So how is Remington these days?

[Wis-Harpo]

Last April I bought a Remington 1911 Carry 45 acp. Great finish, smooth slide. It has a great light trigger. It shoots better than I can. Lucky ??? I used to collect Remington .22 rifles , and at one time I had about 28. So I am partial to Remington rifles, shotguns, and now their pistol .I also shoot a 1974 Wingmaster 12 gauge, a 1995 Express 12 gauge ( my first 3 inch ) , a used 1983 12 gauge 1100, a 1997 20 gauge LW 1100, 1977 Model 572 BDL .22 pump, and a 1951 Model 511 Bolt action .22. I remember when the Rem 870 came out ( only Wingmasters then ), the Gun magazines had a fit saying they were just punched out metal, when the Winchester hand finished shotguns were lauded. Then in 1962, the Winchesters were called junk, and the 870 was a great shotgun. Just hold your water until YOU have had a bad or good experience. If you believe part of what the bloggers say, it is on you.

 

[rodinal220]

Is there a trick to IDing old Remingtons?

I look for 870s with the all chrome bolt and shell lifter, usually has a V(last) in the serial number. The are normally 2.75", that's all I shoot. There will be later ones with mixed parts with a chromed bolt and blued anti-jam shell lifter, these are good too. Really old 870s will have a solid steel (like sewing machine bobbin) shell follower, no star on the barrel where is says the gauge.