Remungton Shotguns

[WINGEDSWORD]

I hear people singing the praises of the Benellis and Berettas and I have no argument with them, use what you like. But I like Remingtons. I've had an 870 for over 40 years with never an issue. I've had an 1100 and I have an 1187.
They may not be as flashy or "Cool" as the more exotic guns but they have all done the job foe me.
The only problem I've ever had was my own fault. Firing too many rounds of 3 inch magnum slugs. Proper hold and all that but my shoulder wasn't happy with me for a day or so.

[Varg Vikernes]

The older guns are fine, but it seems like the newer Remingtons have definitely taken a dip in quality.

[tmh1]

Remington definitely makes some great shotguns - it is just that they chose to locate the safety on the wrong end of the triggerguard. Personal preference for me is to have the safety where my trigger finger naturally rests - hence the reason I don't have any Remington shotguns.

[XVIga_Rob]

I like Rem's as well. I've owned others, and currently own 3 870's. Never had a problem with any of them. I have paired things down and settled on models with screw in chokes (mostly).
As for the safety, nothing wrong with where it's located. Personally, I learned to disengage the safety as I begin to raise the gun. If I wait until I have the gun fully mounted, I've missed my shot!

[NapalmCheese]

Remington's QC has gone downhill in the last few years. That coupled with a need to compete with an ever growing value based shotgun market has watered down the 870 name.

Your 40 year old Wingmaster is a wonderful shotgun. It's solid, well built, well finished, and at the time wasn't competing for rack space with the low end, value based, pump shotguns of the day. I don't know how much you paid in 1974 dollars, but it was probably comparable with the cost of today's Wingmaster and Ithaca 37's ($800 - $1000 dollars). Today's $900 dollar shotgun is 1974's $190 dollar shotgun (http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc....014&year2=1974).

EDIT:
Just found a catalog page from 1974 listing the plain barrel 870 at a retail price of around $150. In today's dollars that's about $750 bucks, making it nearly the price of a modern Wingmaster and $150 dollars or so cheaper than a modern Ithaca 37. It is comparable to the Benelli Super Nova which is arguably far more feature rich than a plain barrel 870.

http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=150&year1=1974&year2=2014

http://mobile.outdoorhistory.com/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/14315/Large/BFW0016931P4.jpg?sequence=4

-- end EDIT

With the introduction of the Express line Remington started trying to compete in the low end value based shotgun market. In order to do so they've cut out some steps in manufacturing, changed some materials, and in general let their QC slip (or just made their QC tolerances more accepting). This produces a shotgun that can be sold at Big 5 for $300 dollars but carries the name '870'. You could compare the modern 870 Express with the value based shotguns of the mid 70's (Western Field and J.C. Higgins?) but I would say that overall the Montgomery Ward and Sears shotguns are still of better quality than today's 870 Express.

IMO the Benelli Nova has taken the spot of the 'field grade' 870 when it comes to a solid, well built, well enough finished shotgun that doesn't break the bank. The Nova is full of features, reliable, easy to clean and maintain, and only $300 or so dollars more than the bottom of the barrel value based pump shotguns of today.

Of course, I'd rather have an Ithaca 37 than all of the above.

[hermosabeach]

if you have your 870 sitting with the barrel up and you press the action release, gravity will run the slide all the way open....


With a newer 870, press the button and the slide might move 1/8"




Labor and polishing metal are not cheap... quality was adjusted to keep them priced competitively....

[John Joseph]

I've had two 870s----an old Wing Master from the 60's and a new Express of recent vintage. I got rid of the Express and lucked out finding the old Wing Master. The new Remingtons just aren't the same, but take your pick, they'll all go "boom"
Arguably, I think that the only "Golden Age" pump action shotguns made today that will handle steel shot for us Californians are the Wing Master and Ithaca 37, while the Mossberg 500 and Remington 870, while certainly credible, are nothing to get excited about (of course they are a lot more affordable!)

