If not the 870...then what?

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TheProf

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Ok guys...I just got done reading threads on the Remington 870 not being what it used to be. There's reports of malfunctions..failed extractions. I am looking for a dependable HD SG. A simple, reliable, ergonomically sound shotgun at a fair price. The most important to me is reliability out of the box. I don't need any fancy tacti cool stuff.
(AHHHHHHHHH...... and I just got a Remington 870!!!! Have not fired it yet.)

So...

1. Is Remington 870 Express still a recommended choice?

2. Should I go with a Charles Daly model?

3. Would a Mossberg 500 be a better choice?
 
I have an 870 Express, with many thousands of rounds through it. I don't even know HOW many. It's fairly recent, from this decade anyway.

It rusts if I sweat on it and don't clean and oil it. It won't reliably eject Winchester Universal bulk pack birdshot ammo.

Otherwise, I haven't been able to find anything wrong with it. It's been 100% with everything else, including handloads, competition-grade clay loads, various hunting loads and any bulk pack ammo other than the Winchester Universals.

Now I've warmed up to the Mossbergs, for a few reasons. They have nicer triggers, tang safeties and no loading gate to get hung up on gloves in the field.

However, they do feel a bit different in the hands. I'd choose based on personal preference, but not because some people on the Internet think the 870 ain't what it used to be.

Or, get a police version (870P) or an old Wingmaster cop gun, if you really want something that's not price-point-engineered.

But like I said, the Express has worked fine for me -- and I'm not Remington's biggest fan in general, either.

I haven't tried the Charles Daly guns. They may be excellent, but I can't say.
 
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Latest Winchester ammo, especially familiar with Xpress steel shot loads, has a rep for hanging up in actions, not just the express. I was having problems with it in my 500, but I used some steel wool on the chamber to smooth it out and that seems to have fixed it. Still, it didn't hang up with Federal. That Xpert works so well, patterns so well, though, I am glad it's working in the gun now. I got a few little rust spots in there that was causing the problem. 20 years in the salt marsh is rough on a gun. The steel wool slicked it up, though. I could have gone nuts on a gun board and said Mossbergs were junk, but I fixed it instead.

I don't care for the Remingtons, but it's ergos for a left handed shooter, not the gun that I don't like about it, and the rust problem with the express models. Mossberg works better for me.
 
Why not find a nice vintage Winchester Model 12 that someone has shortened?

They can be had for $399, and will be better made than any Chinese Rem Clone...
 
Most of issues you mention are issues for 870 express models. How about picking up a used Wingmaster for cheap. No one I know really has problems with Wingmasters. I picked up a very used Police model last year and put on a 20" fixed IC, bead sighted barrel and have had no problems shooting it (with 00 buck, #8 Winchester birdshot, my own skeet reloads, and #6 Remington dove loads). I saw a used 26" Wingmaster at my local Gander of all places for $269, not bad for a very good condition gun.
 
Stay with what you have. Remington has been forced to keep cutting corners to be price competetative with other guns that simply will always be cheaper to manufacture.

I still believe the 870 to be a better design than most other pumps and most never have any problems. If you do have problems they are usually a simple fix.

With just a little more attention to detail Remington would not be having the problems addressed. But that might add $25 to the cost of the gun and too many people would rather save $25 and have an inferior gun.
 
Real confidence in a gun does not come from reading endless opinions on the internet and repeated buying and selling and rebuying (though the internet has a way of repeatedly seducing us with this notion). Real confidence in a gun comes from shooting it many, many times.

I've shot my 870 many, many times--enough to have the peace of mind that, if I ever am in a situation where I need to pull it out, I know it's not something I'm going to have to worry about. Start shooting yours--it's the true path to the certitude you're after, and a lot more fun than the internet to boot!
 
Um... with my username do I really need to say more?

My Norinco has been 100% reliable. It is a GREAT shotgun...very heavy duty and can take a beating and keep on ticking.

~Norinco
 
My current love is the Ithaca Mod 37, it comes in a 5 or an 8 shot model for around four and a half bills.

DefenseWood8ShotWeb-900.gif
 
I have been in the customer service business for over 40 years. How many folks have called up just to say "Hey, I got your new left handed super boomer giz widget and it is the greatest thing since pockets on a shirt!" Pretty damned few. However, if there is a slight problem, believe me you will hear about it. So will all of their neighbors, family, acquaintances and everybody on the internet.

I have 3 870's. One is an older 20 ga Wingmaster, and it is a thing of beauty. The other two are fairly recent (within 3 years) 12 ga. Express models. I haven't had any problems with any of them. Not even with rust on the Express.

If I started a thread titled "I have 2 870 Express's and no problems", how much interest do you think it would get?
 
Run a few cases of decent ammo through that 870 before deciding.

Most of the probs reported with newer 870s can be traced to bad ammo, bad polishing or limited experience.

Would your Shelby Cobra run just as well on 70 octane gas as Premium?

Polishing the chamber seems to be a $5, ten minute fix at worst.

And the cure for limited experience is BA/UU/R.

And pump it like you mean it. It will not break.
 
If you want an 870 then get one. Worst case you will have to polish the chamber. It's easy to do.

If you want a lower cost, tough as nails and very reliable 870 style shotgun the Hawk 982 or Pardner Pump is the way to go. They offer a lot for the money.


The Charles Daly Pump is a pretty good shotgun but not as durable as an 870, Mossberg 500, Hawk 982 or the Pardner Pump. The CD only has a plastic forend with no steel reinforced forend tube underneath like the above shotguns. The metal charging arms hook into a plastic slot in the plastic forend. Not a very durable design in my opinion. It's very loosely base off the 870 design and it's simple and very easy to break down.


GC
 
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And the cure for limited experience is BA/UU/R.
Click to expand...

What does that mean?
Click to expand...

Hint: It has to do with shooting your shot gun a lot - as one should.

Go out and shoot your 870.

I have a few old 870 Wingmasters. None of which cost more than $180. One is an old 18" barrel ex-police gun for HD, one I added an M16-type grip and a rifled barrel for shotgun-zone deer hunting (playing card-sized groups at 50 yards), and one is my old full-choke Trap gun I now loan to Trap friends (my current loan-ee is outshooting me in our league grrrrrr.:eek: ).

NONE of these has caused trouble. Through a lot of trap shooting testing.

My bro-in-law has a newer Express he "bought and forgot". He broke it out for a shooting session and it was all rusted. I could still make it shoot, but it was not pretty. He insisted on bringing it to a shop rather than having me clean it up :rolleyes:, but I don't think my old Wingmasters would have taken on so much rust.

I'd say that you should disassemble, clean and lubricate your 870 and go shoot it. It's a great gun. If you shoot it and you do not like or trust it, check out some other models, but I don't think you can beat an 870.
 
I agree. I'd go shoot the 870 before counting it out. I had an 870 express that was NOT reliable, but I have two police magnums that are very reliable.

Either way, I'd highly recommend the 590A1 or regular 590.
 
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