Remington 870, are the newer ones as bad?
- Thread starter Siege
- Start date
Wasn't until 2006 that Freedom Group bought Remington and the QC changed.
Long before that. The quality actually started to change overall in all models in 1987 and with regards to the 870 when they were forced to introduce the express line, a new 1187 vs 1100 etc . Wingmaster seems to hold on however with still a reasonable amount of high quality
Changes were seen in all models then more plastic, less inspections and more parts being made out of the USA etc
Cheers
I bought a new wingmaster almost 4 years ago. Absolutely 100% junk. It spent more time at the warranty center than in my safe. It was never able to cycle 2 consecutive rounds. It took them 3 years to come to the conclusion that the gun was so bad that they could not make it work. In the end they replaced it with a new gun. The new one works great out of the box. The good is they stood behind their product. The bad is their is no excuse for building such crap. All and all I would never buy another Remington product.
yup ,had a similar experience about 10-15 years ago, bought a wingmaster 3 1/2 inch magnum, wouldn't cycle 2 3/4, and 3" rounds worth a crap, brought it back and they gave me my money back, ended up buying an ugly benelli nova, but it worked flawlessly, ate any and all ammo of all sizes. Iv'e got an older 870 fixed choke 3" magnum that works very nicely.
Have 2 870 express models, one slug gun and one turkey gun, both bought in the last 10 years. Finish is what you would expect from Remington but mine cycle most of the time. Twice I had the slug gun cycle the spent hull and a full one at the same time. Both times however I had just taken a shot deer hunting so I may have been a little quick on the pump. For what you pay for them they aren't too bad.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
I bought a new 870 Express this fall, had it out and patterned it, hunted with it for grouse and snowshoe hare and some fun blasting. It’s been 100% so far, aside from swapping out the synthetic stock set for a laminate one all I did to it initially was a full tear down and cleaning/oiling and while it was all apart I polished the chambers on the barrels it came with. I likely didn’t need to as the machining was nice, not burrs or roughness in the chamber or action/receiver for that matter.
I had it out in the wet and cold right after I picked it up and I haven’t had any rust issues, I always dry it by the wood stove and oil it well before it’s put away. Finish isn’t what you would get with a blued 870 or wingmaster but this isn’t my first parkerized firearm, overall I’m happy with it.
The only extra bits I’ve added since then is an S&J jumbo left hand safety, hi viz follower and a +2 Rem mag extension.
I had it out in the wet and cold right after I picked it up and I haven’t had any rust issues, I always dry it by the wood stove and oil it well before it’s put away. Finish isn’t what you would get with a blued 870 or wingmaster but this isn’t my first parkerized firearm, overall I’m happy with it.
The only extra bits I’ve added since then is an S&J jumbo left hand safety, hi viz follower and a +2 Rem mag extension.
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"cycle most of the time" isn't good enough, my flyfishing stream and bush (bear gun) is a mod 37 Ithaca. cut to 18" with a pistol grip, that thing goes bang every time and never ever jams. As much as i like the wingmaster, if my life depended on getting off at least 2 shots, that's my choice, plus it has the ability to continually fire as you pump and hold on to the trigger.
Bought a 20 gauge Wingmaster last year as well as whatever the express model turkey Gun is. The Wingmaster has been flawless. The turkey Gun would extract but not eject. If it did extract the empty basically fell at my feet. Turkey gun was sent back to Gravel for warranty work. My mistake was patterning the gun loading 1 shell at a time when it came back. Went turkey hunting on the opener. Could only load 1 shell in the chamber. The magazine follower would not budge. When I got home I stripped the gun and replaced the follower with a spare I had. All good now. Recently purchased a fairly new used express model and it functions flawlessly. Having said that, I have a 40 year old Wingmaster that would be the last go if I was to sell them off. Cheers Bac4
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
When discussing 870s you need to make a distinction between the versions of 870.
There is an extremely large difference in quality between an Express and a Wingmaster.
Its like saying "im going to buy a Chev car. Should I get a Cavalier or a Camaro?"
There is an extremely large difference in quality between an Express and a Wingmaster.
Its like saying "im going to buy a Chev car. Should I get a Cavalier or a Camaro?"
I've owned lots of 870s and never had any issues. I've seem an extractor break on a tactical after 2 rounds on my hunting partners...
I've owned Rugers and tikka rifles that wouldn't shoot.
It all depends. You can get a lemon by any manufacturer.
I recommend 870s from personal experience.ibalso believe this quality drop is getting way overplayed on cgn.
I've owned Rugers and tikka rifles that wouldn't shoot.
It all depends. You can get a lemon by any manufacturer.
I recommend 870s from personal experience.ibalso believe this quality drop is getting way overplayed on cgn.
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
The problems in recent years with Remington firearms are extremely well documented on more then just CGN. Its not a myth.
I currently own three (two Wingmasters and an Express).
TacticalTeacher
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Georgian Bay, ON
I’ve owned many ( lost count ) many Express 870 and a few 870 Police rigs, and I musta been lucky. It’s straightforward to look up YouTube and learn how to slick up these guns and polish the chambers and perform other fine tweaks. 
Yeah we can all argue that the new owner should not have to do this steps but I’m coming from the Norinco-Plinko approach where I view these modestly priced rigs as “diamonds-in-the-rough” and in need of polishing.
Now about that rust prone and “needs-to-be-oiled” bead blasted and blued finish, head down to Cambodian Tire and find a tin of Carnauba Wax. Or if you are CDN Forces kinda 870 owner/shooter, head to the Canex and get a small can of Kiwi Neutral shoe polish and buff it on with a boot brush (a very well learned and practiced skill set)
All my 2 sons’ 870 Express Magnums have had this wax treatment and you only have to do it once.....
Now if you cannot find a Canex or Cambodian Tire then steal one of your wife’s dinner table candles and rub it on the receiver flats and all over that roughly surfaced steel. Take an old tooth brush, and rub in that wax into the steel. What’s not to like??
This is a solution for all you Remmy 700 SPS shooters whether it’s a 700 or 783 or 870. Wax is your friend and it’s organic....
Adversity Into Advantage!!
Cheers, Barney
Yeah we can all argue that the new owner should not have to do this steps but I’m coming from the Norinco-Plinko approach where I view these modestly priced rigs as “diamonds-in-the-rough” and in need of polishing.
Now about that rust prone and “needs-to-be-oiled” bead blasted and blued finish, head down to Cambodian Tire and find a tin of Carnauba Wax. Or if you are CDN Forces kinda 870 owner/shooter, head to the Canex and get a small can of Kiwi Neutral shoe polish and buff it on with a boot brush (a very well learned and practiced skill set)
All my 2 sons’ 870 Express Magnums have had this wax treatment and you only have to do it once.....
Now if you cannot find a Canex or Cambodian Tire then steal one of your wife’s dinner table candles and rub it on the receiver flats and all over that roughly surfaced steel. Take an old tooth brush, and rub in that wax into the steel. What’s not to like??
This is a solution for all you Remmy 700 SPS shooters whether it’s a 700 or 783 or 870. Wax is your friend and it’s organic....
Adversity Into Advantage!!
Cheers, Barney
I bought three 870 Police and a Wingmaster within the last 3 years. All worked fine ... and I have no complaints. The fit and finish on the Police models is "ok" ... nothing spectacular. And on the Police models the barrels were not polished .... I could feel the tool marks when sticking my pinky into the muzzle. I had to polish the barrel with a drill and some steel wool. Other than that .... they are all working fine.
