remington 870

[turkeyfeather]

I have an express magnum and a wingmaster. They both function flawlessly but the wingmaster is alot smoother (operation) and feels nicer in the hands. I actually almost prefer it to my $1000 SX3.

[Bullkllr]

ten million sold!!!!! best pump gun built, my 2!!    There is a huge difference between the Express and Wingmaster. The wingmaster being FAR superior.
Carl

  I have a Wingmaster I bought about 35 years ago. I can't even imagine the thousands of rounds put through that thing. It still functions flawlessly. Buddies who have hunted next to me wore out/broke at least a couple guns each in the same time period. I have other shotguns, but I still always take the 870. It just feels right.
I notice a big difference in the feel and "solidness" between the old wingmaster and the newer express- besides the poor finish on the express.

[BigGoonTuna]

i've had a wingmaster for about 5 years now.  i bought it thinking new would be better than used...it's a nice gun, and much better than any express, but still isn't quite as buttery smooth as the ones made 30+ years ago.  hunting saltwater took its toll on the finish, so i had it cerakoted by nw hydroprint.  it's like having a new gun now!  take it home, give it a wipe off with a damp towel and i'm good to go.  the only "drawback" is that it's only got a 3" chamber...but i'd never want to touch off a 3.5" super mag in a 7lb gun.  i stick to the 10ga for that.

[Rob]

Mine will be 23 years old next month-a Christmas gift from my dad the year before I got married.   I literally have well over 10,000 rounds through her (I call her Heather) - did some basic math based on trips to the shotgun range a few years back.

Together we have shot Rio Grande/Eastern & Merriam turkey, Canadian goose, snow goose, probably a dozen species of duck, coot, woodcock, ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, blue/bobwhite & California quail, pheasant, catfish, chucker (evil birds), pigeon, white wing/mourning dove & black banded dove, guinea fowl, cotton tail/snowshoe & jack rabbit, Hungarian and gray Partridge, and heaven only knows what else with her.  Someday we will shoot a deer together.

We have taken countless walks together and put endless miles on the boots in all kinds of weather.  We have nearly fallen to our death together (too many times to count!)

I have dropped her through ice, shook the water out and shot a duck.  I have left her leaned up against the truck and drove off and had to drive 500 miles round trip in the middle of the night to go retrieve her. 

We have hunted in 8 states (Washington, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, Minnesota, Texas, Louisiana, Arizona) and Namibia.

Two years ago the extractor broke.  I would have spent any $ needed to fix her – in excess of the value of the gun.  I worked with wades to send it back to Remington.  They repaired and send it back to me and even put a fresh new coat on the receiver at no charge.


She is beat up and banged up and beautiful to me.  Never has anything I have had ever felt so natural and as much of an extension to my body than this shotgun.  I hope to be buried with her!

[lokidog]

Nice write up Rob, but pretty selfish to take that with you... let her live on, she's got way more life in her than you do.   

[Rob]

true...  true... 

but only if I can find a worthy person to leave her to.

I have firearms worth many many times the value of this one, but she is my hands down favorite.

[ohopluke]

I have an 870 Magnum from my grandpa, not sure how old it is, but it is a great gun. A touch heavy for ground pounding all day but great if your sitting in a blind. You can't argue with the millions sold. I don't think the finish is aging as well as some of my other guns, but it has spent most of its time on the water. Mossberg 500 is another great gun, a little cheaper, not quite as tight but I have one that has never failed, and it's been swimming a couple times.

[BiggLuke]

I have and old beat up 870, 3 1/2" camo gun that is my new favorite gun.
Picked it up for under $300 at a gunshow a couple year back, and it's a beast. It's been shot thousands of times before I got it. I have dropped it in mud and frozen water and sand, but it still pumps shells out like it was brand new.

I love it.

[lokidog]

i've had a wingmaster for about 5 years now.  i bought it thinking new would be better than used...it's a nice gun, and much better than any express, but still isn't quite as buttery smooth as the ones made 30+ years ago.  hunting saltwater took its toll on the finish, so i had it cerakoted by nw hydroprint.  it's like having a new gun now!  take it home, give it a wipe off with a damp towel and i'm good to go.  the only "drawback" is that it's only got a 3" chamber...but i'd never want to touch off a 3.5" super mag in a 7lb gun.  i stick to the 10ga for that.

Mine would be with me more, but the 2 3/4" action is somewhat limiting.  I do have a 3" chambered barrel and found that if I cycle it really hard the empty hulls will clear the action but mostly use it now for coons around the house.

[724wd]

it was my cherry orchard gun i honestly cant tell you how many starlings that gun has sent to starling heaven

starlings don't go to heaven 

[Fowlweather25]

  i hate starlings!

I love my 870!