[keep_ur_powder_dry]

Wingmaster 870 = The Producer

gb

[golfish]

I have an 1100 and an 870 that I bought from my neighbor 12 years ago. These were never fired guns from the 80's. I didn't shoot them until a few years ago. I've put a few hundred rounds though each with out a problem. The 870 wingmaster has some of the best wood on it I have ever seen on a shotgun. The 1100 is good but not close to the 870

Azusa PD has had my grandfathers 1148 20ga in their property room for a few years. I shot that gun for 10 years and never had a problem with it other then it being a goose gun and I couldn't hit a Cadillac with it to save my life. I swear that thing was 5 feet long ...

[b.thomas]

Like you I've had a Wingmaster for about forty some years, also a 1187 skeet model for about twenty-five. Both have have been first class shotguns!

[mossy]

Older Remingtons are great. I shot a older 870 once it was super smooth. But the new Remington has QC issues.they are not the Remington they were in the old days.

[aippi]

Sorry guys. There 870 of today is made on with the exact same parts on many of the same machines. A few minor exceptions to part material have not affect the function or quality in any way. As for machining, many have been upgraded to robotic, which are more precise. The reason that old 870 is so smooth is round count.

I would challenge any of you to tell us what part or manufacturing process has changed that would affect the function of an 870 from forty years ago to today. And please give part numbers or proper part name.

It is time for people on these forums to have to start proving these negative claims against a Manufacturer. Since so many of you are giving input like you have this knowledge, please share it with us. You can't just make a statement as a fact unless you can back it up with facts.

[idntwn2]

Bought an 1100 Classic Trap last year. It is a work of art. My 870 keeps the dove, duck and quail in the freezer.

Remington Shotguns are dandy

[DArBad]

I've always been a fan of Remington shotguns, though in all honesty I've never owned one. I've handled plenty that were owned by friends and relatives. They all seem to be high quality pieces.

I've read several negative feedbacks on the internet, BUT on those actual pieces I've seen and actually examined, they are just fine. Of course, you can't compare the finish of the cheaper Remingtons to something expensive like the Benellis, whose price is double even quadruple that of the Express line. Now, the Wingmaster's finish can hold its own againts some of the ubber-expensive shotguns that are available today.

Me, I can only afford a cheap Mossberg 590A1.... the sucker is really heavy-duty industrial grade shotgun, built like a Mack truck or a Peterbilt, it is a WEAPON, not a designer's apparel. I would like to be able to buy a nice & pretty Wingmaster someday.

Post #12 above by " aippi ", I think is the most lucid and fair of all.

[MeatyMac]

Sorry guys. There 870 of today is made on with the exact same parts on many of the same machines. A few minor exceptions to part material have not affect the function or quality in any way. As for machining, many have been upgraded to robotic, which are more precise. The reason that old 870 is so smooth is round count.

I would challenge any of you to tell us what part or manufacturing process has changed that would affect the function of an 870 from forty years ago to today. And please give part numbers or proper part name.

It is time for people on these forums to have to start proving these negative claims against a Manufacturer. Since so many of you are giving input like you have this knowledge, please share it with us. You can't just make a statement as a fact unless you can back it up with facts.

The 870 aside because I'll agree with your assessment of the current production 870, my only rib on today's 870 is that the fit and finish isn't like what they used to be before Freedom Group; but I don't buy new hunting pump shotguns any longer, but I do still look and touch...

I've talked recently at length with two well seasoned gunsmiths in Northern California, one who works out of a gun shop in Colusa right in the middle of the Butte Sink flyway and the other's in Truckee and he does all the gunsmith work for Cabela's in Boomtown, about the VersaMax shotgun verses the Winchester SX3, the Beretta A400 and the new Browning A5, all gas guns, and both smiths told me to stay away from the VersaMax because they see a lot of them in for repair work. If you want those smith's names shoot me a PM, but if you want their honest opinion about modern gas operated shotguns plan on asking them in person because they're both old timers and talk pretty short on the phone.

EDIT: I currently own a VersaMax Sportsman, a Winchester SX3 and a Beretta A400 Xtreme, I haven't had problems with any of them and I've hunted with all of them, I have to say for the money, the Winchester SX3 is the best value, but the Beretta is the best gun, at least in my opinion. Here's the threesome,