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Well folks, here it is. The absolute peak of shotgun technology. However, this technology has barely changed since its inception in 1950. For those who have never had the opportunity to use one, the ultimate shotgun has been sitting right in front of our eyes for six decades, and over ten million have been sold. I firmly believe that the Remington Model 870 is the perfect shotgun. It’s the kind of weapon that you can be confident you will be passing on to your children one day, assuming you treat your gun correctly.
The Remington Model 870 is the best shotgun due to the quality, strength, and ideal shooting ability. There’s a reason that this firearm has been so incredibly popular thanks to these features, among many others.
As a whole, the Remington Model 870 is one of the highest quality shotguns on the market. This quality comes mostly from the receiver and the slide. The receiver starts as a solid billet of steel and is eventually machined into a receiver. This process of machining the receiver is tried and true and is proven to be a powerful receiver. The slide has two action bars that assure that the spent shell is engaged and the next shell is chambered every time. The pump action is exceptionally smooth, over and over again. Regarding quality and reliability, it will not get better than the Remington Model 870.
The strength of the shotgun comes mainly from the billet receiver, as was previously talked about. It’s also worth noting that the stocks of the guns are equally tough and are resistant to the elements. There are thousands of Model 870s that are still around from past decades.
The Model 870 is available in quite a few different variants. We will touch on each of them briefly, and talk about what each one might be good for.
- Wingmaster. The classic. The Model 870 Wingmaster is the nicest looking of the 870s. It has a satin-finished pump and stock, and a polished receiver and barrel. It is truly a sight to behold. Available in .410 bore, 12 gauge, 20 gauge, and 28 gauge. It is the most expensive of the group, and it would look as good above your fireplace as it would bird hunting. However, if you are only looking for a hunting weapon, there are better options available.
- Express. The same strength and quality of the classic Wingmaster, at a much more affordable cost. The hardwood stock and pump don’t have a shiny finish, and the metals are also matte black. It is offered in 12 gauge or 20 gauge. The Model 870 Express is broken down into even more variants. There are multiple tactical versions with a black synthetic stock and pump replacing the wood. One tactical version has a seven shell capacity, and one synthetic tactical version has a rifled barrel to shoot slugs. There are a few different ones that are treated with a camo finish. The Model 870 Express Super Magnum can handle all sizes of 12 gauge shells.
- Marine Magnum. The Marine Magnum variant has nickel plating covering all metal surfaces, which makes it resistant to corrosion. It is only available in 12 gauge.
All in all, the Remington Model 870 is an extremely high-strength, durable, and reliable shotgun. This same technology has been around since its creating in 1950 and has allowed the shotgun to retain its popularity since then, as over ten million Model 870s have been sold. While there are fancier shotguns available, you would be hard-pressed to find a better mix of affordability and durability than the Model 870.