Remington 870

The Remington 870 is just one of those designs that seems timeless and is timeless. The advertising tag line used to be “First name in pumps and the last word in dependability”, which is as true today as it was then. 12 gauge is your classic choice with this type of shotgun, but I wanted to try out the more useable and subtle yet equally effective 20 gauge version.

Designed in the early 50s the overall pump action has changed little, with only subtle external finishes, addition of multi chokes and more radical tactical designs bringing it up to date. Beneath though it’s still that rock-solid shotgun that is designed to work – the 870 Express I had on test proved this. The laminated stock is a good hunter’s choice and matt anonised finish gave this 870 a purposeful look and practical feel.

This is a tool for hunting, that’s it, designed so you can concentrate on shooting and not worry about scratching or damaging your gun. The 20 gauge is not just a re-barrelled 12 gauge but is proportioned to the cartridge it shoots. This makes it trim all round and lightning-fast to handle.

Overall length is 46.5 inches with the 28 inch barrel and it weighs only 6.25lbs. The simple take down procedure for cleaning or barrel change remains the same. Unscrew the large knurled cap at the end of the forend anti-clockwise and remove, now simply slide off the barrel; forward to disengage from the action.

Action, Trigger and Safety

The action still remains that classic Remington profile of sloped rear section that adorns many a Remington firearm, and it’s instantly recognisable.

The action is machined from a solid block of steel for maximum strength and reliability and features double action slide bars to stop binding or twisting as you cycle the action. This gives a realistic chance at a second shot where a reliable cycling of the action is necessary, unlike an instant second barrel from the traditional double barrel shotgun. The action as well as barrel is finished with a non-reflective black matte, almost Parkerised, finish, which actually nicely complements the stark practical laminate wood stock and forend.

This is at home out on the salt marshes after geese, on the clay circuit or just for an afternoon walk up after rabbits.

The cartridges are loaded via a large tongue-shaped lifter that lifts as the action is pumped rearward. It possesses the newer slot cut into it that cured the problems with binding associated with the older solid lifter. In the tests I had there were no problems at all from the magazine.

The short mag extension too with its locking recess ensures a positive lock up from a large lug from the bolt that positively keeps the bolt and barrel as a single union until the 870 is fired or the small side lever to the left of the trigger guard is pushed to release the bolt. There is a single large claw extractor and cases are ejected via a protrusion at the rear of the barrel spur.

The trigger is a one-piece unit and is non-adjustable. It can easily be removed by drifting out the two pins that retain it. This has always been a nice feature for cleaning and my old 870 could be fitted with a side-mounted scope mount by replacing these pins with bolts.

The safety too remains un-changed – a simple no nonsense push button cross bolt that blocks the movement of the trigger blade itself.

Barrel of Fun

The 26 inches long 20 gauge barrel is supplied with three-inch chambers so will shoot safely any load up to this chambering and gives the 20 gauge a good degree of flexibility out in the field. The barrel is slim-profiled with a slim line ventilated rib and small silver bead sighter at the muzzle end. Despite being a pump action, all 870 shotguns seem to just lift and nestle right up in your shoulder and point exactly where you are looking, the whole essence of shot gunning in the first place and probably why the design has never really changed.

Muzzle end has the Rem choke multi system with an easily removable set of three flush fitted chokes giving good choice of even patterns.

As to the stock, I know the 870 can be had in walnut trim but I actually prefer the Express stock! It’s exactly what you want on a work-a-day pump action, both hard-wearing and practical. The laminated design has contrasting hardwood layers epoxied together in alternating brown and light shades to give a distinctive finish. A matt lacquer is applied to seal the stock from moisture and there is a thick black and very squishy Supercell recoil pad that absorbs recoil and grips very well too.

The forend is a good handfiller, well-rounded and broad with nicely scalloped finger grooves for grip even in the wet with the addition of wraparound checkering that is echoed as panels on the pistol grip.

In the Field

With a shotgun you need handling, pointability and – especially with a pump – reliability. The 870 Express has all three in spades and I ran a lot of differing 20 gauge ammo through its trim action. The only problems I encountered was the occasional non-extraction of Lyalvale Express No 6 shot cartridges. The extractor claw would ride over the case rim and fail to eject, which was a pain when I had more crows flighting over me. All other cases were fine, even their No 5 shot, so a problem then just with this batch?

I am no clay shooter, hunting’s my game and so I tested the Express out in the woods after crows and in the fields rolling over rabbits. Because it is so rifle-like in profile I kept wishing it had a sling attached so I could shoulder it as I sneaked around the hedgerows.

I had six choices of 20 gauge shells to try, these included the Remington ShurShot heavy Dove load of 2 2/3 inch and a payload of 1oz of number 6 shot. Chronographed at 20 foot the Express shot at 1098fps velocity and gave a 36-38 inch spread at 30 yards with the ½ choke fitted.

Next up were the Game Bore Traditional Game, a fibre wad load of 65mm length with number 6 shot of 28g at 1102fps. Patterns were good and even like the Remingtons.

Another Remington load, apt for the Express was the faststepping Nitro Pheasant Magnum load with coppered plated 6 shot of 1.25oz in a three-inch case, velocity was 1117fps. These shot tight even patterns, 34 inch and worked very well on some rabbits later in the test.

Fiocchi GFL loads, again fibre wadded with a 2.75 inch case with 28g of number 6 shot, were mild to shoot at 1067fps and again gave an even spread at 30 yards with the ½ choke tube.

Lyalvale Express cartridges, the first with 25g of No 5 shot in a 2.5 inch shell and a fibre wad, the other had No 6 shot with a 28g payload with a velocity of 1196fps. Finally the Eley VIP Game load with its 2¾ inch case holds 28g of number 6 shot for 1094fps and lovely dense patterns out to 30 yards.

Conclusion

Despite the extraction problem on this gun, with one load I really grew to like the 870 Express – no nonsense, just get it done and done well. It is light and swings well after a little practice. The pump action is a knack. You can just crank away, but you will invariably move the Express out of the shoulder. Best if you are after a speedy shot as the geese fly over is to apply a little pressure on the forend rearward so the forend pumps smooth on the shot.

Compared to a lot of foreign pumps, the hunter-orientated 870 is still streets ahead in quality and worth the extra modest price in my view.

PRICE: £687
CONTACT: SMK 01206 795 333