870 Express Quality

[chanroc]

Sorry if this has been asked recently, but has the quality of the Remington 870 Express gotten any better? I've read some stuff in the past that one should stay clear of the Express line. It's not tactical, but I have my eye on this one -

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_64_991/products_id/95565

Primary duty - home protection

Any thoughts?

Thanks...

 

[Dave McCracken]

Recent Expresses seem to have better QC.

The problems were over reported, BTW.

 

[hawkeye10]

If you order from Buds just be aware that they are slow about shipping. I ordered a shotgun Sat. The 27th and as of this mourning Sept. 1 I have heard nothing from them and they have taken the money out of my account. To be honest if you read they tell you this up front so I really don't think I can complain. I still think they should do better, others do. Don

 

[Fiv3r]

I had an Express synthetic model circa 2008, and it wasn't a bad gun. It had the factory magazine extension and would sometimes hang up on the lip so that only 4 shells could be loaded. I loosened the tube a bit, and it was fine. Some have mentioned sanding that down a bit. I never had to go to that trouble.

The thing I didn't like about it was that the lightweight plastic furniture and +2 mag extension caused the gun to balance like a pig. A year or so later I traded it in on an old 870P Magnum with a standard 4 round capacity and I couldn't have been happier.

That said, my new-to-me 30+ year old Ithaca DSPS trumps them both

Would I buy another Express? Sure. It wasn't a bad gun. Not being shotgun-poor at the moment (I have 3 of them. Modest by most of y'all's accounts but plenty for me), I would rather save my pennies and buy a little nicer one. On a budget, thought, the Express seems to do everything you would expect out of a 12 gauge pump. Rack it, pull the trigger, and it fires. No frills, but it does tend to work.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

The one I have rusts really easy, even when cared for properly that none of my other guns rust.

 

[dhancock]

I bought a used 870 Express several years ago, and it has been trouble-free. It has hardwood stocks and a matte finish on the receiver and barrel. My son owns it now, and it is his preferred gun for doves and ducks.

Keep it clean and lightly lubricated and don't forget to remove the choke every few uses and clean and lubricate the threads.