Which is better? Old 870s or new 870s?

[larkja]

Looking at picking up a Remington 870. Have slowly been collecting older, C&R firearms and would love to pick up an 870. Sometimes I have learned the older firearms are better, but sometimes the newer ones, due to design changes and enhancements, are better.

So, what say you CGers? Older C&R 870 or new one?

Thanks

[Tere_Hanges]

Got my 870 express around 2012, so I think its a "new" one. No issues whatsover.

[ceh383]

The older ones are better. Just more attention to detail and better fit and finish on all the parts.

[9Cal_OC]

The older ones are better. Just more attention to detail and better fit and finish on all the parts.

[jyo]

Older 870 WingMasters are DEFINITELY better---smoother---better finish---better fit---altogether better guns! The 870 Express models are known to require attention before they function reliably...

[edgerly779]

My express needed to be tweaked my old 870 just been humming along for 35 years.

[elSquid]

[NoHeavyHitter]

I've got one of the newer 870's and can only say that it is the "most prone to rust" gun that I own. It works fine and has never had any other issue.

[pennstater]

The older ones are better. Just more attention to detail and better fit and finish on all the parts.

Agree with this^^^! I have an older one in 20ga built on a 12 ga frame and no vent rib. The quality of the build is far better than the recent ones I've seen.

MLC

[Dnele928]

What is “older”?

And...

What is “newer”?

[Enzo rules]

I have a 870 Express which I bought for desert bird hunting. It gets the job done and I have never had any issues with it. As mentioned above the older 870’s are smoother.

[larkja]

Older = C&R or more than 50 years old
Newer = Newer than 50 years old

[RayPDA]

I’ve got examples from:
70s(wm)
80s (wm)
early 90s: (tc)
Late 90s (express)
Late 2010s (express)

The one I’ve had the most issues with, but have owned the longest, is the late 90s express. A decent amount of old surface rust from the years it stayed in a soft case. I also broke the threads on the action bar (literally sheared the thread off of the bar).

I’ve seen some rusty express versions, and express versions that absolutely do not like certain brands (Winchester super targets for example)…but outside of short shucking a wingmaster I’ve had no issues with them.

Favorite: my TC but that’s because I’ve used it the most and it’s gotten me some good doubles trap scores.

I’ve handled the newly made express; and the finish seems to be much better than the express of old.

Might get one to have it, but nonetheless I’d rather buy an old TB or another Wingmaster.

Need me a 16, 28 and a 410 version, plus the All American Trap, an upland special, a TB and an older TC…

https://www.remingtonsociety.org/collecting-870-shotguns/

[BOBGBA]

Older = C&R or more than 50 years old
Newer = Newer than 50 years old

There are many 870s that are less than 50 years old that will serve you well.

Stay away from the express models and you should be fine. Some express models have a rougher exterior finish (no polishing at all) and if taken to the wrong duck hunting environment (think Salton Sea) they can rust by the time you get home. I've seen it. Here's an interesting read https://tacticalgunslings.com/about-remington-barrels/

Lot's of folks say the express model contains parts that aren't as well finished (think deburred) as Wingmasters, but I've never done a comparison.

IMHO, if it says Wingmaster on it you should be fine, regardless of when it was made.

Send a PM to aippi (here on Calguns), he's a Factory Certified Remington Law Enforcement Armorer and used to build custom 870s before Remington went belly up. You may want to tell him how and where you intend to use it.
Here's his website https://tacticalgunslings.com/

[norcal77]

Older for sure, only 870’s I’ll buy are wingmasters, I have two from the 70’s and when compared to the newer stuff I can tell the same level of quality isn’t there.

Only other type of 870 I’d consider is a police model, those are always held to higher standard. I’d compare those to the wingmasters.