Are Remington 870's Really Garbage Now ?

Picked up a Remington Express Tactical with breaching choke in September. Accurate, smooth, seems dependable. Fit is good, finish is a powered coat, time will tell if it will hold up; but I suspect it will. Its evenly applied and so far scratch resistant. The XS ghost sites are well made, the included picitiny rail is straight. Plastic furniture is a bit plastic-y. Fore stock is ok, the rear stock feels light although the shoulder pad is serviceable.
 
What is expected from a $300.00 shotgun? If you want nicer wood, gloss blue, you simply have to pay more for a Wingmaster. I have several 870 Express guns, no issues, reliable as any gun I've owned. I don't know of many other manufacturer's that make a better 300.00 pump gun.
 
My 2003 manufacture 870P was junk too, with a rough chamber, extremely rough action etc.

That's all since been rectified but I'd be very hesitant of buying another Remington that wasn't vintage, THOSE are the guns that built both the 870 line's and their corporate reputation, not this crap they offer now.
 
My vintage 870 (1970/early 80s manufacture) performs flawlessly with its stock 30" barrel or smooth bored slug barrel. I haven't yet fired the 870 Express tactical that I got which looks fine, but I did pass by another store sample whose front site seemed just a tad bit off. I only tolerate that in Norc M305s! Also the shift towards plastic trigger groups in the newer guns is unfortunate.

I've been happy with the Wingmaster and older Express that I've handled and shot on many occasions, but these frequent complaints about the newer guns does trouble me.
 
I've never been anything but happy with my Marine Magnum, which I bought, new, the day after C-19. I bought it for the corrosion resistance, but in hindsight, I figure the electroless nickel plating process means that they probably take more care in getting rid of burrs and flashes (someone correct me if I'm wrong).
 
mlehtovaara said:
The nicest budget shotgun these days is the new Winchester SXP. I just bought one, and wouldn't even consider the Rem or Mossbergs after this.
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I really like this gun too. Only thing we need is a +1 extension for it!!!
SnJ, are you reading this????? PLEASE!!!!!
 
Beadwindow said:
Also the shift towards plastic trigger groups in the newer guns is unfortunate.
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I'd be really interested to hear of any user reports of functional problems with the plastic trigger group.

Just because it "feels cheap" does not mean that it might not actually function adequately, or even better: Ruger has a great video somewhere showing how much more durable their plastic 10/22 trigger groups are over the "metal" versions.
 
I own a few old wing masters and a new 3" express short 21" synthetic stock .It shoots everything from birds to coyote.The price point was low, and with a little work with some steel wool functions as it should. The gun has been underwater several times, in the river ,duck pond and all day rains and snows. You can strip and dry in a mater of minutes and with the price point you are not overly worried about the abuse. I would recommend any one buy one but that being said for me it kills as well as any more expensive shot guns in our group.
 
My buddy bought an 870 tactical, first shot fired he struggled to get the spent case ejected, had to hold the pump and slam the butt on the ground. This happened for quite a bit the day we were out, not sure what happened after that. buy a mossberg, over 1000 through my 500 and 0 problems
 
kagia said:
I really like this gun too. Only thing we need is a +1 extension for it!!!
SnJ, are you reading this????? PLEASE!!!!!
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someone lend me there Winchester spx for 2 weeks and ill make one, will pay the shipping both ways and give you a bunch of freebies inc a few +1 mags tubes
bbb
 
well ill add my 2cents

ive worked on or built up into "tactical or defense" about 1000 870,s over the last 20yrs.
Yes the quality is getting worse, evne the police 870s, they is just not the attention to detail, the finish on the last 3,4 870 police I got was very bad.
With our custom built shotguns, we now just use the express and built from there.
At one point is was time saved buying a police and building from there, but its just not worth the extra cost.
The 870 is still the best pump action platform to build on.
We do so much work to them, that its not worth buying a police modle.
The truth is the 870 is not good out of the box, it need for 2-10hrs of shop work to make it a gun that you can depend on.
Many do not see the worth in this, some do understand that the 870 is the pump gun you want when the #### hits the fan.

this is what we do when we build custom 870s

Strip complete gun
Bead blast
Parkerise Mil spec Maganizse phosphate
Debur and police inside of receiver.
Polish and true but block up area
Clean polish and true ejector slot in bbl
3 stand chamber polish ,fine, extra fine and select grade polish
police exstractor.
timiney hammer spring.
Jumbo safety
No jam mag follower/delrin.
polish bolt lifter plate/
debur and dry film lube the pump forend metal
Polish and dryfilm bolt carrier.
Re finish complete gun in KG gun kote.

that's whats needed to make the 870 a good gun that will last 2 lifetimes.
After that you can start to add stuff like side saddles, sights sling and other crap as wanted/ needed.
 
badboybeeson said:
someone lend me there Winchester spx for 2 weeks and ill make one, will pay the shipping both ways and give you a bunch of freebies inc a few +1 mags tubes
bbb
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Outstanding!!
I would ship mine out to you right now, but I actually sold mine a couple years ago. Been kickin myself ever since, so I just pre-paid for the new SXP extreme defender from grouse river. They still haven't received their shipment yet, but if you still haven't found one yet, I'd be more than happy to ship it out to you the second I get it.

Thanks!
 
I don't understand why remington just doesn't get it. Gun nuts will pay for quality every time. But, they choose to make crap so they can save a buck here and there and sell more? It's hugely backfired on them. I've been asked by at least 4 people over the the past 2 years new to hunting and firearms on what to buy? I would always say get an 870 shotgun, 30/30 marlin to start, along with a 10/22 or something similar to plink with. Now, I say the same but tell them to go find some older used ones. I would never recommend new ones. I imagine there must be 100's like me making the same recommendation and at some point, rem will pay dearly for their mistakes.
 
I bought a 870 express laminate combo 5 years ago and I meticulously went over every one in the store before making my selection. I settled for a weird scratch on the chamber end of the barrel that went deep enough to remove the bluing. The store owner says it was a proofing stamp.....ya no it isn't.
The others had gouges in the stocks, scratches on the receiver, rust in the barrels and a set of sights that were not drilled straight.
A guy at my local trap & skeet range couldn't eject fired cases because the chamber had been reemed crooked and there was a lip behind the rim. After the shell had fire formed to the chamber it was necessary to disassemble the gun, turn the shell 180* and then it would just drop out....a local gunsmith polished the chambers burr away in 5 minuets and it ejects fine now, but the chamber is still skewed and I wouldn't want it.
Why doesn't Remington get it? Because they are owned by a corporate banking conglomeration with manufacturing ties in China. Cheap crap and as much of it as can be made is the name of the game. Its about profit not quality. As long as we still buy them they'll keep tossing them together.
 
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