870 Express vs 870 Super Mag

Scoot3er

Scoot3er

New member
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Location
The Kootenays in B.C.
A bit of a newb here so I wanted to get clarification on something. I searched some old posts and didn't see anything exactly on this topic in recent posts.....I hope I'm not asking something that has already been answered in recent months.

Here is what I have figured, and correct me if I'm wrong; Remington does not curretnly make just an 870 pump, it is either an 870 Express or and 870 Super Mag. The difference is the Express will take 2 3/4" to 3" shells while the Super Mag will take 2 3/4", 3" as well as 3 1/2"?

Basically I think a shotgun will be my next purchase, 870 pump sounds like the way to go if I'm only going to have one. I want something to shoot paper etc with that will double as a home defense gun if s*#t ever hit the fan. Secondary purpose, with a barrel change, it would be nice to go to the local trap club once a year and break some clay. Sounds like the Super Mag offers a little more versatility although I don't know when I would ever shoot a 3 1/2" Any cons to going with a Super Mag over the Express, suggestions? Thanks in advance.
 
Unless you know through experience (like long-range goose hunting) that you are really, really handicapped by NOT having a 3-1/2" gun, the answer is you do not need it. In reality, for your purposes, a non-magnum chamber gun would suit you just fine. So if you happen to stumble on say, a 2-3/4" only gun in excellent condition for a low price, jump on it. Otherwise, a 3" chamber should suffice for 100% of your needs.
 
I would agree, no real need for a 3.5. I have an 870 sps supermag turkey predator and picked up a box of 3.5 turkey loads. Well there really is no need as 3 inch patterns better in mine and doesn't kick nearly as hard as the 3.5. The new 3 inch shells can pattern really well so why hurt yourself by going bigger? A buddy just picked up a 870 express tactical. Had a few issues the first day out, but the action just needed to be broken in a bit to smooth out. I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another 870 myself, even though I absolutely love my Winchester 1300. Happy shopping!
 
well i have a 870 express that eat 3'' and i just bough a 10ga browning whit 3 1/2 shell, for sure the 10ga is a bit bigger but im pretty sure the 1/2 more inch is what does the trick better,if u hunt hided and fire when birds come down on you, anything will go nicely
but if u are shooting from far 3 1/2'' is the way to go either 12 ga or 10ga
 
I own and have hunted my 870 supermag in a wide variety of conditions (early-late) and puddle ducks to sea duck to geese. I love my gun and won't trade it for the world BUT at least a couple times a year I end up short stroking it. That would be more times per year than I'm glad I have a 3.5" shell.
Buy an express. Better yet, buy and older 870 Wingmaster- the king of pumps in my opinion.
 
jaydog said:
I own and have hunted my 870 supermag in a wide variety of conditions (early-late) and puddle ducks to sea duck to geese. I love my gun and won't trade it for the world BUT at least a couple times a year I end up short stroking it. That would be more times per year than I'm glad I have a 3.5" shell.
Buy an express. Better yet, buy and older 870 Wingmaster- the king of pumps in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Are there many barrel options for the Wingmaster i.e shorter barrels? I'm guessing the answer is yes but I didn't see much on the Remington website.
 
Scoot3er said:
Are there many barrel options for the Wingmaster i.e shorter barrels? I'm guessing the answer is yes but I didn't see much on the Remington website.
Click to expand...

All 12 gauge 870 barrels are interchangeable with the one exception being the 870 Special Field (the barrels for these guns are model specific). With that being said you must be cautious when swapping barrels on 870s because of the fact that an older 2 3/4" chambered barrels will fit on the Super Magnum recievers. Doing so presents a risk of having someone stuff a longer shotshell into a short chambered barrel, unknowingly, and causing serious bodily harm when they pull the trigger. When shooting an 870 Super Magnum, you must never use ammo that is longer than what is specified on the barrel itself.. I would also recommend that when buying a used 870 Super Magnum, never assume it has the 3.5" barrel on it...always verify/comfirm that it is indeed marked as such on the barrel. I've have personally seen 2 used examples in the last 7 years or so that had a 3" chambered barrel on a Super Magnum reciever!
 
I own a remington express super mag waterfowl ....just means it's 3 1/2" chambered receiver and in duck blind camo. I have hunted with it for 5 years now. In one hunt I dropped it in the lake, granted it was only 2 feet of water, but i still had to feel around for it. After finding it I unloaded it, made sure the barrel was clear of obstruction and then reloaded it. Not 5 minutes after I knocked down a mallard. Got home and did a thorough cleaning, the 870 is easy to strip down and clean. The only grievances i have with the gun are that the camo is wearing off the receiver and my barrel is 28" I personally prefer 26". As for the 3 1/2 shells I think all they accomplished was more bruising and at one point I developed a mild flinch that I had to correct. I hunted geese and ducks last year with a couple of older guys both used 3" Tugsten (can't remember shot size) for geese and 2 3/4 steelshot #4s for mallards. I tried a few 2 3/4 #4s and I can't argue with the results. If it helps hind sight is 20/20 and I'd still buy another 870, but matte black, 3" chamber and 26" barrel.
 
Among multiple shotguns, I have owned both 3" and 3.5" Remington 870 models.

The Supermag was awful, would fail to feed, fail to eject and often jam completely with a shell inside of the mag cover- not good.
I replaced it with a plain Jane laminate/wood 3" Express Magnum fitted with the 26" barrel, and it has been simply flawless in terms of operation. I've got a few thousand rounds through her and she cycles like glass without issue. As for the 3" vs 3.5" question, countless Pigeons/Crows/Ducks/Geese did not live on the difference- however I'm sure the recoil induced flinch of 3.5" shells helps many Geese to live out a ripe old age.. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom