need info on my sportsman 12 pump

[Big Orange 83]

Hello to all. this is my first post on this forum. I spend most of my forum reading on 1911 forum. But after shooting skeet on thanksgiving with the family it renewed my interest and curiosity about this pump.. I have tried doing some research on my shotgun but have not found detailed info about it. I'm hoping some of y'all can help me out. When my dad passed away in 2007 I inherited his Remington sportsman 12 pump. It is a beautiful gun and shots great. I looked up the serial number and found that it is a 1984 model manufactured in June of 84. It does not say magnum on it anywhere but the barrel says it takes 2 3/4 or 3 inch shells. wasn't it only the magnums that took the 3 inch? also I would like to know any history or interesting facts about this gun. If anyone has any info I would appreciate learning more about it. thanks

 

[ontarget]

A VERY quick search on Bing for Remington Sportsman only shows knives. Can you post pics? And welcome to THR.

 

[Big Orange 83]

here are some pics

 

[jmr40]

It is a budget version of the 870 with cheaper wood. Otherwise same gun. The Sportsmans guns were made briefly before being replaced by the 870 Express. If I'm reading the SN correctly the last character is the letter M which means it is suitable for both 2 3/4 and 3" magnums.

I don't recall the exact year, but all 870's have been 2 3/4" and 3" for a very long time. It won't safely fire 3 1/2" shells however. They WILL fit in the chamber, but it would be dangerous to fire them.

 

[PapaG]

Don't think "all" 870s have been three inch but all expresses have. The sportsman was a three inch matte finished fixed choke hardwood stocked 870. I bought one for duck hunting about 1985. Express with Remchokes came along after it.

 

[kudu]

Manufactured between 1984 and 1986. Still a sold economy 870, and has as nice of wood as the newer Wingmaster shotguns of today. Use it in good health and have fun at skeet, it is addictive.

 

[Virginian]

All 12 an 20 gauge 870s have been 3" capable since 1985. The Sportsman was the first lower cost pump, and was introduced along with the Sportsman semi auto shotgun, bolt action rifle, semi auto rifle, and pump action rifle, all introduced in 1985.. Most are excellent guns with only the cheaper wood separating them from the Wingmasters. The first ones had polished blued metalwork, but they went to a satin metal finish later, I believe during 1986. I sold several of them and thought they were a very good deal.

 

[Big Orange 83]

what is the difference between the magnum sportsman 12 and the sportsman 12? I have seen some used sportsman 12 magnums for sale online and they boast about how they take 3 inch shells.. mine is a 84 model and it does not say magnum but barrel says it will take 2 3/4 or 3 inch.. just wondering what's different about a magnum vs mine if my gun can shoot 3 inch shells?? also, are you saying most of the sportsman 12s were a satin finish? mine is a beautiful blued finish. is that just because mine is a 84 and they quit the nice blued finish around that time? thanks for all of your input

 

[jmr40]

All of the Sportsman line of shotguns and rifles had the same metal finish as the standard grades. The cheaper wood was the only real difference. The Express line of 870's replaced the 12 Sportsman and it had matte finished metal.

At one time they offered 2 different versions of the 870, the standard gun was 2 3/4" only, the Magnum was 2 3/4" and 3". There was NEVER any good reason to not offer all of them in magnum configuration. The only difference was the chamber and where the ejector was located, the receiver has always been the same. I've never seen a Sportsman labeled as Magnum, but that doesn't mean they didn't make one. I can remember 870's being labeled as Magnum. The Sportsman line weren't around all that long and were produced at about the time Remington got smart and started simply making them all 3" capable. None of those were sold as magnum guns.

If your gun has an M as the last character in the SN it is 3" capable.

 

[Big Orange 83]

thanks for all of your comments! but still this one thing is driving me nuts.. what is different about the gun pictured below and my gun?

 

[Big Orange 83]

my gun.

 

[Virginian]

The difference is the rollmarking. Remington rollmarking is not something to hang your hat on. My theory is that when the rollmarking guy or gal goes on vacation or is sick they just keep right on rolling. I have seen a second or third year production Model 1100 with no rollmarking, except for the little squiggle on the bolt and a serial number on the receiver.
All Sportsman pumps were 3" guns. The gun may have been manufactured in 1984, but it was first cataloged in 1985 and was marketed as an '85 model. As noted, the only - repeat only - differences between the earlier 2-3/4" and 3" guns were the barrel, and the ejector and ejector spring. I have seen several 2-3/4" guns with the 3" ejector set up installed at the factory, and quite a few 2-3/4" barrels have a 3" chamber if you measure it.

 

[Big Orange 83]

ok good to know. I was thinking for some reason maybe they started putting magnum on it in 85 and 86 to make it more marketable. thanks for everyone's help and wisdom! for this to be a budget gun of the 80's I would take this over any new Remmy of today.

 

[Virginian]

You need to take a close look at the current 1100s and 870 Wingmasters. They are as good as they ever were.

 

[paulsj]

The new ones are better. For example, new 12ga usually comes with light contour barrel checkered walnut and finish that is more resistant to oxidation than that found on old ones.

 

[Big Orange 83]

best bang for buck is what I meant