Price check on Rem 870 Special Field LW 20ga

ben777lemay

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Looking for a ballpark value for my rare Remington 870 Special Light Weight Field in 20ga.

Lightweight receiver and 21 inch barrel w/factory 3 chokes/chambered 3 inches.

Condition is VG with a couple small marks on the buttstock, nothing deep.
I would rate it a solid 8.5+/10

I'm thinking to let it go as my gf loves more semi auto's and the buttstock is little too long for her.
I know those are rare birds and its a really neat/classic/compact/lightweight shotgun... for this reason, I'm not sure yet to let it go.

Sooo, what would be a fair market value in 2024 for this one ???

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With the prices of new guns and the not often encountered model you have I would say $850-1100. You may get more from someone seeking a great quick handling bird gun. Best of luck
 
Not seldom seen for sale?
- Yes
Desirable?
- Depends if you stumble upon the shooter looking for one.

As far as I remember, the model was dropped by Remington because of the lack of sales.

Personally, I think they're sweet little pump. Yours seems to have nice wood on it! My dad had one in 12g, can't remember what it sold for... but that was a number of years ago. Pondered picking it up, but I like SxS better.

As far as $$, your guess is as good as mine. A new 870 Fieldmaster with the 20" and 26" barrels can be had for $1,000.
- Seems like not so long ago there was a Browning BPS Upland Special for sale (similar configuration, 22" barrel 20g) but I can't seem to find the add anymore
 
The Browning upland is a superior gun and can be had used for $800, the 870 is a lesser gun all around, the valuations posted here don't seem to be based on comparables
 
With the prices of new guns and the not often encountered model you have I would say $850-1100. You may get more from someone seeking a great quick handling bird gun. Best of luck

Thanks for the reply !

Nice gun for upland shooting.
My values have been off base for sometime now, but maybe $900
It is a straight grip and short barrel , yes ?

Yes, straight grip ( english style stock ) and 21 inch barrel w/chokes/chambered 3 in.

Not seldom seen for sale?
- Yes
Desirable?
- Depends if you stumble upon the shooter looking for one.

As far as I remember, the model was dropped by Remington because of the lack of sales.

Personally, I think they're sweet little pump. Yours seems to have nice wood on it! My dad had one in 12g, can't remember what it sold for... but that was a number of years ago. Pondered picking it up, but I like SxS better.

As far as $$, your guess is as good as mine. A new 870 Fieldmaster with the 20" and 26" barrels can be had for $1,000.
- Seems like not so long ago there was a Browning BPS Upland Special for sale (similar configuration, 22" barrel 20g) but I can't seem to find the add anymore

Yeah it is a sweet little pump... compact, lw and buttery smooth.
Tbh, it don't seen use in more than a year...

Thanks for the reply.

900 ish
Nice little gun

Thanks !

The Browning upland is a superior gun and can be had used for $800, the 870 is a lesser gun all around, the valuations posted here don't seem to be based on comparables

At this price, I might keep it.

Such a nice compact and lightweight shotgun !

I also forgot to mention, it is chambered for 3 inches shells.
 
Thanks for the reply !



Yes, straight grip ( english style stock ) and 21 inch barrel w/chokes/chambered 3 in.



Yeah it is a sweet little pump... compact, lw and buttery smooth.
Tbh, it don't seen use in more than a year...

Thanks for the reply.



Thanks !



At this price, I might keep it.

Such a nice compact and lightweight shotgun !

I also forgot to mention, it is chambered for 3 inches shells.

The 870 was a commercial success. Remington sold two million guns by 1973 (ten times the number of Model 31 shotguns it replaced). As of 1983, the 870 held the record for the best-selling shotgun in history, with three million sold.By 1996, spurred by sales of the basic "Express" models, which were added as a lower-cost alternative to the original Wingmaster line, sales topped seven million guns. On April 13, 2009, the ten millionth Model 870 was produced.

The original 870 models were offered with fixed chokes. In 1986 Remington introduced the new Remington "Rem Choke" system of screw-in chokes (also fitted to Remington model 1100 auto-loading shotguns at the same time). Initially, the Rem Chokes were offered only in 12 gauge in barrel lengths of 21", 26", and 28". The following year the availability was expanded to the 20 gauge and included other barrel lengths.

