Big mistake - creation of a monster

I gotta ask - what's the slot on the stock for? Just to hold one more round? What's the point?

they're like mini magazine tubes with springs and followers. Supposed to hold 4 2.75 rounds. The idea is good, but they don't work very well at all. The shells are really hard to get out and the lip that holds the shell by the crimp tends to crush and deform the front of the cartridge making shells hard to chamber if they are stored in the stock. I have one for an 870 I could send for you to try if you decide on getting one.
 
Love the fanboy fights on both sides of the 870/mossberg debate. I own both and like both, but then again I don't get off on all the fancy recoil reducing stocks, optics and 101 types of mounts, so keeping them In the simple old style tactical keeps me from worrying about accessorizing qualities. They both have faults depending on what you need, no clear winner. Personally I like my older shotguns more but lack of customisability will make them non-runners for you. Make a list of what you want in a shotgun and then compare specs to see which of the two are better suited to your needs, don't listen to opinions on this board, do some research It will be much more likely to get you the gun you like than listening to someone else's preference.
 
Love the fanboy fights on both sides of the 870/mossberg debate. I own both and like both, but then again I don't get off on all the fancy recoil reducing stocks, optics and 101 types of mounts, so keeping them In the simple old style tactical keeps me from worrying about accessorizing qualities. They both have faults depending on what you need, no clear winner. Personally I like my older shotguns more but lack of customisability will make them non-runners for you. Make a list of what you want in a shotgun and then compare specs to see which of the two are better suited to your needs, don't listen to opinions on this board, do some research It will be much more likely to get you the gun you like than listening to someone else's preference.
But if I take your advice, then I can't take your advice. This places me in a dilemma. You see? :)

I didn't really take any of it as fanboyism, but I could see how you might've. Guess I just wasn't looking for it. I don't have a preference for any brand either way, but I do appreciate everyone's insight, since I really have none. What I've researched so far is pretty much inconclusive because it's a lot of personal preference. I went into P&D today and looked at what they had, and it gave me an idea of what I'll end up with, likely an 870. I do like customizing things. Not just guns, everything I own. It's just me. I don't foresee any recoil reducers, or fancy optics on this, just some nice furniture.

Either way, I appreciate all the advice people have given, including yours. :)
 
I suggest taking a look at the 870 tactical they have at wolverine, lots of options for $500. Comes with rem-choke barrel, adjustable irons with rail, tapped receiver, +2 extension. I tried the old wingmaster receiver as a building point and just gave up and going with this route as it gives you so many options. I ordered one with modified choke, full choke , improved choke, a side saddle and I have a fore end and stock ready to replace on it.
 
That magpul version is cerakote'd right? If so, it's not a bad deal at all.

The only REAL issues with the express series is they have a less than desirable finish, and they aren't smoothed out with regards to the action. Two things you can fix yourself. If anyone local to Mississauga/Toronto/Hamilton wants to feel how amazing a new 870 express can feel, I'd be happy to do an action job in exchange for good beer :)

Since mine is gonna be a buck/slug gun I went with optics qnd made it right for me. The 870/590 gives you the ability to go to town on them (for the most part, barring some of the older ones)
 
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What's the opinion on the 887 Nitro Mag Tactical?

I have a regular 887 nitromag and I find it to be an extremely soft shooting 12 gauge. I do not have any experience with tactical though. But for the money, I love the 887. Also I should add that I have no interest in adding lipstick holsters and ### lights to my shotgun so stock configuration is fine with me.
 
I would get a nice double trigger sxs that can take 3 inch high dram shells, if you are hungry for recoil . I like the Mossberg 500 but that is the gun I have owned a couple of so I am biased the LGS owner says of all the 870's he has sold. He has not had many back in for warranty which says a lot about a gun .You can also look at the 3.5 inch Magnum options in pump guns for a bit more kick . My son is 14 and was shooting both barrels on a double 2 years ago. I learned on an old double with a steel butplate at around the same age and until I got a 300 WBY mag it was king of the safe as far as Kick was concerned.
 
Ask the people who sell them. Spent the last 4 years receiving and selling guns for a "Crappy" retailer. Remington had the highest return rate of every brand they carried.
Not an opinion, a fact.
I like Remington but until they get their quality back, I won't be buying Remington or Marlin.
 
Ask the people who sell them. Spent the last 4 years receiving and selling guns for a "Crappy" retailer. Remington had the highest return rate of every brand they carried.
Not an opinion, a fact.
I like Remington but until they get their quality back, I won't be buying Remington or Marlin.

Would you say this was more specific to Expresses or did you see this with higher models? That is, if this "Crappy" store sold anything higher than the Express?
 
Would you say this was more specific to Expresses or did you see this with higher models? That is, if this "Crappy" store sold anything higher than the Express?

I say "Crappy" because they treat their staff like garbage. It was across the entire Remington/Marlin line. Lots of fit and finish issues. Tons of extraction issues. Had an entire pallets that were sent back because the front sights were 15 degrees off centre. Every gun was opened and examined before it reached the sales floor, so the general public didn't see how many truly bad firearms Remington was producing.

That being said. Thompson Centre was almost as bad.

Don't get me wrong, I would buy an older Remington in a heartbeat. Just not the new ones till Remington works out its issues.

And yes this "Crappy retailer" sold much higher end shotguns than the express.
 
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I say "Crappy" because they treat their staff like garbage. It was across the entire Remington/Marlin line. Lots of fit and finish issues. Tons of extraction issues. Had an entire pallets that were sent back because the front sights were 15 degrees off centre. Every gun was opened and examined before it reached the sales floor, so the general public didn't see how many truly bad firearms Remington was producing.

That being said. Thompson Centre was almost as bad.

Don't get me wrong, I would buy an older Remington in a heartbeat. Just not the new ones till Remington works out its issues.

And yes this "Crappy retailer" sold much higher end shotguns than the express.

Sorry, I thought you were sneakily trying to name Canadian Tire. My bad.
 
Sorry, I thought you were sneakily trying to name Canadian Tire. My bad.

I cannot mention the retailer. But I can tell you it wasn't Canadian Tire. I live in Winnipeg so there are only 2 choices of "Big Chain" firearms retailers. I'm sure you can figure it out from there.

Remington also had a bad habit putting the wrong labels on the boxes and mixing up parts. Got many 12 ga's that came with 20 ga choke tubes and wrenches. Many times I would open a box that had 700, 243 Win on the label, But the gun inside was a 700, chambered in 308. Or vise versa.
 
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Had to send back an entire pallet of versa max's because the barrels would not fit into the receiver. Had to send back many of the 700 sps dm's, the ones that come in the hard case because of badly rusted barrels and actions. I could go on for days.

Like I said. This is not opinion, these are real facts.
 
My 2cents.... If you are considering a new express, go and check out a norinco hp9 or something similar. I almost bought an 870 express tac. Then checked out an hp9 at milarm and plans changed. I wanted a 12.5-14inch barrel anyway, so couple of searches later I placed a wtb add on the EE...... I bought a 12.5 inch mag fed grizzly. 250 rounds of federal/Canadian tire target load and not a single problem. I just picked another 100 rounds of buck shot(variety of brands) to test. But all in all for about $375 to my door for a new gun..... I think if your going to spend money for the 870, at least check the norinco. The money you save can go into the ammo box.
 
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