Anybody else have a new Rem Arms 870 Fieldmaster?

[Max-4]

I was just wondering if any other Remington 870 Fieldmaster owners could check something for me. I just bought a 870, 12g, 3" and 28" barrel Fieldmaster last week. I noticed in the store a gap where the pistol grip meets the receiver. I was kind of hesitant to buy it at first but then I checked a 20g Fieldmaster and a 12g Supermag that the store had on the shelf. Both of these shotguns also had this small gap where the butt stocks, pistol grip meets the receiver. When I asked the dealer he noticed it too and said the only thing he can think of is they don't crank them super tight to avoid the cracks in the wood on the pistol grip tang. I ended up buying the shotgun. Here is the best pic I can get of the gap.

 

[FLHTCUI]

I wouldn't have taken it home.
A crack or worse looking to happen at the most inopportune time..
Just me though and have only seen one from across the counter.
Rob

 

[IvoB]

Your fine I just googled them and they all show that spacing between the buttstock and receiver. I wouldn't worry about it - as long as it shoots and cycles your good to go.

 

[Max-4]

I literally took a good look at a 20g Fieldmaster and a 12g Supermag Fieldmaster that the dealer had in stock and they both had that same space.

 

[0faustus0]

I just bought a brand new Wingmaster and it has the same gap .... and it is normal.

Have a look at this picture .... the outer surface should not be mating with the receiver and to prevent splitting ... the stock is cut that way.

However, nobody was able to confirm so far if the Fieldmasters have the mating wood surface varnished or if it is bare wood?
If it is bare wood, I would take the stock and give it a good varnish inside and out. Otherwise, water will get in there .... the wood will swell up .... and then shrink again .... and the finish will come off in blisters.

This is the bare wood mating surface of a Tac-14 hardwood stock.

Link

 

[madtrapper143]

The gap is supposed to be there. There is a recoil bearing plate between the stock and receiver to prevent cracking. This is only needed with wood stocks. The bearing surface of the stock will be sealed.
Darryl

 

[hunterhenderson]

I was just wondering if any other Remington 870 Fieldmaster owners could check something for me. I just bought a 870, 12g, 3" and 28" barrel Fieldmaster last week. I noticed in the store a gap where the pistol grip meets the receiver. I was kind of hesitant to buy it at first but then I checked a 20g Fieldmaster and a 12g Supermag that the store had on the shelf. Both of these shotguns also had this small gap where the butt stocks, pistol grip meets the receiver. When I asked the dealer he noticed it too and said the only thing he can think of is they don't crank them super tight to avoid the cracks in the wood on the pistol grip tang. I ended up buying the shotgun. Here is the best pic I can get of the gap.

mine are the same, no worries

 

[Butcherbill]

The gap is supposed to be there. There is a recoil bearing plate between the stock and receiver to prevent cracking. This is only needed with wood stocks. The bearing surface of the stock will be sealed.
Darryl

madtrapper nailed it, wood stocks have the gap due to the bearing plate to avoid cracked stocks. Synthetic 870 stocks don’t use the plate and are more of a flush fit.

 

[Max-4]

Awesome, good to know thanks alot guys!

 

[CanuckCooper]

Awesome, good to know thanks alot guys!

Enjoy your Fieldmaster. They’re great shotguns and a marked improvement over the pre-bankruptcy offerings from Remington. Cheers

 

[Ol' Flinter]

I was just wondering if any other Remington 870 Fieldmaster owners could check something for me. I just bought a 870, 12g, 3" and 28" barrel Fieldmaster last week. I noticed in the store a gap where the pistol grip meets the receiver. I was kind of hesitant to buy it at first but then I checked a 20g Fieldmaster and a 12g Supermag that the store had on the shelf. Both of these shotguns also had this small gap where the butt stocks, pistol grip meets the receiver. When I asked the dealer he noticed it too and said the only thing he can think of is they don't crank them super tight to avoid the cracks in the wood on the pistol grip tang. I ended up buying the shotgun. Here is the best pic I can get of the gap.

That space is there by design. Every 870, 58, 11-87,1100 etc has this space so recoil does not split away the outside edges of the stock over time. If you remove the stock you will see a thin steel spacer between the wood and receiver to provide a larger contact surface for the recoiling receiver to bear on the wood.

 

[IvoB]

let us know how it shoots/cycles

 

[HeadDamage]

If that gap isn't there it can cause the stock to crack around the edges where it contacts the receiver.

 

[CanuckCooper]

Although already answered here, here’s kind of neat old video that explains that gap as a necessary design feature (6:05).