MacTech
Member
Got my first 870 (Exp. Super Magnum) Now with pics, and range report
I've never been completely happy with my Mossberg 500, the rattly pump arm always annoyed me, and the rear stock never properly fit me, it was both too long in LOP, and the curve of the pistol grip positioned my hand too far back from the trigger guard, I also had to make a conscious effort not to wrap my thumb over the top of the grip or I'd end up whacking myself in the nose under recoil
Still, there were things I thought that the Mossberg did better than the 870, the shell lifter that stays out of the way, the dual extractors, the ejector tab held in by a simple screw, and yes, the tang safety....
still, the 500 and I never really got along, pumping in a shell from the mag always involved a slight hesitation as it felt like it would bind, and the trigger pull felt like it was encased in Jell-O
basically, I wasn't enjoying my 500, shooting trap with it was a chore, to the point that I picked up a pair of H&R Topper Deluxe Classics (12G and 20G) that I've been exceptionally happy with, especially the 20 gauge which is my current favorite trap gun
Still, I felt the need for a good solid pumpgun, I've been keeping an eye open at KTP, checking out the shotguns every time I'm in there (I live a quick 5 minute drive away, so I go there a lot
), and up until today, I never found an 870 that *spoke* to me, today, however, I found "The One" (or is that actually "The First" )
It's a Remington 870 Express (put down the rotten fruit, i know the Express can't hold a candle to the Wingmaster...) Super Magnum model, with the 3.5" reciever, it's got nice blond wood with a decent grain structure, the press checkering is actually reasonably sharp, and there was a minimal amount of surface rust on it, which just wiped off with 000 steel wool and a silicone cloth, I'd say less than 5% total rust, the bore is bright and looks essentially unfired
Now, here's why I brought this gun home;
1; the pump slide is nice and tight, no rattly feel, and the fore end is nicely shaped, thick and comfortable, no excessive play in the pump mechanism
2; the pump action is rather smooth, almost as smooth as the Wingmaster, and definitely smoother than the current line of new Express models, plus, the "Klak-Klak" sound of this 870 ESM sounds crisper and more defined than the "SHUKK-SHUKK" of my old M500
3; the trigger pull is crisp, light and has a clean break, light-years better than the M500's "Jello-Trigger", and since the LOP and the grip angle fit me, I can actually get my entire fingertip over the trigger, right to the first fingertip joint, wheras with the M500, I could barely get my finger pad around the trigger
4; the shell lifter is no more "in the way" than my M500's was, it's spring loaded and swings out of the way when loading the mag (it has the Flexi-Tab lifter, FWIW), the only thing I miss here is the fact that the M500 could fit five shells in the tube mag and have room for the sixth in the chamber, with the 870, I lose one shell capacity in the tube, but then again, I can get mag extensions for the 870 far easier than I could for the M500, besides, this is going to be a trap/HD gun, and I'll likely never need more than five shells on tap anyway, if I do, I can add on a butt-cuff
I also found that the loading action of this 870 is far smoother than my old M500, the 500 would almost always bind or hesitate, oftentimes requiring me to pull the pump all the way back to re-align something, and yes, the gun was kept clean, oiled, and properly maintained, the 870, OTOH ejects shells from the tube mag with such enthusiasm that they bounce off the pivot end of the shell lifter and almost bounce into the chamber on their own, at the very least, they end up at the almost optimal angle to be fed into the chamber
5; The safety is a non-issue, my Ruger 10/22 has a crossbolt safety, so I'm used to them, and since I primarily shoot my H&R single shot shotguns for trap, I've found that it could technically be "confusing" going from M500 to H&R TDC, to ready the TDC to shoot, you draw the hammer *backwards* with your thumb, to ready the M500 to shoot, you push the safety *forwards* with your thumb, if I shoulder the M500 to shoot, and my instinct is to pull my thumb back, I'd actually be turning on the safety on the M500, with the 870 ESM, taking the gun off safe is no different than my 10/22
6; The trigger guard appears to be metal, most likely aluminum, wheras both the M500 and the current new Express models are plastic...errr..."polymer"
7; Accessories are far easier to find for the 870 than for the 500, I don't plan to "Tacti-Cool" it up though, at the very most, I'll be replacing the stock recoil pad with a Limbsaver, and perhaps replace the stock Rem choke tube with a Trulock Extended Medium, the gun came with sling swivels already mounted, but I don't think I'll be buying a sling for it, I'll just move my cheapo Uncle Mikes sling between my three sling equipped guns as I need to (Savage MK II-G .22LR, Ruger 10/22 .22LR, Rem 870 ESM)
Even though this is a shotgun capable of handling 3.5" shotshells, I highly doubt it will see anything other than a diet of 2 3/4" shells, but it's nice to have the option to shoot 3.5" there
I know it's only a matter of time before I get a nice used Wingmaster, but the 870 ESM isn't a bad starting point, plus, after trading in my M500, my out of pocket expense was only $99, I got almost all what I paid for the M500 back in trade credit
Now all I need is to BA/UU/R (and eventually get an 18.5" barrel for this one for HD)
Pics later, too tired from typing long winded post...
