive).

He being left eye dominant prefers the Mossy safety, but everything else he likes the Remy better. Just to note, he has a Mossy 590 18", a Mossy semi 18" and the Mossy Shockwave. He also has an 18" 870P but prefers the Mossy except in the shorty class.

I'm all in on the Remy 870 14" +1 myself and now find that I gotta get one myself.