Life is full of questions. Is the .223 ethical for deer hunting? Does pineapple belong on pizza? Which is better, the Remington 870 or the Mossberg 500? While ultimately matters of preference, today we examine the Remington 870 to help clarify which shotgun is best for which users.
History
The Remington 870 is an incredibly influential design in the history of shotguns and to a lesser extent firearms manufacture. For years Remington had manufactured shotguns based upon John Browning’s 1915 design of the Model 17. The shotguns worked well, but were overshadowed by the Winchester Model 12.
The Model 12 was a work of art and made using expensive but high quality forged and machined parts. Remington realized that if they could design a cheaply manufactured shotgun that worked, they could undercut the Winchesters prices and take over the Market. They would subsequently use this strategy again with their bolt action hunting rifle the Model 700.
In 1950 a team of engineers at Remington designed the Model 870 Wingmaster which enjoyed immediate success. The 870 became the fastest selling shotgun in the world, eventually causing Winchester to discontinue the Model 12 in 1964. In 1987 Remington released the popular “Express” line, which is a budget version of the venerable 870.
Specifications
The Model 870 is a pump action shotgun. The standard configuration has a 28 inch barrel chambered for 3 inch shells and weighs 7lbs. The Wingmaster line has more of a classic look with wood stocks and blued steel whereas the Express line has a matte black parkerized finish. The barrels come standard with removable chokes, which makes the shotguns more flexible than the fixed choke shotguns of yesteryear.
The safety is a standard cross bolt configuration at the rear of the trigger guard and works as it should. It is a little harder to see what condition the safety is in than with a tang mounted safety. However, an experienced user of the model will know if the safety is engaged by feeling with their trigger finger.
The action release is located at the front of the trigger guard, and requires relinquishing a proper firing grip to depress. The receiver is made of solid steel and the standard capacity magazine will hold four shells. The bolt has a single extractor with an ejector riveted into the side of the receiver.
Strengths
An incredibly durable design, the 870 can take a beating and keep on coming. They will reliably run even when left without maintenance in all types of conditions. Further evidence of this is law enforcements consistent selection of the 870 as a patrol shotgun. Unlike a semi-automatic, the pump action will reliably cycle everything from slugs to birdshot, including bear bangers and flares.
Next, unlike the Mossberg 500 the barrel attachment system on the 870 allows the addition of a mag tube extension. That gives 870’s owners the ability to increase the capacity of their shotguns if they so choose. There’s also a thriving aftermarket of stocks, side-saddles, and other accessories for the popular shotgun.
Another benefit of the 870 is the ability to unload the tube without chambering a shell. In many pump shotgun designs, in order to empty the magazine the user needs to run the action until all the shells have cycled through. The 870 user can push down on the shell retainer on the inside of the receiver to release shells out of the tube underneath the bolt one at a time. This allows a shotgun with an empty chamber to be unloaded without ever chambering a round.
Finally, the 870 has an endearing quality that is a bit harder to quantify. The solid steel receiver balances well, and the action becomes slicker the longer it is used. The action of an 870 Wingmaster that has seen thousands of shells is very smooth and intuitive. There’s something intangible that makes the shotgun a pleasure to shoot.
Weaknesses
However it’s not as simple as going to the store and picking up a new Remington. In 2007 the Freedom Group purchased Remington and all of its assets. Since then their quality control has declined, particularly in their Express line of shotguns. Recently Remington declared bankruptcy. As a result of the bankruptcy many companies bought parts of Remington. Consumers will have to wait and see if their quality control returns to its historic standards.
One of the common issues with the newer 870’s is a poor quality finish which is prone to rusting. This is avoided by oiling the gun every time it is taken out or applying a new finish altogether. However, many shotgun owners don’t want an obligatory cleaning regiment every time they take to the field.
Another common issue that the author has experienced is the MIM ejector breaking. Because of the riveted ejector, this is difficult to repair. This requires expertise beyond that of a layman or a trip to a gunsmith to repair. This happened on a Remington 870 Express that the author was shooting with.
Finally, the ergonomics of the 870 are not intuitive. The action release at the front of the trigger guard is not accessible from a shooting grip. It is much more natural to actuate action releases placed at the rear of the trigger guard instead. Also, the shell lifter rests in the down position on a closed action. This makes loading the shotgun with gloves more difficult because the fingertips of the gloves can get caught between the lifter and the receiver.
Competition
A variety of different companies manufacture pump shotguns. Everything from cheap Turkish or Stevens shotguns up to Benelli’s Supernova are available. In the mid range of the market there are offerings from Weatherby, Winchester, Browning, and Benelli. The classic competitor however is the Mossberg 500.
The 870 and the 500 have different strengths. The ergonomics and ease of maintenance are better on the 500. On the other hand the slickness of the action and the overall balance of the shotgun favours the Remington. Of late, the quality control tends to lean towards the Mossberg, but because of the popularity of the design there are thousands of 870’s available on the used market.
Closing Thoughts
The 870 provides a tried and tested pump shotgun that can take a beating and keep ticking. The gun handles well with a quality action that grows better with use. The Model 870 is a fitting choice for all shotgun applications short of serious competition clay shooting sports. Quality control issues make it pertinent to buy an 870 from before 2007 or spend the extra money and purchase a Wingmaster model.
Despite the issues that have plagued Remington manufactured products recently, the 870 shotguns are still an excellent design. Taking care to select an appropriate vintage or model, the 870 is still a quality firearm that will provide years of service.