870 Express

[30-06 lover]

I have been looking at the 870 express synthetic lately and have two questions...


1.The matte black finish on the metal is somewhat rough...will that finish make operation less smooth than a regular hot blued wingmaster?


2. Would you all suggest getting an 870? I have heard they are (were) having problems with extraction. Thanks!!!
-Mike

 

[KimberTLE.45]

The finish makes no difference, it is a lot more durable and shows less wear IMO. I love my 870! With that being said, it has been back to the factory twice, but I have not paid a penny. First was for extraction issues, then it was becuase it is a Super Magnum and the 3.5" barrel was not assembeled on it from the factory.

 

[Fred Fuller]

If you feel comfortable shopping for used guns, I'd suggest buying an older Express or even a Wingmaster or a Police trade-in as opposed to a new Express gun these days. You will usually save a fair amount of money and get a better gun into the bargain. Until some significant changes were made (magazine tube dimples added to lock in the new design plastic magazine spring retainer/magazine cap retainer, plastic trigger plates rather than aluminum, and those dingdong (self)locking safety buttons that everything except 870Ps got) in the Express guns, they were the same as Wingmasters internally. Only the exterior finish and the stocks were different, the stocks being hardwood on almost all Express guns which aren't outfitted with synthetic from the factory (very early Express guns still had walnut, just matte- finished plain walnut).

There can be extraction problems on almost any repeating shotgun these days, most of the time those problems are an ammunition issue and not really a problem with the gun. And most of the time swapping ammo will fix the problem, most of the rest of the time a thorough cleaning of the chamber will fix it.

The exterior finish on the 870 has very little bearing on how smoothly the gun operates, it's the internal finish on the operating parts that gauges how smooth it will feel in operation. Express guns tend to be a bit rougher internally when new as well, but normal wear from normal shooting and cycling will fix that. Old saying is that 870s wear in, not out, and it's true.

IMHO you'd be hard put to find a better repeating shotgun than an 870, but I am notoriously biased. And in over 35 years of shooting 870s I have yet to buy a new one (I ordered a new 870P as a 50th birthday present for myself but what the dealer shipped was not what I ordered so I sent it back and bought a used one instead- saved over $100 and got a gun that looks like new).

hth,

lpl/nc

 

[gunslinger15]

you cant go wrong with any 870. The extractors shouldnt be malfunctioning because they havnt changed them in anyway to my knowledge. If they are the cases are few and far-between. No matter what model you buy you won't find a more dependable pumpgun for the money then the 870.

 

[Ray P]

Maybe off the wall; but what is the functional difference between the 870 and the 870 Express? I have an 870M Express set up with rifle sights and a cylinder barrel. Can I switch barrels with any 870 12 gauge?

 

[Fred Fuller]

Ray P,

See the thread at

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=207687 , that might help answer your question.

lpl/nc

 

[Dave McCracken]

"Would you suggest getting an 870?.....

Snort, chortle, wheeze....

I bet you haven't availed yourself of the Archives yet.

I started shooting 870s when Ike was Prez, and haven't been able to wear one out. Neither has anyone I know.

An 870's working life seems to be around 250K rounds.

The extraction probs are rare, and seemingly limited to certain brands of less than premium ammo. One of mine hangs up badly with Gun Clubs but feeds all else perfectly.

Get an 870 and take good care of it. Exercise it frequently. Your great grandchildren will thank you for it.

Be advised that while 870s do not reproduce, they do tend to multiply.

HTH.....

 

[Matt King]

Would you all suggest getting an 870?

Yes. The 870 is the standard, with which all other shotguns are held to, and I have never had a problem with mine.

 

[pmbiker]

I have an 870 Exp. Magnum HD model. I was one of the unfortunate ones whose guns did have extraction problems. As Dave McC. stated it was with cheaper ammo, S&B buckshot to be exact and was easily fixed.

The extractor was doing it's thing but the problem seemed to be in the chamber. I chucked up a cleaning rod with some 0000 steel wool in my drill and deburred the chamber a bit. Since this fix it's been 100% mechanically reliable.

The operator tends to short shuck sometimes when the clays are flying.:banghead: Only one way to fix that. BA.UU.R.

 

[sm]

Well "Money Gun" still works, this being a 870 in 28ga with over 300k rds.

Umm, I guess we need to consider cleaning that 870 Express Combo shot here awhile back. Took it out of the box, stuck a skeet tube in it, and ran I guess 200 rds out of it - right out of the box. Best figured it was shot 800 or so rounds that week...

I ran a 27/25 shooting skeet with it

"Where is my gun?"
"Steve was last seen heading off with it" .

It ran 35 slugs with no hiccups, would have shot more, but...seems the steel plate fatigued.

Well not our fault the fella said he needed some assistance checking this thing out, not our fault he had to go out of town. I forget who had the gun at the moment, got about 2000 rds thru it...not been cleaned of factory lube yet, or done up as we do yet...

We did let the guy take the box home and shoot up all his shells.

We are a nice bunch afterall.

Oh he has other shotguns, including 870's...

Just, well, he don't know it yet, but he bought his wife a 870 in 28 ga and a MEC reloader in 28 ga. He also bought his daughter a Single shot 28 ga. Wifey gets to take over one of the MEC 9000s in 28ga, [he has 3 of these set up in 28 ga - he won't care] and daughter gets the new MEC 28 ga single stage.

I am pretty sure the 870 Express will serve you well...

I got this stuff figured out...sure hope he brings more peppemint and beef jerky home, I had to spoil his dog, and ...well...everyone knows Jerky in the back pocket makes one a better shooter. It was his gun afterall, only fitting we use up his jerky stash.

I'm available as personal shopping assistant and consultant.

 

[Kelem]

"Would you all suggest getting an 870?"

NO not just 1, get as many as you can.

They should 'ave a warning " Owning 870's Can be ADDICTIVE

K

 

[MedGrl]

Arund here asking if you should get an 870 is like asking dogs if they like bacon. You get a lot of drooling and vehement YES!'s Seriously. I got an 870 Express about 6 months ago. It was my first gun and I'm convinced it will be my grandkids first gun...the same one not a new one bought for the kid. It is well made, I've not had any problems with the extractor and the matte finnish has no averse effect on the operation. Our wonderful Mod Dave and another member (who got me started on guns) have both let me play with an 870 Wingmaster and I felt no difference in the operation. I do have to agree with kelem they should come with a warning about their addictivness.

Get an 870. Love it, exercise it frequently and as always BA/UU/R

 

[The-Fly]

870 express is a great KISS shotgun. I know a lot of people complain about the dimples that make it a pain to add an extension. I have an easy solution to that, buy it with extension already added. I got mine at sportsman for $290 with the +2 already on it. Its my house gun, and guest user shotgun (for range use i love my extrema2).

 

[KINGMAX]

I purchased an 870 EXPRESS several years ago. I have yet to have my first issue w/ it. No jams, malfunctions or problems.

I personally like the dark rough finish. It does not reflect light, does not show scratches. It has a great wooden stock and forearm w/ nice deep checkering. I love it, has never let me down.

 

[hub]

870s are great i got my first 20ga when i was 10, 18 yrs ago and took good care of it and its still in perfect shape. now i have 4 more and some 1100's. i like my older ones the best. I think the old polished stocks and blued barrels look better if properly taken care of. my newest 870 i got 2yrs ago was a 20ga with a slug barrel and matte finish. it seems to be more rugged just not as pretty.