which 870 is better

[aftahour]

hey all, my question is that im looking to get a 870 but i read on some reviews that there are some problems with the new 870 than the older ones. have any owner chime in on or if any problems you had with the 870.. my local shop is trying to find me a 870 combo.. this will be a multi purpose gun hd/clay/hunting.

[Subotai]

I think they're referring to the Express models. If you get a Wingmaster or Police model they should be better weapons. I don't know anything about 870 combos. Sorry.

[cgates]

the police and wingmaster models I have handled have had a smoother action, especailly the older ones. I just got a new express, and it is indeed stiff. That stiffness works its self out after shooting it some....prob explains why the older used ones are pretty smooth I would not hesitate to get the express model unless you can find a sweet deal on something else. I would not worry about getting a combo.....extra barrels are easy to come by

[aippi]

There are no issues with the new ones that would affect you. The only issue that gets attention on these blogs was the 18.5" barrels and guys shooting them without cleaning them and using cheap tartget loads. The new ones are the exact same as the old ones, same parts, same machines building those parts and nothing has changed except some cosmtic changes.

There is no way one model is smoother then another as they all have the exact same parts that are involved in the action. The other ones seem smoother to some people because they were shooting older weapons that had been broken in with a lot of rounds down range. That is all.

Every 870 has the exact same parts inside except for a small spring and a small metal extractor. There is only one 870 and they only differ by finish and furniture. So that Express Combo is no different internally then the high end Wingmaster. So get that combo and have a blast (pun intended).

[BigDogatPlay]

^^^ This ^^^

Like virtually any brand new gun, any 870 regardless of Wingmaster, Express, Police or Special Purpose, is going to perform better with a bit of cleaning and a break in of a couple of hundred rounds.

FWIW I had my hands on a first year of production Wingmaster last night, and I may just buy it even though I don't really need it. Other than an old style corncob fore end, chromed bolt and chromed carrier it was the exact same gun as a brand new 870 that was elsewhere in the store. The action on that old horse was butter smooth and practically fell open.... indicative to me of a solid design that's been worn in over a lifetime of solid service in duck blinds and clay fields.

[Shrubmaster]

I thought all this mumbo jumbo about newer 870's not being made to the same specs was absolute crap. Last Friday, I took a friend out to play with this new 870, spent a few hours cleaning and lubing the gun prior to shooting it. Its first range trip and had metal parts break off in the reciever, renduring it a paper weight. We'll see what remington says....

The proof is in the pudding.

[WmWhitfield]

I thought all this mumbo jumbo about newer 870's not being made to the same specs was absolute crap. Last Friday, I took a friend out to play with this new 870, spent a few hours cleaning and lubing the gun prior to shooting it. Its first range trip and had metal parts break off in the reciever, renduring it a paper weight. We'll see what remington says....

The proof is in the pudding.

What parts broke off and just what did your cleaning consist of doing? Please tell us what Remington says.

[hcbr]

I like the wingmaster and police too, would of bought either one of those if I had to do it all over again.

[aippi]

The only part that could have broker off inside the receiver would be the tip of the ejector housing and it should go back to Remington for repair.

There is not a manufacturer out there or model of firearm that does not have an occassional issue like this. An agressive cleaning regiment could also have damaged something if the parties doing this did not know the weapon nor bother to read the owners manual. These issues get posted on gun blogs. The other Millions of 870 owners who did not have the tip of the ejector housing break off did not post that fact on a gun blog.

[akjunkie]

I got 2 express models.

The 18.5 HD shotgun has been flawless since day one.
The 28 (trap gun) had a Rough Chamber / FTE. (on multiple occassions)

Also wished my Express models had an all Metal Trigger assy like the Older Wingmasters or Police models.

Older 870s got a nice Blue finish, newer Express got that Matte finish that is prone to Rusting.

Yeh, there ARE some minor differences. NOT all same parts.

[drpepper]

yes i have an older 10 years 870 express that is smooth. i recently bought a tactical 870 express and took it to the range for the first time. had some trouble cycling the action and ejecting the shell. although i was shooting remington bird shot. i will clean and lubricate well and shoot it some more and see if that helps.
just another reaffirmation to shoot the guns i buy. i have way too many safe queens that i have no idea how they would perform in the field if needed.

[aftahour]

thanks for all the info guys.. im looking at a older model 870 wingmaster.

[akjunkie]

thanks for all the info guys.. im looking at a older model 870 wingmaster.

+1!! Be patient, shop around. Old WM are abundant.

[aftahour]

going to my local gun shop now and might have a new toy!!

[TheExpertish]

Do it!