Remmington 870 brand question

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Gregnor

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Getting my first shotgun in the mail this week and I have been trying to do some research on it before it arrives. Been getting some confusing information back and I think its because the format from the sellers posting was a little off.

So the title was: Remington 870 Magnum Ex LE Shotguns, 12 ga 3"

So I know the LE is Law Enforcement and assume the Ex is Express. Pretty obvious...

But what I am finding is there is no Magnum Express that isn't a Super magnum... is that right? Is my new gun a Super Magnum?

Id like to know because it comes with a 18" barrel and I want to put a 28" on it. Found one that is a Super Magnum barrel with at 3 1/2" chamber but Remington's web page says that it should only be used with a Super Mag Receiver. Link

Was the sellers posting off or did my google fu fail me? Does it even matter if I don't use a 3 1/2 " round?
 
This looks like the SFRC listing of a law enforcement trade ins, if that's the one you are talking about, I asked in another thread and was told these are not the express and they are an older 870 model (which is considered better by most people). Looking online, the express wasn't even a model until I think 1987, so this shotgun would precede that time. The 870 has been made since I think the 50's (Wikipedia will have the exact date). The wingmaster was originally designed for 2 3/4" shells and the oldest models only shoot these. Eventually, 870's that can shoot 3" shells as well as 2 3/4" were marketed at the same time as some shotguns that can only shoot 2 3/4", so the term magnum was designated to distinguish the guns that can shoot the 3" shells. Nowadays, even the express shoots 3" and all modern 870's can shoot them. Lots of people like these older, very well made shotguns because they have all metal parts and were built to a high standard. Plus, if it's an ex law enforcement gun, it will have an interesting history. Police trade ins tend to have been shot very little, but roughly handled on the outsides.
 
If I'm right and you bought the sfrc listing, well it was 12 or 14 shotguns that sold out in about an hour, so you can see how popular they were. These are 3" and not 3 1/2" ........ If that's not what you want, someone on here will happily buy it off of you.
 
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The original 870 Express guns, back in the 80's were 2,3/4" as standard. When the express followed the Ringmaster in offering a 3" version, they started stamping them Express Magnum.

Later, all 870's that were produced and sold became 3" guns by default (i.e. there is no longer a 2,3/4" model offered). At this point, they stopped stamping "Magnum" on the Express guns.

Your inbound shotgun is a regular 3" shell 870 that can shoot both 2,3/4" and 3". No need to worry, it is NOT a 3.5" super magnum.

If you want a new 28" barrel that takes chokes, go to the Dlask Arms website, they sell them new for $150 each, best price around.
 
Claven2 said:
The original 870 Express guns, back in the 80's were 2,3/4" as standard. When the express followed the Ringmaster in offering a 3" version, they started stamping them Express Magnum.

Later, all 870's that were produced and sold became 3" guns by default (i.e. there is no longer a 2,3/4" model offered). At this point, they stopped stamping "Magnum" on the Express guns.

Your inbound shotgun is a regular 3" shell 870 that can shoot both 2,3/4" and 3". No need to worry, it is NOT a 3.5" super magnum.

If you want a new 28" barrel that takes chokes, go to the Dlask Arms website, they sell them new for $150 each, best price around.
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No sir . Remington never made any 2 3/4 express 12ga . Even the 1st ones were 3" but marked just 870 Express on the receiver. Some were not stamped at all and others stamped magnum but all 3" until the 3 1/2" came out
Cheers
 
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Yeah it was the SFRC listing. Looked up your old post there city boy, thanks for the heads up.

Not looking to sell my new toy, just want to have a 2nd longer barrel and wanted the info for compatibility.
 
Gregnor said:
Yeah it was the SFRC listing. Looked up your old post there city boy, thanks for the heads up.

Not looking to sell my new toy, just want to have a 2nd longer barrel and wanted the info for compatibility.
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You should be able to find a longer barrel fairly easy on the EE and then you'll have a great set up; just make sure you get a barrel for 3" shells. Also, not an expert here, but the older 870's have a different mag cap style with a ball and detent and the newer express barrels have a different mag cap ..... Some guys say that's no problem and others say you'll need a washer if you go with an express barrel ..... Maybe someone more knowledgeable than me can chime in here and clarify that?
 
3macs1 said:
No sir . Remington never made any 2 3/4 express 12ga . Even the 1st ones were 3" but marked just 870 Express on the receiver. Some were not stamped at all and others stamped magnum but all 3" until the 3 1/2" came out
Cheers
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I stand corrected then, I didn't know express models never came in 2,3/4 like Wingmasters. But the point is the same and valid. The Magnum name was added to the express to differentiate 3" magnum shells over the many 870's made for 2,3/4" only. It was later dropped since visually all 870's were, by then, 3" models. Nowadays, "magnum" guns are thought of as 3.5".

Once upon a time, when most shells were 2.5", 2.75" was thought of as magnum! lol...
 
From the Remington Model History notes:


Police - Chambered in 12 gauge only with a 3" magnum chamber. Blued or Parkerized steel finish. These models feature a stronger sear spring, carrier latch spring and a forged steel extractor (as opposed to the MIM extractor found on the Express models). Receivers are stamped "Remington 870 Police Magnum" as of 2014.


When you are talking 870's a MAGNUM is a 3" chamber a SUPER MAGNUM is a 3 1/2".
 
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