I'm trying to reccomend a 870 to a friend and I've heard that the new ones aren't any good. This can't be right? I've shot 870's most of my life. Please give your two cents.

Kelly

I just fixed my 12 year old pump 870, works like achamp now.
I am ready for these sept geese kelly....

I have shot the new 870 and have had a few clients that have used them.. I would not buy one. They are cheaply made and do not compare tho the old 870's. my $.02

The old is nothing like the new. Our old 870 shoots like a dream.
We thought enough of the gun to send it to Brily and have it fitted with custom chokes.
The newer 870 will rust if you just look at it. My son just made a tactical shotgun out of it. It will never see a field again. If it wasn't his first gun it would be long gone.

I'm not sure what qualifies as "new", but I've got one that probably 5 and I've had no troubles. I had a little surface rust, and ended up painting it.

I agree with the old being better than the new..my newest 870 is from 2002 I think, and although it's a WINGMASTER and shoots good, it's def not near as smoooth as the older ones.

Wife bought me one 2 years ago for Christmas, couldnt believe how poorly it is made compared to the old 870's.
Doesnt like to feed shells at all.

I bought a new one last winter. Its not as nice as an old wingmaster 870 but still very nice.

If you are comparing the Express to the Wingmaster, no they are not close. However, I have an express as a back-up gun and had no issues with it. THe finish on the express is crappy, but a little surface pitting doesn't bother me.

Got a brand new one last year, nothing like the old ones...... gave it away to a relative, will never buy another one.

very cheaply made they jam shells like no other my buddy shoots one and it jams very often 4 or 5 times a hunt also it will kick out two shells at once dropping a unspent shell into the water his back up 870 express mag does the same......my dont buy

Kelly,
My brother has a 7 year old Wingmaster that has hardly been used. He is wanting to get an o/u for dove and looking to part with it. Let me know if your friend is interested. I doubt 100 rounds have been through it.

I'd be hard pressed to buy any model Remington these days.

i agree they all seem to be not up to snuff

I can't hit the broadside of a barn with my old 870 or any 870 I have ever used. Just isn't for me. Feels like I am shooting a brick.

Poorly made guns now. Used to be great. I wouldn't dare recommend a Remington to anybody these days. Hate saying that cause they used to be fantastic.

Corey is a Beretta man.

I have heard this a lot on here but I guess the question then is if not a "new" 870 then what? Buying new, similar cost and good quality of course.

I was going to buy a new one, read all the negative reviews and started hitting pawn shops instead. Found a 80's model magnum real clean and picked it up for $150. An 870 is just one of those guns you gotta have in your arsenal IMO, but older is better apparently.

Simple.....Browning BPS. Been going strong for quite sometime now and you can get them in camo if desired and 3 1/2in magnums if you want. Plenty of models to choose from and will never fail you.

Here we go with this crap

as far as a pump goes i like an nova thats just my

Kelly ...

It's true that the 870 Express is of much lesser quality than the 870 Wingmaster. Many parts are plastic or inexpensive steel stampings as opposed to machined hand fit components. However, if taken care of within reason, the Express should function fine and give years of dependable service. Most of them DO NEED to be kept clean, especially around and just ahead of the chamber where they will tend to jam a fired hull.

I have a 12 ga 2-3/4" chambered Wingmaster with a 28" VR trap barrel and 26" VR skeet barrel for sale for $450. Gun is 95%+

Also have a pair of 12 ga 870SPSs that are 8 years old and in exc condition. 3" chamber, 26" VR barrel, swivel magazine tube cap with sling $400 ea, $750 for the pair.

BORROW one or more, have your friend try them, and buy which ever works best for them.

Well I guess the new 870 express is crap, I never thought I would ever say that about a gun that was my favorite for years. Last year a client let me shoot his nova with 3 1/2in blackcloud and I have never been kicked so hard in my life! And have shot 10 gauge side by side and it wasn't close to the kick of that nova, but I have heard good reports on the reliability of the nova. Thanks for all the input.


Kelly

Go Supernova if you get a Benelli pump. I let everyone in our group shoot mine then handed them their guns and let them shoot theirs. It was obvious to all that shot that the felt recoil was less. The regular nova's just don't have the absorbtion in the stock that the supers do.

Other guns compared were Remington and Winchester pump models with no mods. Shell was 3" max bar.

My first bird gun was a 1976 Remington 870 20g... I was more than a little disappointed when I went in last year to get a 12. Went with Benelli after shirking the syn stocks for years. No regrets.

On the over hand, my brother shoots a Maverick 88 that was given to him. They are super cheap and light. No issues with the 88 after 1000 rounds... knock on wood.

An 870 will do the trick, if the INITIAL quality is good. Getting that can be tough, bent barrels out of the box have even been an issue.