First shotgun, 870 express super mag

[curtmg]

Boxing day sale at SIR. Brought home my first shottie. An 870 express super magnum. I've been reading all the threads on it. Seems to me, so long as I don't try and feed it crap, it should treat me fairly well. I've been debating a first one for a while, I was going to wait for the canam mag fed 8.5", but I think I'll get more use out of this one. I'm definitely going to be trying some hunting in 2008. I figure the 3.5" load will be best for turkeys, geese, etc. I know some say it's not necessary, but I'd rather have the extra options and not need them, than want them and not have them.
Just wondering, the only thing I've seen people have problems with is some of them seem to jam due to a headspace issue, is there anything else I need to know about?
Also, how often should I clean it, is before I use it, and after each session enough, or is more required?
Are regular 870 parts interchangeable with this one? any notable ones which aren't?
I know it's not the ideal, having a pump gun, but I'm also interested in the clay shooting sports, I'll get a more suitable gun later if I decide it's something I really enjoy (10 minutes from winnipeg trap and skeet club, I hope I'll like it). Is it really going to hold me back, being a pump? Which one will it hold me back the least in (skeet, trap, sporting clays)?

Any help is greatly appreciated, I've been reading the boards here for about 6months and figure I have about as much knowledge as can be had before having any real experience, time to get some experience and find out how much I don't know. Thanks

 

[Timberwolfe]

Hey Curt my hunting budy had bought an 870 super mag with the bead blast finish about 5-6 years ago after the first season of wet dirty water fowl hunting in marshes and field hunting it started to show rust on the barrel and reciever etc. First off my friend is quite particular about gun maintenance having grown up shooting his Dads Beretta auto loader. Anyways he called Remington they said it maybe came from a bad batch and they had him send it to Genes in Lockport to be blued. My friend still loves his gun in it has been great since. An 870 is what it is a working mans tool it does its job. Clean it when you feel guilty enough to do so.

Richie

 

[Sheik]

It's a good durable shotgun, I clean em after I'm done shooting (force of habit more so than necessity)

 

[12magnum]

i don't believe you can clean a gun too much. most of the guns, mainly semi auto gas systems, that come in to my shop, are because they won't cycle(eject or feed). 99% of the time it's because of dirt and crud.they haven't had enough TLC.i have my dads 1948 ithaca mod.37 that was cleaned after every use and for a gun that old it's in immaculate condition. if you keep your 870 express clean and well oiled, it will be with you for many hunting trips.