rem 870 youth 21inch need advice please

[shotgunsrfun]

Hi, I stopped a gun shop today notice they had a new gun on the shelf, it was a rem 870 'youth' model 21inch, could someone give me info about this gun? I know its a 870 but what is the difference? from this than a regular 18inch non 'youth' It was only $280 and thats CHEAP I been looking for a 870 and all I can find is $300-$400 for a 870 at other stores in 24 or 26 inch couldnt find a 18inch around here. but this store has a 21inch. Its in 20g not 12g.

I think it is a express, Is there shell ejection problems with 870 expresses? I thought I heard about problems on express models????

I wanted to make sure this gun is built good as the regular non 'YOUTH' because why is this $60-100 cheaper than else where in town because its a 'YOUTH'

I was looking for a 12g but a friend said 20g would be better for a range gun because of the recoil. Is there any problem with shell ejections on 20g over 12g 870's?

Thanks

 

[shotgunsrfun]

The Express model has unfinished stamped parts that have burrs that CAN cause mechanical problems.


I found this on another webpage, does the non express have these unfinished stamped parts??? or no thats why you pay $500+ ?

 

[Fred Fuller]

I like the little guns a lot, and $280 is a good price for a new one. We keep a couple on hand for smaller students to use when they're learning shotguns, and gave one to our niece last year for Christmas. She chose it off a table of various shotguns to train with after shooting several makes/models/gauges to try them out before a training session. The youth gun has a shorter LOP as well as a short barrel- it's 13" IIRC, as opposed to 14" or a bit more for most 'adult' size shotguns.

It sounds like an Express gun, the Expresses just aren't as nicely polished on the outside as Wingmasters. There are a couple of MIM (molded metal) parts in newer Expresses, but ALL 870s have a lot of stamped parts- not just Expresses.

There have been a few people who've had problems with less expensive shells sticking in chambers on their shotguns, and the problem is not limited to Express guns. Sometimes it's cured by cleaning the factory shipping preservative out of the chamber, sometimes it takes a bit of polishing of the chamber. But I haven't heard of one so far that was incurable. And all the problems I have heard of so far were with 12 gauge guns.

If you like it, I see no reason not to get it... I would, at that price.

fwiw,

lpl

 

[shotgunsrfun]

like I said above about the burrs, I guess its no differencee than buying cheapo $200 shotgun?

this is better quality for a name brand. Thanks for your input.

Does the 20g model fit pistol grips?

I just wanted to be sure before I bought a new gun, that because it says 'youth' I am not getting less quality parts.

I like that it is made from solid steel, not alum..

 

[JimKirk]

Leave the pistol grip at the store, stick with the shorter stock for a quick handling gun that you can hit what you shoot at. My 870 Express 20 ga. youth model is about 7 yrs. old, so I don't know how it measures up to the ones made today, but I am well pleased with mine. No problems to speak of, there is some plastic, compressed metal parts and some burs, but nothing that a small file or stone can't take care of. I owned two of them and was pleased with both, I let my son talk me into trading the first one for a full sized 870 express 20. Still have both. The gun I really hate that I ever traded was a Browning BPS Youth 20 ga. youth with a 22" barrel, I've kicked my own rear many times after doing that.

Jimmy K

 

[oneounceload]

Youth is for the length of the stock, nothing more

 

[Starter52]

+1 to what Lee said. I have two "youth" 870 Express shotguns for our smaller shooters. The shorter stock and the 21" barrel are a good combination for anyone under 5'2".

Remington's Express shotguns aren't as slick as the premium 870 Wingmasters, but they work OK for us.

A warning: I found that youth shotguns are most definitely NOT comfortable for an adult-sized shooter.

 

[shotgunsrfun]

" found that youth shotguns are most definitely NOT comfortable for an adult-sized shooter"

I could change out the stock?? what you mean cmofortable? the recoil? poor padding? or because its -1 inch less than regular?

 

[shotgunsrfun]

I like the idea of 21inch, its longer than 18, and you could hunt with it more easy than 18inch.

