Remington 870 models

crawdad185 · October 29, 2008, 05:06 AM

Hi folks. I am looking at purchasing a shotgun off of one of the internet auction sites and am a little confused about the Remington models. I am looking at a model 870 Express, but I'm not sure if it is a magnum model. Are all of the Remington Express models magnums or is there a different Express Magnum model? Thanks for clearing this up for me.

jmr40 · October 29, 2008, 05:32 AM

All 870 Express shotguns will shoot both 2 3/4" shells as well as 3" magnums. They make, or at least used to make an Express Supermagnum that shoots 2 3/4", 3" as well as the 3 1/2" shells.

Scattergun Bob · October 29, 2008, 10:19 AM

I think that correctly ALL 870 Express receivers are 3" compatible, however a 2 3/4" barrel could be placed on this receiver! BigJim's advice is good here, IT IS THE INTERNET and you get what you get!

Good Luck & Be Safe

hogdogs · October 29, 2008, 10:35 AM

I know in my circle of shootin' folks we do not consider nor address a 3 inch shell as a magnum. we will say there are 2 3/4, 3 inch and 3 1/2inch magnums.
So if this is what you mean in the original post Than I think you have to know what remington calls the 3 1/2 inch capable gun model. I know with Mossberg the 500 series is NOT a magnum capable. You actually buy a different model... The 535 and 835 Ulti-mag are both 3 1/2 capable pump guns.
Brent

BigJimP · October 29, 2008, 10:59 AM

Since Scattergun Bob jumped in and defended me ... he's the 870 expert ... and on the 3" vs 3 1/2" chamber issues, I believe he's right as well.

For an entry level shotgun like an 870, or most any gun for that matter, you'll be way ahead to go to a local retailer - so you can look and touch all the different models. If you want to buy a used gun - there are lots of good guns out there - gun shows, shops that deal in used guns, etc. - and I can't tell you the last time I went to a gun show and didn't see at least a dozen good clean used 870's for sale ( they're everywhere ). Personally, I get a kick out of stopping by the shops that deal in a lot of used guns ....there are some great buys out there ....and sometimes the hunt is more fun than owning the gun. Everybody has budgets - but even saving $ 50 on a gun / over 10 years is only $ 5 a year ...and not all of the internet sites put your money in escrow .....and if you buy it and don't actually get the gun.....or it is not in the condition advertised, you are sometimes on your own. I have bought 3 shotguns off the internet over the last 5 years - 2 were because the model and gague I wanted was not available from dealers in Washington or Oregon for over 18 months / but in both cases, I used a licensed dealer in the midwest - called him on the phone, asked for updated photos, serial numbers, etc and they turned out great. The 3rd gun was a special engraved Browning BT-100 ( only 200 of them made by browning, wtih that engraving ) - and a guy I did not know, but we had bs'd over the internet a couple times - had purchased it in an estate sale. Again, 3 or 4 conversations on the phone, lots of photos ...and I was very pleased with the purchase. But the minute I sent that cashiers check off in the mail for about $5,000 - I knew there was a risk that I was being taken ..... and I was lucky it turned out great. Unfortunately, not all stories work out that way.

It's my opinion, balistically, a 3" chambered shotgun will do most anything a
3 1/2" chambered shotgun will do ( but it won't shoot 3 1/2" shells ) - and even for waterfowl, I think a 3" chambered gun is just fine. A gun chambered to fit 2 3/4" or 3" shells is often a little cheaper than a gun chambered in 3 1/2".

Scattergun Bob · October 29, 2008, 11:18 AM

No defense necessary for GOOD ADVICE Jim, hope you don't mind me quoting you.

My best to you, Bob

BigJimP · October 29, 2008, 12:19 PM

No problem.

crawdad185 · October 29, 2008, 07:30 PM

Thanks for the good advice folks. When I said Magnum I was actually meaning a 3" chamber. I've noticed that some of the Remingtons will have just Express on the side and some will have Express Magnum. I just wasn't sure if the models that just said Express would have the 3" chamber. Again, thanks for your help.

rem870hunter · October 30, 2008, 08:50 PM

if its a 12 gauge model there would be an M at the end of the serial number,as well it would have stamped on the side of the receiver REMINGTON 870 EXPRESS MAGNUM. the remington home website has a question and answer area. i believe someone asked the question awhile back and it was answered on there. it should still be available. they did make a 2 and 3/4" chambered wingmaster and an express model 12 ga. you can put a 3" magnum barrel on a 2 and 3/4" receiver. i would'nt suggest shooting 3" shells with it though.

crawdad185 · November 1, 2008, 03:56 PM

This gun says just "Remington 870 Express" on the side, doesn't say anything about magnum. However, the serial number ends in "M".

Scattergun Bob · November 1, 2008, 04:40 PM

Thats OK, it is a 3" receiver. Like a child you love who does stupid things, Remington is not maintaining "Standards" in marking there guns. You should see the mental exercises you go thru to get the year of manufacture for wingmasters produced in the past 20 years

Good Luck & Be Safe

October 29, 2008, 05:06 AM	#1
crawdad185 Member Join Date: October 29, 2008 Location: GA Posts: 32	Remington 870 models Hi folks. I am looking at purchasing a shotgun off of one of the internet auction sites and am a little confused about the Remington models. I am looking at a model 870 Express, but I'm not sure if it is a magnum model. Are all of the Remington Express models magnums or is there a different Express Magnum model? Thanks for clearing this up for me.

