Remington 870 Serial number look up

[DustyGmt]

Does anybody have a good source on how to go about finding the date of manufacture using the letter prefix to the serial number. I'm curious as to when mine was made but the only source I could find to date them all have single letter prefixes like S, B, N, etc...

Mine is a two letter prefix. "AB". Can anyone tell me when it was made based only on that?

ETA: Also, if anybody might be able to at least range it for me and tell me if for instance, "pre 2011" or something, that'd be helpful. Apparently finding out can be a pain in the neck according to what I'm seeing on different forums and stuff and emailing the new RemArms is pointless.

I found one thread where somebody says that the "AB" prefix predates the "RS" prefix that started being used in 2009-2011 ish. I don't know, I'm hoping one of you guys might know how to find out. I'd really like to know what year or era this shotgun was made.

 

[Scribner]

Is there a reason not to use the barrel code?

 

[DustyGmt]

Is there a reason not to use the barrel code?

I've looked it over very closely and all it says is "2 ¾ & 3 Shells only" and "Remington Arms Company Ilion, NY". Strange, not even a proof mark or anything.

 

[Scribner]

The letters are small. Maybe half the size of the R in Remington. Here is a link that shows a sample & has a calculator.

 

[DustyGmt]

The letters are small. Maybe half the size of the R in Remington. Here is a link that shows a sample & has a calculator.

Very good, thank you. I had to take the barrel off to locate them. It was made in 2006. (Pre freedom group, yay!) Jk. I know remington had struggled before then at times too, but the FG era seems to be the most notorious era for lousy, hurried samples going out the door unchecked...

 

[PapaG]

In my experience, fairly extensive as a user,shooter, dealer, etc, there are a lot of 870s out there with non-original barrels and the old Remington company could tell you when they were made from the sn. Also, in my experience, I’ve found an inordinate number of cracked receivers (behind the ejection port) on guns from the mid-70s. Usage from 10k rounds to 150k rounds. Three in my own family and all trap loads. Many more came through the shop.
I got my TB receiver replaced but not under warranty by Remington. $248 which was $60 more than I paid for it in 1975.
I hope I can get a couple receivers out of the new company to resurrect my late brother’s TC and my son’s Wingmaster
I’m a die hard 870 fan, even though there have been a few hiccups along the way. I estimate I’ve shot 300k rounds through mine since 1975. My first was in 1962.

 

[DustyGmt]

In my experience, fairly extensive as a user,shooter, dealer, etc, there are a lot of 870s out there with non-original barrels and the old Remington company could tell you when they were made from the sn. Also, in my experience, I’ve found an inordinate number of cracked receivers (behind the ejection port) on guns from the mid-70s. Usage from 10k rounds to 150k rounds. Three in my own family and all trap loads. Many more came through the shop.
I got my TB receiver replaced but not under warranty by Remington. $248 which was $60 more than I paid for it in 1975.
I hope I can get a couple receivers out of the new company to resurrect my late brother’s TC and my son’s Wingmaster
I’m a die hard 870 fan, even though there have been a few hiccups along the way. I estimate I’ve shot 300k rounds through mine since 1975. My first was in 1962.

I've got a few thousand trap loads through my TB since I started shooting it in spring of 2021. I wish I knew how much it had been shot before then but no way to tell, at least not by me.

I hope I never crack mine, it's my favorite shotgun and I know repair/replacement is out of the question since they don't make em anymore.

 

[Rshooter]

It is very hard to find but here you go with the only competent information that I have been able to find.

REMINGTON SHOTGUN SERIAL NUMBER STRUCTURE (This has nothing to do with the barrel code & the barrel code has nothing to do with the serial numbers) Model 870 LETTER PREFIX 1950 TO APPROX 1968: NO SERIAL NUMBER PREFIX 1968 TO PRESENT: LETTERS USED (IN SEQUENCE) S-68, T-74, V-78, W-84, X-90, A-91, B-94, C-97, D-01, AB-05 Model 870 LETTER SUFFIX (DESIGNATES GAUGE) V 12 GA.

Reference: https://vafastpower.weebly.com/home/remington-870-serial-numbers-date-of-manufacture

 

[PapaG]

I've got a few thousand trap loads through my TB since I started shooting it in spring of 2021. I wish I knew how much it had been shot before then but no way to tell, at least not by me.

I hope I never crack mine, it's my favorite shotgun and I know repair/replacement is out of the question since they don't make em anymore.

They recently announced the Wingmaster as in production, even in trap grade.

 

[Rshooter]

I have an XCS AB prefix and that is right around the date of XCS manufacture in 06,07.

 

[DustyGmt]

They recently announced the Wingmaster as in production, even in trap grade.

Really? Well, that will be interesting. Last thing I need is another shotgun but if they put out a halfway decent trap gun, I will probably have to buy one.

 

[jmr40]

According to this

Remington Manufacture Dates (oldguns.net)

A is March

B is either 1933, 1955, 1981, or 2007.

During parts of 1999, all of 2000 and parts of 2001 there was no date stamp.

I've found this to be accurate and reliable for older guns. I have no idea if Remington is still using the same method to date current production or not.

Keep in mind, this is the date of the barrel. Most of the time this is fine, but people do swap shotgun barrels and buy extra barrels so the actual gun may be different.