New Remington 870's reliable?

T

TheArmyMan204

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So I've had a mossberg 500 for 4-5 years now and it's been solid as a rock. But I'm getting bored and I've been eyeing down the remington 870 tactical with ghost ring sights. It's a beautiful gun.

But a quick YouTube/google search reveals dozens of videos and posts of guys needing to polish their chambers, change extractors, ejectors and springs just to get the gun to cycle reliably.

I really do want this gun and I realize many of the big name companies have been dropping the ball lately on qc, but what's your guys take on this? Should I find an older modle (really do like new guns though) or should I take my chances?
 
I've got over 1500 rounds through my 870 supermag in the year I have owned it. 10 minutes to polish and I think I've cleaned it 3 times. It takes a beating. I would buy another.
 
If you can get a nice older model then go for it. I have an Express Super Mag bought new in 2003 and it's been flawless. Not sure when the QC went down.
 
CdnCombatMedic said:
If you can get a nice older model then go for it. I have an Express Super Mag bought new in 2003 and it's been flawless. Not sure when the QC went down.
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Yup! I wish I had purchased a used one. My 2014 model gave me a bunch of issues until I polished the chamber. Remington would have done it for me. But I would have had to pay for shipping. After the polish though I've not had a single problem.
 
found this 1974 for 200$ put my other shotguns to shame....

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So basically the new ones require finishing (polishing the chamber) at home rather than being finished at the factory. Point taken, might just add another mossberg to the collection and sleep sound at night.
 
I have no doubt the old ones work perfect but I was looking at the new tactical one. I have a bunch of shot guns already but a tactical model with ghost ring sights would be adding something new
 
I have a new 870 tactical (bead sight, not ghost ring)...only had it for a few weeks but no regrets yet.No cycling issues so far (about 100 rounds). Just brought it home, stripped it and cleaned it. I'm getting decent groups with virtually any slug I put through it - even the cheapies. So far, I'm happy with it...and it is a nice looking gun too.
 
I use Mossberg's and a newer 870 Express. I like them both.
I avoid all Winchester loads in the 870 because they stick slightly upon ejection. Not just the cheap Universal target, but the #4 and #5 shot Universal too. Nothing has ever got jammed or stuck, just some resistance and stickiness.

Otherwise, all other shell brands work just fine. So I use Challenger, Federal, Dominion & Score with the 870.

Mine is an 870 Magpul edition though, so I don't know if it got more love at the factory or not as a result. It racks really smoothly, and the chamber is smooth feeling like chrome.

 
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My '54 wingmaster is smoother and more reliable than any newer shotgun I've ever handled. That might be due to the years of handling, the fact that it's a wingmaster, or the fact that I have sentimental attachment to it because it was my grandfather's, but in my mind and hands, the older 870 's out-do everything else I have ever handled. To be fair, that doesn't include anything all that pricey.
 
I have had two 2010 or newer 870 express shotguns in the last 18 months. The first (a 20 guage) had MAJOR trouble with the shell lifter. It was catching on the left side action bar. It was out of spec from the factory. I had to take a big file and file off 1/8" off the side of the lifter to make it clear. No problems after that, but the lifter has a noticable scar on one side.
The other (a 12 guage) express had mag tube issues. There were 2 burrs that prevented the shells from exiting the tube easily, causing lots of Fail to feeds.( click but no boom) making me miss at least 20 birds. I had to file the end of the tube to get the burrs and replace the follower/spring as they were rubbing a bit in the tube making the shells feed sluggishly after I got the burrs out.
I will not buy another Rem from the year 2000 or later from now on. Mossberg's are what currently reside in my gun locker.
 
I was in the same boat as the OP last year. I wanted a new Express and found all the negative reviews in them, making me apprehensive.
But I also heard just as many positive feedback about them too.
I believe inconsistency is a mark of poor quality, but I took a chance anyway to experience the gun myself. I have no major complaints, but we'll see as the round count mounts of the next few years. But out of the box, its been fine. I'm used to different guns liking different ammo, and with so many shotshell options out there the fact the gun doesn't get along with Winchester Universal is a non issue for me.
 
Alright thanks guys, I think I may pass on this gun, even those of you who don't have major problems the gun seems to be somewhat picky on ammo and on a shtf gun that's not good for me. When I think pump shotgun, I think BANG every single time and that's been my expirence with every pump I've owned yet.

From the replies here it seems half and half with working guns vs ones that needed polishing/working on. pretty unacceptable from remington you ask me. I'll keep my eye out for an old one but I really did like that new one.

For what it's worth (shameless mossberg plug) I simply never clean my 500, somewhat of a 4 yearlong reliability test. I've even spray panted the gun and didn't even tape off the action, got paint absolutely everywhere and I mean everywhere and she didn't even slow down. Takes the cheap 100 round box of shells from Walmart all the way too magnum slugs. I don't really know why I'm looking for a new gun I pretty much answered my own questions haha
 
I know this is coming out of left field but have a look at the Winchester SXP extreme defender, all the reviews are good, iirc the action on this model is supposed to be among the finest. I always skipped over the pics of this gun as it doesn't look appealing in pictures but I handled a base model at Cabelas and it's actually pretty nice. I have no experience with one but if I was in the market for a tactical pump I would have this in my investigate list.
 
Mossberg's aren't immune either. A friends new 500 had burr issues that needed addressing. My new 14" had the last shell popping out of the tube because the retaining bar wouldnt always fully extend to catch and hold the shells rim.
500 safety sliders can crack and break under stress too.

They just don't get mentioned as much because the Remington brand and the 870 has a more legendary reputation. One that spans decades and generations. Mossberg is great too, but doesn't hold quite that same stigma. Many gun owners unjustifiably scoff at the entire brand and wouldn't touch one.
But when the big dog misses a beat, its amplified ten fold.
I got an 870 because I wanted a variety, and wanted to experience owning, maintaining and shooting one. Not because I was unhappy with my Mossberg...
 
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I have an inherited early 1950's Wingmaster and a mid 1980's Express, both 12 guage. They have operated flawlessly out of the box.

I had not heard anything negative at all about the new 870 Express's so we bought one for our daughter in the fall (big/strong woman/nuts for waterfowl). Quite a few hunting rounds through it to date and everything is just fine. I would recommend!
 
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