Pics now;
I've never been completely happy with my Mossberg 500, the rattly pump arm always annoyed me, and the rear stock never properly fit me, it was both too long in LOP, and the curve of the pistol grip positioned my hand too far back from the trigger guard, I also had to make a conscious effort not to wrap my thumb over the top of the grip or I'd end up whacking myself in the nose under recoil
Still, there were things I thought that the Mossberg did better than the 870, the shell lifter that stays out of the way, the dual extractors, the ejector tab held in by a simple screw, and yes, the tang safety....
still, the 500 and I never really got along, pumping in a shell from the mag always involved a slight hesitation as it felt like it would bind, and the trigger pull felt like it was encased in Jell-O
basically, I wasn't enjoying my 500, shooting trap with it was a chore, to the point that I picked up a pair of H&R Topper Deluxe Classics (12G and 20G) that I've been exceptionally happy with, especially the 20 gauge which is my current favorite trap gun
Still, I felt the need for a good solid pumpgun, I've been keeping an eye open at KTP, checking out the shotguns every time I'm in there (I live a quick 5 minute drive away, so I go there a lot
), and up until today, I never found an 870 that *spoke* to me, today, however, I found "The One" (or is that actually "The First" )It's a Remington 870 Express (put down the rotten fruit, i know the Express can't hold a candle to the Wingmaster...) Super Magnum model, with the 3.5" reciever, it's got nice blond wood with a decent grain structure, the press checkering is actually reasonably sharp, and there was a minimal amount of surface rust on it, which just wiped off with 000 steel wool and a silicone cloth, I'd say less than 5% total rust, the bore is bright and looks essentially unfired
Now, here's why I brought this gun home;
1; the pump slide is nice and tight, no rattly feel, and the fore end is nicely shaped, thick and comfortable, no excessive play in the pump mechanism
2; the pump action is rather smooth, almost as smooth as the Wingmaster, and definitely smoother than the current line of new Express models, plus, the "Klak-Klak" sound of this 870 ESM sounds crisper and more defined than the "SHUKK-SHUKK" of my old M500
3; the trigger pull is crisp, light and has a clean break, light-years better than the M500's "Jello-Trigger", and since the LOP and the grip angle fit me, I can actually get my entire fingertip over the trigger, right to the first fingertip joint, wheras with the M500, I could barely get my finger pad around the trigger
4; the shell lifter is no more "in the way" than my M500's was, it's spring loaded and swings out of the way when loading the mag (it has the Flexi-Tab lifter, FWIW), the only thing I miss here is the fact that the M500 could fit five shells in the tube mag and have room for the sixth in the chamber, with the 870, I lose one shell capacity in the tube, but then again, I can get mag extensions for the 870 far easier than I could for the M500, besides, this is going to be a trap/HD gun, and I'll likely never need more than five shells on tap anyway, if I do, I can add on a butt-cuff
I also found that the loading action of this 870 is far smoother than my old M500, the 500 would almost always bind or hesitate, oftentimes requiring me to pull the pump all the way back to re-align something, and yes, the gun was kept clean, oiled, and properly maintained, the 870, OTOH ejects shells from the tube mag with such enthusiasm that they bounce off the pivot end of the shell lifter and almost bounce into the chamber on their own, at the very least, they end up at the almost optimal angle to be fed into the chamber
5; The safety is a non-issue, my Ruger 10/22 has a crossbolt safety, so I'm used to them, and since I primarily shoot my H&R single shot shotguns for trap, I've found that it could technically be "confusing" going from M500 to H&R TDC, to ready the TDC to shoot, you draw the hammer *backwards* with your thumb, to ready the M500 to shoot, you push the safety *forwards* with your thumb, if I shoulder the M500 to shoot, and my instinct is to pull my thumb back, I'd actually be turning on the safety on the M500, with the 870 ESM, taking the gun off safe is no different than my 10/22
6; The trigger guard appears to be metal, most likely aluminum, wheras both the M500 and the current new Express models are plastic...errr..."polymer"
7; Accessories are far easier to find for the 870 than for the 500, I don't plan to "Tacti-Cool" it up though, at the very most, I'll be replacing the stock recoil pad with a Limbsaver, and perhaps replace the stock Rem choke tube with a Trulock Extended Medium, the gun came with sling swivels already mounted, but I don't think I'll be buying a sling for it, I'll just move my cheapo Uncle Mikes sling between my three sling equipped guns as I need to (Savage MK II-G .22LR, Ruger 10/22 .22LR, Rem 870 ESM)
Even though this is a shotgun capable of handling 3.5" shotshells, I highly doubt it will see anything other than a diet of 2 3/4" shells, but it's nice to have the option to shoot 3.5" there
I know it's only a matter of time before I get a nice used Wingmaster, but the 870 ESM isn't a bad starting point, plus, after trading in my M500, my out of pocket expense was only $99, I got almost all what I paid for the M500 back in trade credit
Now all I need is to BA/UU/R (and eventually get an 18.5" barrel for this one for HD)
Pics later, too tired from typing long winded post...
Pics now;
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