The 870's production for over 30 years had a design flaw whereby a user could fail to press a shell all the way into the magazine when loading - so that the shell latch did not engage the shell - which could result in tying up the gun. This was caused by the shell slipping out of the magazine under the bolt in the receiver to bind the action, requiring rough treatment of the action or even disassembly. The potential issue was resolved with the introduction of the "Flexi Tab" carrier. Guns with this modification can be identified by the U-shaped cut-out on the carrier, visible from below the gun. The cut-out, combined with modified machining on the underside of the slide assembly, allows the action to be opened with a shell on the carrier. (I have experienced this once or twice both on the 870 and the 1100 lots of cussing and skinned knuckles , lol)

There are hundreds of variations of the Remington 870 in 12, 16, 20, 28 gauges and .410 bore. All Remington 870 versions are built on the same platform and receiver, but there are small differences that can be more than just cosmetic. In 1969, Remington introduced 28 gauge and .410 bore models on a new scaled-down receiver size, and in 1972, a 20-gauge Lightweight ("LW") version was introduced on the same sized receiver, and all of the smaller gauges today are produced on that size receiver. From the original fifteen models offered, Remington currently produces dozens of models for civilian, law enforcement, and military sales.

Norinco imitation: Chinese arms company Norinco has made unlicensed copies of the Remington 870, as the design is no longer under patent protection. The most common of these designs are the Norinco HP9-1 and M-98, the difference being that the HP9-1 has either a 12.5" or 14" barrel, whereas the M-98 has an 18.5" barrel. In the United States, where most Norinco products are specifically non-importable,[18] this shotgun was imported and sold under the names Norinco Hawk 982 and Interstate Hawk 982

Shamelessly clipped from wikipedia for informational purposes and points of interest.

10 million firearms (870's) over 30 years makes a statement don't you think ?

Keep it or sell it you will be happy or sad depending on what your needs may be...
I never owned one because I never dedicately chased upland birds instead went with the multi purpose 870 Wingmaster with 3 inch chamber and 28 inch barrel.
Now I am flirting with the 1100 Remington's for Upland game birds...
 
I’m curious what did you think you’d get for it if now you’re keeping it because you think the value it 800ish? They are great guns, but yours shows use and with the shorter 21”bbl your market is limited to pretty much upland bird hunters. If it was mint with box and acc then you could hit collectors market as well
 
I’m curious what did you think you’d get for it if now you’re keeping it because you think the value it 800ish? They are great guns, but yours shows use and with the shorter 21”bbl your market is limited to pretty much upland bird hunters. If it was mint with box and acc then you could hit collectors market as well

The gun does have a little sentimental value and that’s more why I’m not sure I want to let it go.
Money is not everything in life… but if I can have some decent money for it, I may part with it… if not I’ll keep it.
At first, I bought it for my gf and to introduce new shooters to shotguns. By being small, its less intimidating, especially for girls.
 
Maybe smaller and less intimidating looks wise but function wise because of the smaller size and weight it would actually produce more recoil for new shooters compared to let’s say a heavier BPS in same gauge.

Did you purchase a BPS to introduce new shooters to the sport? I don’t think a big heavy cumbersome gun is a great way to introduce new shooters to shotguns either. A 20 with light target loads is more than manageable. Our club has a 20 and a 28 for teaching new university students to shoot!
 
i had one of these in 12 gauge and if it is the same model i believe the barrels are model specific.ie other 870 barrels do not fit.no longer have the gun as i gave it as a present to a relative. i thought it was a fine shotgun and liked the gun. if i had your gun i would be asking for 1200 . hard to find in my opinion.
 
Did you purchase a BPS to introduce new shooters to the sport? I don’t think a big heavy cumbersome gun is a great way to introduce new shooters to shotguns either. A 20 with light target loads is more than manageable. Our club has a 20 and a 28 for teaching new university students to shoot!
What exactly was the point of your question as I said a bps IN THE SAME GAUGE in case you missed that part and I’m simply stating a lighter gun will produce more felt recoil so assuming the same load is being used a new shooter will feel it more on their shoulder shooting a 6lbs gun than they will a 7lbs gun but I’m assuming you already knew that didn’t you since your club has a 20 and 28 to teach with ;) No where did I say not to use the 870 to learn on. Do you own either of said guns? I’ve owned and shot both. A 20g bps is far from a big heavy cumbersome gun, not the lightest 20 out there but more than capable to teach someone on and with the same target load the lighter REM definitely kicks more.
 