October 29, 2008, 10:19 AM	#3
Scattergun Bob Senior Member Join Date: February 29, 2008 Location: Nine Mile Falls, Washington Posts: 1,186	Hi crawdad185 I think that correctly ALL 870 Express receivers are 3" compatible, however a 2 3/4" barrel could be placed on this receiver! BigJim's advice is good here, IT IS THE INTERNET and you get what you get! Good Luck & Be Safe __________________ First, with the most, WINS! Regards, Scattergun Bob

October 29, 2008, 11:18 AM	#6
Scattergun Bob Senior Member Join Date: February 29, 2008 Location: Nine Mile Falls, Washington Posts: 1,186	BigJim No defense necessary for GOOD ADVICE Jim, hope you don't mind me quoting you. My best to you, Bob __________________ First, with the most, WINS! Regards, Scattergun Bob

October 30, 2008, 08:50 PM	#9
rem870hunter Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2007 Location: N.J. and trying to decide what state to move to. Posts: 973	if its a 12 gauge model there would be an M at the end of the serial number,as well it would have stamped on the side of the receiver REMINGTON 870 EXPRESS MAGNUM. the remington home website has a question and answer area. i believe someone asked the question awhile back and it was answered on there. it should still be available. they did make a 2 and 3/4" chambered wingmaster and an express model 12 ga. you can put a 3" magnum barrel on a 2 and 3/4" receiver. i would'nt suggest shooting 3" shells with it though. __________________ BEAR Bows,Remington shotguns,Marlin rifles

November 1, 2008, 04:40 PM	#11
Scattergun Bob Senior Member Join Date: February 29, 2008 Location: Nine Mile Falls, Washington Posts: 1,186	crawdad185 Thats OK, it is a 3" receiver. Like a child you love who does stupid things, Remington is not maintaining "Standards" in marking there guns. You should see the mental exercises you go thru to get the year of manufacture for wingmasters produced in the past 20 years Good Luck & Be Safe __________________ First, with the most, WINS! Regards, Scattergun Bob

October 29, 2008, 05:32 AM	#2
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,809	All 870 Express shotguns will shoot both 2 3/4" shells as well as 3" magnums. They make, or at least used to make an Express Supermagnum that shoots 2 3/4", 3" as well as the 3 1/2" shells.

October 29, 2008, 10:35 AM	#4
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	I know in my circle of shootin' folks we do not consider nor address a 3 inch shell as a magnum. we will say there are 2 3/4, 3 inch and 3 1/2inch magnums. So if this is what you mean in the original post Than I think you have to know what remington calls the 3 1/2 inch capable gun model. I know with Mossberg the 500 series is NOT a magnum capable. You actually buy a different model... The 535 and 835 Ulti-mag are both 3 1/2 capable pump guns. Brent

October 29, 2008, 10:59 AM	#5
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Since Scattergun Bob jumped in and defended me ... he's the 870 expert ... and on the 3" vs 3 1/2" chamber issues, I believe he's right as well. For an entry level shotgun like an 870, or most any gun for that matter, you'll be way ahead to go to a local retailer - so you can look and touch all the different models. If you want to buy a used gun - there are lots of good guns out there - gun shows, shops that deal in used guns, etc. - and I can't tell you the last time I went to a gun show and didn't see at least a dozen good clean used 870's for sale ( they're everywhere ). Personally, I get a kick out of stopping by the shops that deal in a lot of used guns ....there are some great buys out there ....and sometimes the hunt is more fun than owning the gun. Everybody has budgets - but even saving $ 50 on a gun / over 10 years is only $ 5 a year ...and not all of the internet sites put your money in escrow .....and if you buy it and don't actually get the gun.....or it is not in the condition advertised, you are sometimes on your own. I have bought 3 shotguns off the internet over the last 5 years - 2 were because the model and gague I wanted was not available from dealers in Washington or Oregon for over 18 months / but in both cases, I used a licensed dealer in the midwest - called him on the phone, asked for updated photos, serial numbers, etc and they turned out great. The 3rd gun was a special engraved Browning BT-100 ( only 200 of them made by browning, wtih that engraving ) - and a guy I did not know, but we had bs'd over the internet a couple times - had purchased it in an estate sale. Again, 3 or 4 conversations on the phone, lots of photos ...and I was very pleased with the purchase. But the minute I sent that cashiers check off in the mail for about $5,000 - I knew there was a risk that I was being taken ..... and I was lucky it turned out great. Unfortunately, not all stories work out that way. It's my opinion, balistically, a 3" chambered shotgun will do most anything a 3 1/2" chambered shotgun will do ( but it won't shoot 3 1/2" shells ) - and even for waterfowl, I think a 3" chambered gun is just fine. A gun chambered to fit 2 3/4" or 3" shells is often a little cheaper than a gun chambered in 3 1/2".

October 29, 2008, 12:19 PM	#7
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	No problem.

October 29, 2008, 07:30 PM	#8
crawdad185 Member Join Date: October 29, 2008 Location: GA Posts: 32	Thanks for the good advice folks. When I said Magnum I was actually meaning a 3" chamber. I've noticed that some of the Remingtons will have just Express on the side and some will have Express Magnum. I just wasn't sure if the models that just said Express would have the 3" chamber. Again, thanks for your help.

November 1, 2008, 03:56 PM	#10
crawdad185 Member Join Date: October 29, 2008 Location: GA Posts: 32	This gun says just "Remington 870 Express" on the side, doesn't say anything about magnum. However, the serial number ends in "M".