Went to pick up a Marlin this morning and came home with a Remington 870 Exress!!

Status
Not open for further replies.
MCMXI

MCMXI

Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2008
Messages
9,233
Location
NW
So I went to my local gun shop to pick up a Marlin Cowboy Limited in .45 Colt that I'd ordered and saw three cool looking shotguns on the rack. I asked the owner if I could see all three. The first two were Mossberg Model 500s and they were ok but when I picked up the Remington Model 870 .... well, it was all over!! :D The model I bought is a Model 870 Express Synthetic with an 18" barrel, 12 gauge with a 2 shot extension. I don't know much about shotguns so I'm curious if I did good?

Remington Express Model 870

:)
 
Last edited:
You did good. Gooder under $225 or so.

The 870 is one of the best arms ever made. It's the most popular civilian arm made, only military arms have higher numbers of units.

About 10,000,000 so far.

Follow the directions in the manual. If no manual, contact Remington at 1-800-243-9700 for one.

Enjoy.....
 
Let us know how it does. Try some of the WalMart value packs to see if it will cycle them reliably. If it does you won't have to polish the chamber. Some of the new 870 shotguns have problems with the value packs.


GC
 
Can't say whether you did good without knowing how much you paid.
Click to expand...

I was more concerned with whether or not I bought a good shotgun. I usually do a lot of research before I buy something but this was an impulse purchase so I bought it based on how it felt rather than knowing that it was a good product. I have three Remington rifles and am impressed with all of them so I was reasonably confident.

You did good. Gooder under $225 or so.
Click to expand...

Dave, The selling price was $375!! :( I looked on Impact Guns and it sells for $327 and their prices are usually very good. However, by the time I pay the shipping and FFL fee here it'd be about $398. Man, I sure wish I lived where you are.

It did come with a manual which I'm about to read right now. I've never owned a shotgun before so it'll be a learning experience. I didn't even buy an ammunition since I figured it'd be safer for me and my wife to "play" around with it until we know what we're doing ... then I'll pick something up.

I did buy 5000 CCI small rifle primers for $19.95/1000 so that kind of makes up for the shotgun. Primers here are selling for $35/1000!!

One last comment, the trigger is nice. I measured the pull a number of times and the average was about 4-3/4lb.

:)
 
you will love the 870. rated high in the top 50 list of shotguns. you can buy tons of accessories for it, and it will last FOREVER. i picked up a lightly used 870 with the short rifled barrel about 2 months ago for $200 OTD and like it very much
 
1858 You did pretty good on the price you paid. You are not going to find a new Express HD model like the one you bought for under about $320.

Most on here buy them used and don't realize what they cost now with the Remington price increases.

The model you bought is a better value than the one without the factory tube extension. The Express without the factory tube extension has mag tube dimples and uses a plastic racket spring retainer to keep the mag tube cap from loosening.

The model you bought has no mag tube dimples to drill out and it comes with the bbl locking lug detent ball setup. That is very important because it keeps the tube extension from loosening under recoil.

The factory tube extension kit: high quality longer spring, bbl tube extension clamp with sling swivel stud and tube extension. The kit is worth about $80 if you ever decided to sale it. It would cost you around $100 or more new from Brownells if you wanted to buy a new one.



GC
 
Thanks for all the feedback and good information. I feel that I now own a quality shotgun that should last me many, many years to come. I've shot over/unders, side by sides and semi auto shotguns (always someone elses) but I've never shot a pump action before so this is all new to me. I plan on taking it slow. Since my wife is 5 feet and 100 lbs I don't think she'll want to shoot anything but popcorn in it so I'll have to do some research to figure out what she could shoot and what I should shoot.

Thanks again!!

:)

I love this forum!! :D
 
1858,

Your wife will almost certainly like the 870 a lot better if you shorten the stock to fit her properly, install a premium recoil pad and replace the magazine extension with a plain old magazine cap (that will mean a shorter magazine spring too). My wife (university criminology professor, 60-something, 5'4" and 130 pounds) can handle a 12 gauge 870 just fine, but she likes a shorter stock (12.5" fits her), a full length forearm, and no extra weight out in front of the support hand.

Before you let your sweetie crank off rounds out of the boomer, make sure it fits her properly- that's the best advice I can give you. Keep in mind that it's easier to shoot a too-short stock than a too-long one. I use the same 'house guns' (there are 3 870s outside the safe here) that fit my wife- and I'm 6'3" and wear a 37" sleeve. Remember to put your shooting hand thumb over on the knuckle of your trigger finger when shooting a short stocked shotgun, and that'll keep your thumb from busting your beezer on recoil.

