What to look for with a Used Remmington 870

[kmcintosh78]

So, making the Shotgun plunge, soon. And I need some assistance with what to look for in used Shotguns.
I am really leaning hard towards a used Remmington 870 Express Home Defense model.

I am also considering the Mossberg 500.

Thanks

 

[Dave McCracken]

Either will do the job IF you do yours.

Get the one that feels best. Shoot it plenty.

Then,decide if it needs anything more than ammo and TLC.....

 

[Fred Fuller]

Make sure what kind of guarantee/warranty your dealer offers on used guns, first of all.

Obvious problems will be pretty easy to spot. I wouldn't worry too much about exterior surface wear or minor rust 'freckles.' A bent barrel, dented magazine tube, badly cracked stock etc - those are indications of problems or potential problems. The bore should be rust free.

Not much is likely to be wrong with either make/model, as long as a previous owner didn't do any kitchen table "gunsmithing," or detail strip the gun just to see how all the pieces went together.

 

[Isaac-1]

I suggest you also look at used 870 Wingmasters, you might have to spend a couple of hundred dollars to add a shorter barrel (or cut down the existing barrel) and magazine extension to get the gun you want, but there are some good deals out there on used Wingmasters and they tend to be built to a much higher standard than the modern 870 Express models. As an example I just bought a near mint condition 35 year old 870 Wingmaster 12 GA for $225 (I doubt if it has had more than a box or two of shells through it in its life), and is not like I sniped a deal, it was advertised on a state gun board for sale section for 3 days before I bought it (asking was $250). It is a standard 2 3/4 inch receiver gun with a fixed choke barrel, and around here all the hunters want guns with a magnum receiver to shoot sttel shot 3 1/2 inch shells for duck hunting.

Ike

 

[kmcintosh78]

This would be a purchase from an individual, so buyer beware.
No work appears to have been done to it, except strip, clean and oil. But, I will get a hands on look Monday.
A friend of mine suggested slowly running the action, to check for rough spots or a weak spring.