best 870's ever?

[younganddumb]

Hi I 'm going to be in the marke soon for another shotgun most likely a 870 and i was wondering witch years have the smothest action and what should i look for in a used one i have experiance with shotguns and 870's but this will be my first 870

 

[Sir Aardvark]

Try to find a Wingmaster or older model Police that has the metal trigger group.
The Express model has a plastic trigger housing instead of metal.

 

[Meowhead]

Personally, I like the slide-action 870s that have '870' stamped somewhere on them.

 

[Black Majik]

Older 870 Wingmasters. Mmm...

 

[williamd]

Never met an 870 or 1100 I did not like! Vintage does not show me much difference. Currently own for 1958 to 2006! I have dropped in Hastings after market trigger on a couple of 870s and 1100s and they are usually a bit better then Rem But the Rem trigger can be polished to function quite nicely. PS: Do not be like me and forget to pull the Hastings trigger when you sell one!!!! DUH!

 

[younganddumb]

but what model years like 90's 80's 70's or what b/c i heard the older one's have really smoth actions

 

[Dave McCracken]

The older ones have really smooth actions from being cycled more.

While great wood is more often found on older ones, there's no "Lemon" years or decades.

Those here run from 1950 to sometime in the 90s. the oder ones are smoother, none are bad.

 

[357wheelgunner]

My 870 Police Magnum is tough as nails, but the action isn't as smooth or tightly fitted as my older Wingmaster. You can see both below, the Police Magnum has the Surefire light on it, the older blued and wood one is the Wingmaster. I has the smoothest action I've ever seen on a pump gun and is truly breathtaking.

You have to shop around. A friend of mine found that one at a pawnshop, configured just like my newer riotgun. I traded a prized 3" K frame for it, because while I know I can get another revolver, clean old 870s like that are few and far between.

 

[Virginian]

In my opinion, the best guns are from the 1974 genre, the ones with the fleur-de-lis impressed checkering like shown above in 357wheelgunner's post, the polished blued steel, and with the chrome plated carrier. Some time later they dropped the chromed carrier, and up until the changed to the fancier checkering pattern (1979?) I think the guns were almost as good. Of course, individual guns will vary.
I had a friend who got an 870 about 1983, and it had some kind of small problem. he sent it to Remington to fix it, and when he got that gun back it was undoubtedly the smoothest pump gun I have ever gotten near. And, there was absolutely no evidence anywhere as to what they had done because every little part had apparently been reblued as necessary. When I found out he sold it I was darned sorry I didn't get a crack at it.

 

[357wheelgunner]

In my opinion, the best guns are from the 1974 genre, the ones with the fleur-de-lis impressed checkering like shown above in 357wheelgunner's post, the polished blued steel, and with the chrome plated carrier.

I was impressed when I could see my reflection in the meticulously polished bluing. I was really impressed when I could see my reflection in the wood on the pump.

The quality of the '70s Wingmasters is amazing.

 

[mikeone]

HEY Mr Younganddumb If thats the way you wanna be called my friend.
OK rule #1 870's are good to go !!!.
Rule #2 operator error is the MAJOR cause of bad news Bears with a pump action shotty.
Rule #3 870's and Moss 500's are both good to go in a Bad News Bears environment! The + given to the 500 for not double feeding (EERRR USMC??) politics hmm. enough said!!

[BLEEP] rules the Remington 870 either in Wingmaster guise or Police ... what ever the issue weapon. composite or wood, has served in more environments than most Rambo type tough guys
have bought their Steroids in bad parts of town.

The USMC , ARMY, NAVY, and even, USAF still utilize the Rem 870 in there arsenal. Now for getting the action sweet. LOOSIE GOOSIE and good to go I suggest you read Mr Jerry Kuhnhausen's book

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/st...N 870 & M1100/M11-87 SHOTGUNS - A SHOP MANUAL

So you can stop acting Young and forget about Dumb!!

Ps go buy an 870 for $190ish bucks and make that [BLEEP] slick your self!

Hope this helps Bud

Semper Fidelis!!!!!!!

Mike

 

[PJR]

The quality of the '70s Wingmasters is amazing.

X2. The nicest 870 I've owned was a 20 gauge Skeet made in 1977.

 

[Smitty in CT]

Here's some nice ones being aucioned off on GunBroker.com.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=110769265

This is for a 20GA but the ad says the 12GA's are coming....

 

[Rshooter]

I like old police guns, late 50's early 60's. They are hard to find but can be had on auctionarms if you are patient. Usually not on Gunbroker for some reason. Actually any old police gun will do if it is in good condition. If not it can be a project gun if you are so inclined. They seem to work forever.

 

[19-3Ben]

Hey 357wheelgunner, how much extra did you have to trade to get those toes that i see?

 

[brasskeeper]

I have a 70's 870 wingmaster that is alot smoother and better looking than my newer model 870's.

 

[Gordon]

I look for a chrome plated carrier wing master.I have a late 80s "Special Purpose" parkerized type finish Wingmaster that is extra smooth also. I have had dozens of Wingmaster/ police models over the years. The 50-60s guns were wonderful. The 70s guns were very good to excellent and some 80s to pre klinton 90s were very good too. IMHO they got rougher than a cobb fter that-generally except for the Police guns with the wood stocks.