Stay Safe,

lpl/nc
 
Funny how 870's tend to follow people home. They tend to stalk me I think..........:D.

Great gun. Pick up some shells and head to the range with a patterning board to find out what it likes.

I've had best luck with Remington Managed Recoil 00 loads and Fed LE Flite Control loads. Each barrel is different though.
 
1858:

Don't feel bad about the price you paid. You got a good'n
and the store made a profit. They're happy and you're happy. Everybody's happy. You got what you wanted. If I had been there, I'd have bought it too!

Congratulations!;)
 
You still got a cost per use of a tiny fraction of a cent.

Working life of an 870 runs to 250,000 rounds or more.

Use light loads and as Lee said, set it up for the smallest person who may need to use it.

Enjoy....
 
Your wife will almost certainly like the 870 a lot better if you shorten the stock to fit her properly, install a premium recoil pad and replace the magazine extension with a plain old magazine cap (that will mean a shorter magazine spring too).
Click to expand...

Lee, then she's gonna have to buy her own!! ;) This shotgun is primarily meant for me so there'll be no short stock, recoil pad or surgery on the magazine tube. I'm still trying to understand your tip about putting your thumb over your trigger finger knuckle ... :scrutiny:

Thanks guys for your wisdom and encouragement. I feel good about this shotgun and look forward to shooting it.

:)
 
I'm still trying to understand your tip about putting your thumb over your trigger finger knuckle
Click to expand...

What Lee is saying is when shooting shotgun with a shorter stock or shorter LOP that is to short for you. The hand that you grip the stock with will be close to your face. If it is too close your thumb will hit you in the beak (nose). If you use Lee's tip by putting your thumb on the other side of the stock you won't get a knock in the beak.

That is why some like a pistol grip stock. One of the benefits of having a adj pistol grip stock on a tactical shotgun is you can have a much shorter LOP and not have to worry about your hand hitting you in the face because your hand will down on the pistol grip.


GC
 
Last edited:
"I don't know much about shotguns so I'm curious if I did good?"

Lets see, you just bought the hands down most popular and mass produced shotgun in history.

Ya, you did fine. (I own two, both over 30 years old)
 
Have the same gun.

Traded out the plastic follower with an aluminium plug---then bought the factory youth stock (13" lop).

Its a sweet handling little gun now.
 
You are not going to find a new Express HD model like the one you bought for under about $320.
Click to expand...

Actually, I picked my new one up (18"bbl 2+ ext., HD version) for only $300 @ Sportsmans Warehouse
 
Actually, I picked my new one up (18"bbl 2+ ext., HD version) for only $300 @ Sportsmans Warehouse
Click to expand...

They buy them in large numbers and get price discounts. It is hard to compete with the big chain stores. They also run sales on the older 870 shotguns and the ones they are over stocked on. Does yours have the new longer fore end, model #25077. If not it is last years model.

1858 was saying that if he bought it over the net for a cheaper price he would have paid about the same as he paid local because there are other cost that go with internet purchases. There is a Shipping cost and a transfer fee. Not to mention a wait for it to arrive.

I think he did pretty well and he supported his local Gun Shop without being robbed.


GC
 
Mine is a solid aluminium factory plug---not sure if they are offering them anymore.

The advantage of the aluminium is the factory plastic follower has been known to crack and tie things up.

Probably not that big of an issue--just an added measure of confidence for a defensive gun.

Wilson sells solid nylon followers that seem pretty sturdy too.
 
I think he did pretty well and he supported his local Gun Shop without being robbed.
Click to expand...

That same gunshop gave me a discount this morning on the 7% fee they usually charge for firearm transfers. I ordered a Winchester '97 shotgun from Collectors Firearms in Texas.

:)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
New Design on 870?
Replies
3
Views
508
556A2
5
B
  • Locked
Went in to buy an 870 express - couldn't believe it ...
2
Replies
30
Views
6K
Oceans
O
F
  • Locked
Used Remington 870 receiver question
Replies
6
Views
739
dfariswheel
D
3
  • Locked
870 Reputation
2
Replies
28
Views
2K
357wheelgunner
3
V
  • Locked
870 Tactical 2 w Knoxx VS. 870 Express Tactical?
Replies
1
Views
534
Rshooter
Rshooter
Back
Top