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What exactly was the point of your question as I said a bps IN THE SAME GAUGE in case you missed that part and I’m simply stating a lighter gun will produce more felt recoil so assuming the same load is being used a new shooter will feel it more on their shoulder shooting a 6lbs gun than they will a 7lbs gun but I’m assuming you already knew that didn’t you since your club has a 20 and 28 to teach with ;) No where did I say not to use the 870 to learn on. Do you own either of said guns? I’ve owned and shot both. A 20g bps is far from a big heavy cumbersome gun, not the lightest 20 out there but more than capable to teach someone on and with the same target load the lighter REM definitely kicks more.
I simply asked if you purchased a BPS to teach new/young shooters! Our club uses Remington semis in both 20 and 28. I use a Binelli 20 if they’re physically larger. Your correct on heavy gun having less felt recoil than lighter. The semi is even softer and when the newbs progress to doubles one less thing to think about. I own or have owned every gun I speak of,have been around a while.
 
The only downside I can think of, as far as using a 21" pump shotgun to teach new (female) shooter, is that a 21" will most likely have more bark than a longer barrel shotgun.
- Maybe it's just a coincidence, but of all the female shooters I've had the opportunity to coach/teach. The vast majority of them were more noise-shy than recoil-shy. As in, double-down on hearing protection and shooting that 44mag and 12G was pretty much a none-issue.
 
i had one of these in 12 gauge and if it is the same model i believe the barrels are model specific.ie other 870 barrels do not fit.no longer have the gun as i gave it as a present to a relative. i thought it was a fine shotgun and liked the gun. if i had your gun i would be asking for 1200 . hard to find in my opinion.

You're correct. There is something about the barrel and where the ring is mounted that makes it incompatible with the regular 870. That being said, I would far prefer to have a 20ga Special Field than most any other pump offered before or since. I have an 870 Lightweight Magnum in 20 and it's a little beauty. If it wasn't for that fact I would probably be looking hard at this for my daughter.

I’ve owned and shot both. A 20g bps is far from a big heavy cumbersome gun, not the lightest 20 out there but more than capable to teach someone on and with the same target load the lighter REM definitely kicks more.

A 7lb 1oz BPS versus 5lb 4oz 870 Special Field is hardly a fair comparison. Depending whether you're talking about using 7/8oz or 1oz loads the lightest that the gun should weigh (according to the 96x rule) is between 5lb 4oz to 6lb. In the BPS that 7/8oz load would be about 10.5 ft-lb of recoil and in the Special Field it would be 12.8 ft-lb. Up that to a 1 oz load and it's 12.5 ft-lb for the BPS versus 15.3. Neither of these loads is particularly punishing unless you plan on shooting long sessions, which no one teaching a new shooter would do.

Shotguns are a part of shooting where trying to shoot something that is too long/short, or too heavy/light, really matters. So, with that in mind, it boils down to gun fit and shooter preference. Whichever fits better and works better for the shooter is the one to use. But 20 oz of gun weight can make a big difference, depending where the weight is. Changes are that the BPS, with 7" more barrel, will have more weight forward. If the shooter is bigger and stronger that will help smooth out their swing. Similarly, a smaller, and potentially weaker, shooter will have more difficulty with that extra weight and may find the balance of the Special Field more to their liking. Depending on the style of shooting the person wants to do, the gun has to fit differently. If I, at 6'5" 280lbs, want to shoot sporting clays, the Special Field is going to be a lot more of a challenge to point where I want it to point. At the same time, if my 14 year old daughter (5'9" and 180lbs) was shooting flushing birds she probably wouldn't enjoy shooting my 30" 12ga Superposed, but she would really enjoy my 20ga Superposed Lightning with its 26" barrels. Granted there is a lot of real estate between those two guns, but it illustrates the point...guns are different, and in a world where gun movement determines hits and misses, the gun has to be sized and fit to the shooter in question if the goal is optimal performance.

Which gun is better is one of those campfire discussions that is fun to engage in, but ultimately you might as well try to convince firm adherents that their religion is inferior to another.
 
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Looking for a ballpark value for my rare Remington 870 Special Light Weight Field in 20ga.

Lightweight receiver and 21 inch barrel w/factory 3 chokes/chambered 3 inches.

Condition is VG with a couple small marks on the buttstock, nothing deep.
I would rate it a solid 8.5+/10

I'm thinking to let it go as my gf loves more semi auto's and the buttstock is little too long for her.
I know those are rare birds and its a really neat/classic/compact/lightweight shotgun... for this reason, I'm not sure yet to let it go.

Sooo, what would be a fair market value in 2024 for this one ???

ZYcwK0w.png


GA2E8gp.png


EOh8G9Z.jpg


ylxRmdk.jpg


Ym5Rhnv.jpg


yEwtUS4.jpg
 
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