The TRUTH about the Remington 870 Express

My wife has an 870 Express 20 gauge youth model that is worth the $400 we spent on it. The action is smooth and after about 500 rounds it has never jammed or failed to fire. It has nice wood and with proper care the metal has not shown any signs of rust. It's a little small for me but I enjoy shooting the occasional round of trap with it.
 
Shot my express lots, very happy with it, will get a Wingmaster next time-was a little low on dough when I got the cheapy.
 
Just bought an 870 express synthetic, haven't shot it yet. Some of you guys scare me a little. But being an SKS owner and not a hunter, I doubt I will have rust issues and I'm sure it ill do what I want it to do.
 
I own two Remington 870 Express Super Magnums and I can safely say that none of the things you (OP) mentioned are true. I've hunted in rain and snow and even fallen into a swamp with my 870 and it has not rusted, not seized up and never failed to fire when I pull the trigger. I've been using the shotguns for years now with no problems. I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that the people making such claims have never owned a Remington 870 Express or they have and they've done a terrrible job of taking care of it.
 
I've owned 3 Express shotguns.

My first was a 870 12 gauge . It jammed all the time. It rusted. I got rid of it.
My second was a 12 gauge. I still have it. It works great.
Last year I bought a youth version 20 gauge for grouse hunting. Its awesome. I shot trap last night with it and it never jammed and cycled perfect.

Would I buy another one? Probably not. I would spend more money just for a nicer looking shotgun. Would I buy a Wingmaster? Probably.
 
I have an express and have had it for almost a year now, it came out with me in the fall and winter for grouse and rabbits, and it sat in the back of the truck whenever i went out with any other gun. It has seen about 500 target loads through it at the trap range (i know not alot but i dont get out much anymore) and I bought it used so I dont know the previous round count. The thing has never jammed on me or failed to feed etc. Never had an issue with the slide sticking or shells sticking. I've also never had an issue with rust, but then again it gets wiped down when i get home from the bush. Like its been said, if your looking for an heirloom you'd better look somewhere else. But if your looking for and economical do all gun the express is awesome. My 2 cents, spend it how you will.
 
So with everyone input its still split at about 50/50....LOL. I think I am gonna give one a try. I always take care of my guns and clean them after each use and I don't mind a little elbow grease to do things like polish the chamer and w/e if it means it will work better. Can get one for $400....and if I don't like it it would be a quick sell (lightly used) at $300. I'd get a Wingmater if I had the money put I do not.
 
I've owned three 870 expresses including a supermag and never had a function issue with any. I also own own a Police mag and can tell you the fit and finish is better. Expresses will rust so quick it'll boggle your mind, this is no fable.
The expresses do slick-up after use. Put in a DVD, grab a snap cap, sit on the couch and work her...she'll loosen up nicely ;)
 
I bought an express around 6 yrs ago, I have put 1000's of rounds through this gun and have never had a problem! I do not regret in any way purchasing this gun, it was well worth the $$.

I do tend to keep it pretty clean, but have never had a worry that it would not function properly.

I know it is no wingmaster but in no way have I ever thought of it as junk.
 
all this talk about 870 express,,and rust,,was freaking me out..I bought one three years ago and use it mainly for deer and turkey,,,and yes I know it rust's in the rain,,I shot a 10 point buck 2 years ago,,and the sky's opened up after I shot it,,the next day the rust was there,,So I wiped it down with some oil and it cleaned right up,,,and I alway's clean and oil my gun's after handling,,,but all this talk and I haven't looked at my shotgun since spring after I shot a 19 pound turkey,,I figured I better open my gun locker up and check,,and low and behold it still looks imaculate,,,AND I just rubbed er down again with an oily rag,,I love my rem 870 express,,
 
dutchhunter said:
i will tell yopu what i found out .i was looking for a shot gun and looked at all off them and for the money the mossy 535 is a way better gun then the new 870 .fit and finish as well as being very tough i have had mine now for 5 years and shot the heck out of it 7 turkeys 4 deer hundered ducks and geeses as well as rabits and birds .never let me down once ,check out the 535 you will not be sorry .for the same money as an 870 you can get the 535 in camo with scope holes drillled in the recever sling mounts and chokes .it is jut an alround way better gun DUTCH
Click to expand...

535 x2.
 
The truth? I have two. I'm not affraid to beat the hell out of either. Let's see a wingmaster after it's been dragged through cattails, dropped in the mud and rode on the bottom of a boat. Don't want a gun to rust? Oil it. Surprize surprize, a wingmaster will rust too. ;)
 
The Remington 870 is the most popular shotgun on the planet. That is a verifiable fact. It has outsold most competitors handily because of the robustness of design. I've got a half dozen 870s in various configurations and models, including an Express Model built in 1988. Compared to today's Express, mine is definitely higher quality.

Remington responded to market demands and opted to start building a wider variety of models to a wider variety of price points. Fit and finish were sacrificed in order to meet a price point where their entry-level 870 Express could compete with their cheaper Mossberg/Maverick rivals.

The trade off is that there is going to be more onus on the user to properly care for their firearm. Years ago, I had zero problems with my old Express rusting, and believe me, hunting ducks of bunnies in Newfoundland in October/November is most definitely a wet proposition. The newer Express has a less expensive finish that doesn't do as good a job of portecting the steel. However, if you wipe it down, apply a thin coat of oil and displace the moisture, the problem is solved. This task is required if you want to save that extra $150.00-$300.00 depending on model.

Alternately, I picked up an 870 Police Magnum last fall. This is the parkerized model built for the LE line, not the "tacticool" line with the rebar cutter choke tubes. Fit, finish and overall quality is much, much better than current Express hunting models or even the similarly styled 870 Home Defender model. I had the Police Magnum on the sal####er with me many times with zero rust issues. The shotgun is built like a tank and runs like a Swiss Watch. However, the cost was close to double the price of the entry level Express.

Like anything, you definitely get what you pay for. If you want inexpensive, you have to be prepared to accept certain compromises in return.
 
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