The Remington 870 is a famously proven gun design introduced in 1950. It's one of those rugged firearms that revolutionized the pump action with a price tag shooters can't resist.
Remington 870 Pump Action Shotgun
The Remington 870 is also known for its versatility in bird hunting, upland game, deer hunting, and a viable home defense tool. Its many capabilities made it a firearm adopted both by the US Military and police. Extended mag capacity, barrel heat shields, and bayonet mounting are just a few features of this Remington making it a well-rounded firearm in the tactical department. I've been told a dozen times this gun didn't stop evolving since it was introduced in 1950, and it could be right considering many different configurations and gauges this gun has.
Gun Specs
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This pump action Remington shotgun has 3, 4, and 6-shot magazines with barrel lengths available in 18, 18.5, 20, 21, 23, 25, 25.5, 26, 28, and 30 inches. Ammunition include gauges 12, 20, 28, and .410 (3″, 3-1/2″ chambers). The sights are available in fixed and adjustable. Wood and synthetic stocks also make up an overall weight of 5.75 to 8.13 pounds.
Ease of Use and Performance
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They say nothing beats the feel and control of a Remington 870. If you don't like the fixed sights, it allows easy acquisition by switching to the adjustable ones. I got three of these guns and shot about a thousand times with it. The accuracy is the same and it's just a workhorse. Follow up shots will depend on how quick your pump action goes so it's just a matter of mastering your own rhythm while firing.
Pros and Cons
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The versatility of this Remington makes it difficult to find any flaws with this gun. There are 3 models of this firearm to cover almost everything a shooter could ask for. The 870 Express, 879 Wingmaster, and 870 Police are the three versions categorized from the most basic to the upgraded ones for reliability and ability to take a lot of abuse. I guess the only thing bugging me about this gun is with all its features, why hasn't there been a semi-automatic version of it.
Overall Verdict and Price
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At a price of $670, this shotgun is the ultimate deal. There's a fine a reason why it's been used by military and police worldwide. It's an excellent piece of tactical and home defense equipment, reliable, durable, and serves its purpose like no other. It's also the reason why I bought three of these firearms in the first place.
Watch this video of a Remington 870 torture test:
These guns are widely used not just in the military aspect. You can find used Remington 870s at pretty much any pawnshop in the country. If you do some searching, you can even find a lot of surplus police models out there. Well, they're not always easy to find but if you're patient, it's almost impossible for you not to find one.
How do you find the Remington 870? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
You might be interested in more sophisticated guns. Look into these 11 gun types to keep you alive come doomsday!
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Editor’s Note – This post was originally published in August 2015 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
Featured Image Via – blenderartists.org