 

[shotgunsrfun]

Could a few more people post about their 870 express 'youth'

Thanks

 

[Fred Fuller]

I have no problem shooting a Youth model 870, and I'm definitely adult sized (6'3" and 295 pounds, 37" sleeves). As with any short stocked gun with some degree of recoil, the key is to keep the shooting hand thumb placed over on the trigger finger knuckle, instead of wrapping it over the top of the pistol grip as usual. That keeps your thumb from bopping you in the schnozz under recoil.

That lesson was first learned by my grandfather's generation in WWI, on short stocked Springfield rifles. Some grandfathers even passed it along... along with other accumulated wisdom.

lpl

 

[Schutzen]

I use an 20 gauge 870 Express Youth Model as a HD shotgun. It is shorter and lighter than a regular 870. The 20 guage is a better choice for my wife and college age daughter to handle. The 21" barrel let me install an 8 shot magazine extension rather than a 6-7 shot one on the 18" barrel. The short stock is a better fit for the wife. All in all, it was less expensive to modify the Youth model than to purchase a regular model and modify it to use a HD shotgun.

 

[shotgunsrfun]

Thanks for the info!

I would like to know where did you get the extension tube for more rounds?

because of the 21inch it looks like it could add 1-2 more shells on the gun. Now I think you cant use that for hunting because of legal limits to like 4 or something..? but it would be great for the range or HD

 

[Radjxf]

You may also consider the NEF Pardner pump compact. $203 delivered from Bud's Gun Shop. Takes all 870 parts except the barrel.

$203 delivered from Bud's Gun Shop (last I looked), better fit and finish than any Express--IMO. Uses all 870 parts except the barrel, which you can obtain others from NEF.

YMMV

 

[shotgunsrfun]

picked up the 870 youth express today, It is very well built... compared to the mavrick 88 I was looking at (basic $200-$230 mossy gun) this 870 feels like a tank, its a metal rec I like it, Thanks for your info guys. Little small in the stock but thats ok. Very well built + got the remington rebate.

Also the elevator does it stay down when you have a shell loaded in the tube for shooting? My elevator ramp is down, right now and its cocked(not loaded) I am cleaning it still.

 

[springfield30-06]

Also the elevator does it stay down when you have a shell loaded in the tube for shooting? My elevator ramp is down, right now and its cocked(not loaded) I am cleaning it still.

Yes the elevator stays down on 870's.... unlike the Mossbergs which stay up.

 

[ilmonster]

As the "youth" model differs only in length of pull in the stock, if you find out after putting a few rounds downrange that you need a full sized stock, they are for sale used all over the place (here on THR, ebay, etc.) for little money. I have a very used 870 with a 20" fixed IC barrel for HD, and am super happy with it.

Two most important elements are make sure the SG fits, then get some experience putting some rounds downrange - applies to any SG you use for HD (SxS, pump, O/U, etc.)

 

[JimKirk]

If you need a longer LOP, simply add a thicker recoil pad or(and) some black spacers.

Jimmy K

 

[shotgunsrfun]

where do you get spacers?

 

[JimKirk]

Brownells
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/cid=0/k=stock+spacers/t=P/ksubmit=y/Products/All/search=stock_spacers
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=9650/Product/HARD_RUBBER_BUTTSTOCK_SPACER
Jimmy K

 

[Dave McCracken]

The 20 gauge here started life as a Youth model with the short stock. Once the kids grew up, I switched stocks with a friend that needed a youth stock for his twin kids and had an adult length stock on a 28 gauge 870 he picked up for them.

The little thing handles like a dream.Total weight is about 6 lbs, 2 oz. It redefines the term, "Quail Gun".

Recoil with buck and slug loads is on the heavy side. 7/8 oz target and hunting loads are easier on my aging frame and do the job out to 35 yards or so.

Besides the 21" Remchoke VR barrel, there's a 20" RS IC choke slug barrel. It likes Rottweil Brenekkes. Those do kill on one end and cripple on the other.

