Am I out to Lunch? Rem 870 value

[p.Rundle]

Hey so I was in a situation recently where I was considering selling a used Remington 870. A cylinder Deer Express model with great laminate furniture and some changes to it. Part of the rear sight broke off so it got removed, then had an extra large bead sight installed on it. Then painted black and cured in an oven. But it looks fine, I would say as good or better than the parkerization on the rest of the model, although from a distance you can't really tell them apart. It also has a Remington +3 mag extension, professionally installed.

The gun works really well after replacing some of the internals (with OEM parts via Brownells, installed by a gunsmith). I was thinking it was worth a little less than $500. Is that unheard of? I figured for a good 870 with nice wood and a mag extension it was reasonable, some people agree with my value assessment. But I've also been told otherwise. I mean for god's sake the barrel is painted, even if it looks better than the park it doesn't match it on close inspection. But I figured it was a working tool, not a showpiece. Maybe that's not in line with how guns are actually valued these days.

Please remind me what's reasonable these days for a gun like this! I'm thinking about what to do going forward, and I might end up just keeping it

 

[Dodosmike]

I just sold a late 60's wingmaster. Very nice wood, no recoil pad, 2.75", fixed choke, very smooth action, great barrel for $550

If I was a buyer I'd wonder why it was painted and had sights modified. Was it dropped or damaged and bent the barrel? Is it mishmash of parts to put together a Frankenstein gun?

 

[Jmcc]

It's been bubba'd so id have questions.

Id be comparing it to a Maverick 88 if I was shopping.

Do you want a beat up Toyota or a brand new Chevy?

If you know its a solid gun, keep it. You wont make what its worth

 

[Butcherbill]

To most people any mix and match of the finish or alteration is going to be a strike against it, if I want a mix master of an 870 I’ll put it together myself. Then at least it’s got all the parts in it I want and I have control of the final finish on it and it’s generally not something I’d consider selling in the first place as it was purpose built.

Right now though with the prices the way they are ask what you like, you’ll eventually find someone that wants it bad enough.

 

[marshall]

I sold a nice 2 3/4 " wingmaster, plain barrel for 400.oo + shipping a while back.
A painted one for over 5? no.

 

[p.Rundle]

I just sold a late 60's wingmaster. Very nice wood, no recoil pad, 2.75", fixed choke, very smooth action, great barrel for $550

If I was a buyer I'd wonder why it was painted and had sights modified. Was it dropped or damaged and bent the barrel? Is it mishmash of parts to put together a Frankenstein gun?

No, because it's a Remington from the 2010's the rear sight just wasn't attached well and it broke off and cut my forehead open. Nice huh?

I sold a nice 2 3/4 " wingmaster, plain barrel for 400.oo + shipping a while back.
A painted one for over 5? no.

Fair enough. It doesn't really bug me, because it actually looks really good, but I hear you. It's the inconsistency that gets it.

I guess the question becomes should I buy a new barrel to put on it to increase the value for sale? Do you think the $100 ish for a new barrel (no idea what they go for these days) would increase the value a corresponding about?

 

[marshall]

I have never seen a new barrel for $100.oo

 

[Butcherbill]

Paint and bake the receiver to match, probably your cheapest way to get your money back out of it if you don’t want to keep it as is.

 

[p.Rundle]

I have never seen a new barrel for $100.oo

When I said new I meant new to me lol, not OEM in package new. That would be a crazy deal.

Paint and bake the receiver to match, probably your cheapest way to get your money back out of it if you don’t want to keep it as is.

Maybe I will. The parkerization on modern Remingtons was really bad. The paint is definitely better lol.

 

[Butcherbill]

Maybe I will. The parkerization on modern Remingtons was really bad. The paint is definitely better lol.

That’s because it’s not parkerizing, it’s bead blasted and blued which gives it a matte look. I’ve got one that’s got a nice finish, bought it in 2016. I’ve never had a rust issue with it, I’ve stored it in soft bags, it goes out rain or shine and the only time I have had rust bloom anywhere was from my finger prints but that happens to any of my blued guns.

 

[farmer47]

i saw three different 870 guns at an auction recently.two were wingmasters fixed choke barrels two and three quarter . they sold for three hundred . one was an express with a ribbed barrel and three chokes and three inch. all three guns had seen lots of use. the express brought three hundred also.

 

[Doc Rainbow]

No, because it's a Remington from the 2010's the rear sight just wasn't attached well and it broke off and cut my forehead open. Nice huh?


Fair enough. It doesn't really bug me, because it actually looks really good, but I hear you. It's the inconsistency that gets it.

I guess the question becomes should I buy a new barrel to put on it to increase the value for sale? Do you think the $100 ish for a new barrel (no idea what they go for these days) would increase the value a corresponding about?

I bought an old Wingmaster 870 12 gauge with beautiful wood with a smooth and a rifled barrel that was in excellent shape and EXTREMELY smooth for $500. Mind you I bought it from an old friend who had been a gunsmith. I then had a LOT of work done on it. I don't expect I'll ever be keen to sell it but I also don't think I'd get the money I put into it back if I did sell it. I don't think it's worth it to buy another barrel just to sell it.