New 870`s have problems?

As a side note, why can't one of the companies take a look at the major shotguns that are out there right now, figure out what people like in them, and what they don't, then combine it all to make one gun that everybody is happy with?


1) You simply cannot please everyone.

2) These lower end companies such as Remington cannot make money by selling a perfect product.
 
Remington built its reputation on these shotguns. this is not the only product that is suspect from them either. I love em, but they are crap. They should be garbage compactors for cheap shells, instead people constantly make excuses for them. buy one and find out for yourself......maybe if you oil it just right.....
 
I've been hearing about the "problem new 870" from friends too, but never seen it happen.
I'm working on buying one now for bird season, because frankly, I don't believe it's anything other than user error.

x1 :shotgun:

I agree with you. When I was selling guns for Wholesale sports Winnipeg, we would test fire the guns after a return (or sometimes before we'd give a refund). Most malfunctions were not the fault for the firearm, but that of the operator.

Some people are just too stupid to own guns!! The lack of your ability to operate an 870 correctly, is one of those indicators!!
 
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My 2003 vintage 870 functions well enough but both smoothness and quality appearance wise its almost a different gun compared to the older models.
 
I've owned eleven 870s including Wingmasters, Express, Special Purpose and Police dating from the early 70's to the early 2000s. It's not fair to suggest they are poorly made but they certainly aren't made the way they once were. Decreasing attention to detail, fitting, finish (both inside and outside) and quality of the parts aren't hard to spot between a gun made in the 70's and one from last year.

But in fairness this isn't just a problem with Remington. I've seen the same decline in attention to detail elsewhere including some high end brands.
 
As a side note, why can't one of the companies take a look at the major shotguns that are out there right now, figure out what people like in them, and what they don't, then combine it all to make one gun that everybody is happy with?

Right. And we'll do the same thing with cars and females too. Where's the fun in that? Sounds communist to me.

The problem is that people have different priorities and expectations.

Joe #1 is happy with a chinese throw-away of dubious quality as long as the price is low. Joe #2 wants something with proven reliability and quality and is willing to pay for it. What shotgun will make both these guys happy and still turn a profit for the maker? Easy answer - none.
 
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Ok touche... I'll admit that there have to be some lemons out there and you may have gotten one. It probably just needs a little polishing here and there and then it will be fine

X2



Seriously folks, it's a four-hundred-ish dollar shotgun. I don't expect flawless operation in that price category. I DO, however, expect it when the rifle or shotgun in question approaches (or surpasses) the four-digit mark (at least for bolts/levers/pumps).

I find most 'reasonable' folks fall into the same expectations as myself. But there will always be the one or two who constantly complain their Norc is jamming up, or the rich-scnob who prefers to bring his over/under to his local gunsmith for next-day service...
 
I`ve heard that the new 870`s are poorly made and have functional problems, is this true?

Maybe this is a lemon but..
My friend purchased a new express, the thing jams all the time and we have no effing clue where it shoots at. its not consistant at all and fires all over the damn place. by far THE worst shotgun I ever tried. has anyone else have this problem??
 
Besides having a plastic trigger group, rough chambers, and a rust-prone finish, the 870 express also has plastic magazine cap and spring retainer instead of the ball detent on the barrel lug and steel spring cup retainer.

This setup uses a dimpled magazine tube to hold the retainer in, which prevents a magazine extension from functioning unless the dimples are removed. In addition, the lack of a ball detent means that if you add an extension, you will have to either have a ball detent installed or use blue Loctite on the threads to hold it on.

Even if you have no intention of fitting a magazine extension, the Express retainer setup is still cheap and junky, as well as being "non standard" compared to other 870 models.

This does not apply to the Express models with extended magazines. These guns use the conventional ball detent on the barrel lug.

If you must buy new 870, get either the Wingmaster or Police models so as not to encourage Remington to continue to make shoddy products. If cost is an issue, there are lots of reasonably priced used 870s kicking around, which can be readily modified to your requirements.
 
I bought an express three years ago, it's been good to me ...the only issue I had was cheap federal trap loads would get stuck. I've read that if you polish the chamber with steel wool, this will fix the problem. I haven't done this yet but plan to. I love mine.

Same issue every now and then. What's the proper method of extracting a stuck shell?
 
If you must buy new 870, get either the Wingmaster or Police models so as not to encourage Remington to continue to make shoddy products. If cost is an issue, there are lots of reasonably priced used 870s kicking around, which can be readily modified to your requirements.

The new Wingmasters and 870Ps ain't no picnic either, the 'P' at least has a plastic trigger guard as standard now and they both radily show signs of degraded QC and attention to detail. My 6 year old 'P' looks/felt like it was made in a low rent Khyber Pass blacksmith's shop compared to the older stuff.
 
X2
Seriously folks, it's a four-hundred-ish dollar shotgun. I don't expect flawless operation in that price category. I DO, however, expect it when the rifle or shotgun in question approaches (or surpasses) the four-digit mark (at least for bolts/levers/pumps).

I find most 'reasonable' folks fall into the same expectations as myself. But there will always be the one or two who constantly complain their Norc is jamming up, or the rich-scnob who prefers to bring his over/under to his local gunsmith for next-day service...

I realize that an express isn't in the same class as guns with pricetags in the 4 digits. I do however expect that when I spend my hard-earned money, now matter the pricetag, on a NEW product, it should act and work like a new product. If problems arise after a bit of use I'm more than willing to deal with them as they come up - Durability is one of the things that come along with higher price tags, but not functioning right out of the box isn't. That's just a poorly made product - especially from a company that's been producing firearms for almost 100 years.
 
I would not purchase a new 870 Express. There are plenty of older, lightly used Wingmasters out there looking for new homes. These from a time when Remington took some pride in their workmanship and produced a quality product. Claybuster already said it. It ain't just Remington suffering from the cheaping out syndrome, either.
 
The new Wingmasters and 870Ps ain't no picnic either, the 'P' at least has a plastic trigger guard as standard now and they both radily show signs of degraded QC and attention to detail. My 6 year old 'P' looks/felt like it was made in a low rent Khyber Pass blacksmith's shop compared to the older stuff.

The 870P has a plastic trigger guard? Are you certain? I'm not trying to insult you or argue, but I am under the impression that the 870P specifically has a metal trigger group and is much better polished than an express- as though it's an upgraded wingmaster. An new express, or even a "tactical" runs $400-500, whereas a new 870 Police Magnum runs $800. What would the price difference be if not metal parts and decent QC. Perhaps you mean some type of 870 tactical model with lots of fancy dress up parts? Usually these are just express models with extras.
 
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