My 870 Marine Headache, Part II

[OregonJohnny]

OK, long story short: My brand New 870 Marine developed a rough patch inside the bore where the nickel plating was flaking off. I sent it into Remington. They sent me a replacement barrel. The replacement barrel had the same problem but much worse. Called Remington again, they sent out a second replacement barrel, with instructions to the warehouse to check and make sure the barrel they were sending was clear of defects. It just arrived today. SAME PROBLEM!

So after the 10th or so call to Remington in the last month, I found out they are no longer manufacturing the nickel-plated Marine, and that to avoid this continued problem all together, I should just get the new 870 Marine XCS nitrite barrel. Sigh...:banghead:

So my question: for collectors/value sake, should I keep my 870 nickel shotgun and nickel barrel together since they are not going to make it anymore? Or should I take them up on the offer to replace it with an XCS barrel? I like the look and feel of the nickel barrel, but for piece of mind, I want a barrel that I know is clear of defects, even if the defects are simply cosmetic. Should I just ignore the cosmetic problem and hope it doesn't effect the function? Maybe make a Frankenstein Marine with nickel-plated receiver/bolt/mag tube and black barrel? Just keep the nickel barrel and save up for a standard 18.5" 870 Express barrel for utility use? Any thoughts?

 

[stiletto raggio]

If I were anywhere near 870 Narines, I know I'd have a headache. Ha.

Collector value on a gun like that--especially with a visible blemish--will be minimal. Go for utility. I don't know your financial status right now, but if you can get Remington to send you one of the XCS barrels, that would probably be the most desirable solution. If the color bothers you, you can just trade it toward a new gun. And there is always duracoat, which may be better than plating anyhow.

Of course, Saigas have nickel-plated barrels, threaded muzzles, and higher capacity. And it is an AK. Pretty sweet... I digress.

 

[Techsan]

Slightly off topic, but I've been looking for a MM and I'm having some trouble locating one. Today I learned that a co-worker has one he may be willing to part with. When did the Remington rep say they stopped making the MM? Did you learn if Remington just had a bad batch of barrels, or is the flaking a more widespread problem with the MM?

To your question, I doubt a mass produced Remington 870 is ever going to be a collector's item. You would have a funky looking shotgun with a black barrel attached to that nickel receiver if you take them up on their offer of a new barrel. It would be a converstion piece.

 

[OregonJohnny]

One rep I talked to a few weeks back said he'd seen a few Marines with this problem, and that there may have been a bad batch. That's why he said he'd put a note on the order to the warehouse to check the barrel they were going to send before they sent it. Well, no such luck. The rep I talked to yesterday who said they weren't making the nickel-plated Marine anymore didn't mention specifics. They may just be fazing them out for the XCS model. So far in my experience, nickel-plating the inside of a shotgun bore seems to be very hard to do correctly...

I think since this 2nd replacement barrel seems to be the best of the 3 I've handled, I'll keep it and hope the problem doesn't get any worse. If it does, and I just can't live with it anymore, I'll trade up for an XCS barrel. It may look funky, but it is a utility shotgun, after all.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

My Marine Magnum has a bit of cosmetic internal bore issues just ahead of the reciever. It is not enough to bother me or affect shooting. My gun is a keeper. Now I will talk with the smith next time and see where we are at because the last time the gun came back, it was virgin perfect with no visual blemish.

 

[waterhouse]

and that to avoid this continued problem all together, I should just get the new 870 Marine XCS nitrite barrel.

If that is what they are telling you, I'd let them know that I wasn't comfortable with the receiver either and that they should replace my whole gun.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

My brand New 870 Marine developed a rough patch inside the bore where the nickel plating was flaking off.

Just go shoot it, cosmetics inside the barrel don't matter.

 

[OregonJohnny]

Deer Hunter, yes, that is what I'm telling myself now after all this mess. I'll just learn to live with it. Maybe I just won't clean it as often, that way I won't have to look inside the bore...

 

[Rshooter]

I myself attempt to look down as few shotgun bores as possible.

 

[hometheaterman]

Once again an example of the lack of quality by Remington. This doesn't surprise me at all as I'm not sure I've ever had or used a Remington that I thought was great quality. They all seemed to have something that should have never passed quality control. I take that back a buddy has a Remington 1100 3" magnum with a 30" barrel that I really like. I've never take it apart so who knows it may have qc issues if I was to. I know a Remington .22 I cleaned for a buddy looked great on the outside but once you got it apart there was a cut too deep on the bolt that should have never made it past quality control.

 

[Snarlingiron]

I'll keep it and hope the problem doesn't get any worse.

What problem? Of the 10 million+ 870s out there how many of them have plated bores? a few thousand maybe?

It's just a cosmetic thing and unless you are living on a house boat and using your 870 to pole the thing it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[CWL]

I'm sorry to read this. The Remington 870 MM has always had a great reputation for looks & quality. Mine has been trouble-free for 15 years.

Sucks to hear that Remington quality is sliding.

 

[OregonJohnny]

I haven't quite lost all faith in Remington yet. After all, my first "real" gun was an 870 Express on my 12th birthday. It was the best gun I ever owned and ran thousands of flawless rounds with little to no cleaning over the course of 15 years. I regret selling it a couple years ago, but I needed money at the time and it brought in $200 cash. When I had some extra money again, I quickly replaced it with my current 870 Marine.

Anyway, I love the looks and function of my Marine and I'm just going to try and put the cosmetic bore issue out of my mind and shoot the crap out of it.

 

[ServiceSoon]

I just got off the phone with remington. The marine magnum was not on their production schedule. The nice person on the other end of the phone told me they probably won't be making them anymore.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

I'll be damned.

No MORE MM?

Alright, what is the expected barrel life? Better get me some spares before the inventory dries up.

 

[Hornet 6]

Why not just get it stripped and re-plated if it bothers you, and yes I know you shouldn't need to.
In your place I would take the new barrel offered, and have it nickelled, outside only.
Nickel has no place inside a barrel, it is not hard enough.

Neil.