870 Express Magnum (used): experience/feedback?

[357manny]

Hi folks,
I wasn't planning to have a shotgun as part of my HD system, was happy with a 9mm, 45acp, and an AR-15. But now, after reading up on this thread http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s....php?t=1174080, AIP tactical's website, and a bunch of other googled sites, I'm thinking I'm ready to add a nice 870.

In the spirit of trying to find the right shotgun, I went to my LGS, and saw they had a used, good looking, no major dings/little wear, 870 Express Magnum with an 18.5" barrel.
Does anyone know if the 870 Express Magnum is a decent gun? I tried finding more info on it, and it looks like the original owner changed the barrel out from the original 28"? Wondering if $339 is a good/fair price?
Thanks for the feedback in advance!

[200Apples]

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$339 can often buy you a delicious, little-used, previously-owned quality 870 Wingmaster with nice wood.

Or, have a look at the shotgun featured in the photograph in the first post in this thread:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1173401

So... I'd pass on the one you're looking at and hold out for either the used Wingmaster or perhaps better yet (for a solid defensive shotgun), the latest example that aippi is posting about in the link above.

[357manny]

^^ Yeah I read that thread from aippi as well. I haven't seen that shotgun available anywhere near me (looking online). I saw that OCFirearms has it on their website, but it's not in stock.

The LGS I mentioned above is Martin B. Redding--they have a bunch of used and new shotguns there, but for my budget (<400) that one stuck out.

Thanks for the tip, 200Apples, I'll keep on looking.

[BOBGBA]

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$339 can often buy you a delicious, little-used, previously-owned quality 870 Wingmaster with nice wood.

That's not my experience. Maybe 5-10 years ago.
Beaters with fixed chokes are $400 in LGS.
If you find one that's not local, shipping & transfer fees quickly raise the price considerably.

[200Apples]

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On second thought, Bob, you're right: 5 years ago I found an excellent Wingmaster at M.B. Retting for 340. It had a 28" bead-sight fixed-choke barrel on it. I forget the choke (but I still have that barrel). The gun now wears a blued 18.5" bead-sight cyl. bore barrel. My second Wingmaster was also purchased there, but wore a 26" Skeet barrel and was priced at $450. I purchase everything through M.B.R. Great store.

That $339 might be a going rate for some out-of-state, small-town shops, though. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

[BOBGBA]

I'm a big fan of Wingmasters and not really a fan of the Express.
If it were me, I wouldn't pay over $275 for a really good condition Express that had at least one Rem-Choke.

If you happen to be in the right place at the right time, you might find a nice Wingmaster for $339 with a fixed choke barrel. But, it would be like the blind squirrel finding an acorn.....

However, I really prefer the flexibility of removable choke tubes and wouldn't buy one with a fixed choke barrel, but that's just me.

Never been to Retting, maybe some day.