As with all firearms, familiarity and round count determine effectiveness.

HTH...

 

[NoAlibi]

Great skeet gun for a small and weaker shooter

My fiancee is a small framed woman who had difficulty with the weight of a semi-auto 20 gauge shotgun and the recoil of a 7/8 oz skeet load.

I bought her the 20 gauge youth model 870 and added a recoil pad to bring it up to her LOP.

Anticipating more felt recoil due to the lighter pump gun, I loaded her 20 ga. ammo with 3/4 oz. of shot @ 1140 fps. which resulted in manageable recoil and good (not optimum) patterns. It all added up to enjoyable shooting for her even at a somewhat reduced efficiency and best of all she IS shooting.

 

[wamj2008]

It's a fine gun. I kept the magazine loaded with 3Buck for HD, and would have trusted my life with it any time. My brother has it now as I moved up to a 12, but 3Buck will do a plenty fine job.

 

[JeffLrrp]

Its an ok gun. I bought it as my first shotgun and my HD gun. The skinny stock and Remington's terrible factory pad make shooting heavy loads downright unpleasant -- to the point where I'm almost certain that I could shoot a 12 gauge with birdshoot and reduced-recoil buck and have no problem.

The same issues that make it a pain at the range means it excels at HD. Its light, handles easily, and its slightly shorter barrel (21") means that it goes around corners easier. 4+1 in the chamber and another 5 in a shell holder on the stock means you've got a pretty potent 'goblin' stopper on your hands.

Remington's damn bead-blasted crappy finish means that rust spots pop up all over the thing. I mean, come on. I don't expect a gun to rust all by itself after I oil it every freaking week.

That being said, it hasn't failed me in 3 years and around 400 rounds downrange. I keep it loaded with #3 buck and #6 birdshot. It sits next to my bed and other than occasionally wiping it down and cycling it, it remains ready.

I got it for $275 with a $30 mail-in rebate. Wasn't a bad price (from Gander ). However, for my next gun (a 12GA), Im looking at the Pardner Pump or a Mossberg 590. The Pardner is waay cheaper, but if I can pick up a Mossy 590 at a good price (like my friend did at a gun show -- $300 NIB out the door !!) I'll grab it.

Overall, knowing what I do now, I wouldn't have gotten it. Remmy quality has went downhill the past couple years, and I like a gun that doesn't rust when I look at it sideways.

Does anybody know where I can pick up an aftermarket stock or recoil pad made specifically for the smaller 20GA youth model? I heard its a smaller frame than the regular 12 and 20 gauge models, so hardly any aftermarket parts fit it. Your help is appreciated.

 

[Kernel]

My son took this nice buck last year with a 2-¾” 20 ga Remington Buckhammer slug. The rig is a 20 ga Rem 870 “Youth” Express shotgun, 21” ribbed smooth bore barrel, Cation extended rifled choke, B-Square scope base and 2.5x scope (nice mount, the B-Square scope was a POS), Brownells leather cheek pad to raise the comb (in the photo you can see the cardboard and duct tape underneath it, to raise it even a bit more), and a Uncle Mike 1-1/4” nylon sling & studs (the studs were generic, one wood screw & the other a machine screw which fit in the factory mag cap perfectly, about $2 each).

I actually have two 870 Youths. The other is a 20 gauge Youth “Junior” that has an even shorter LOP and a 18” barrel that accepts screw in chokes. Put an Choate 2-rd extension on it, a TAC-STAR side saddle, TruGlow rifle sights on the vent rib, and an old military style leather sling. Cutest little HD shotgun you ever did see.

On both shotguns I switched out the Remington lockable safety with non-lockable factory parts from Brownells. Those parts were about $4 per gun. I understand Remington has very recently discontinued that lawyer-lock safety. If you have one, the conversion is very easy to do. There’s a DIY site on the web with step-by-step pictures that shows how.

Most of these minor little mods and add-ons came from ideas I got from reading posts on this site.