Avoid. Newer ones are junk imo.
Depends on the use I think.
For home defense where you need accuracy out to 5-10 feet....the newer ones still feed and fire reliably. (I mean...test it first before making it your primary defense gun. But it it tests fine, it's good)
I doubt a home intruder staring down the barrel of a new 870 12 gauge is going to be thankful it's not an older model.
The older ones do seem to me made better so they are probably a better option for long hunting trips outdoors where it might be dropped and needs to be generally more durable and still needs to be accurate at longer distances.
I agree. I bought a new 20 ga 870 for my nephew for Christmas. He has shot it a lot with no issues. It certainly isn't junk, that being said it isn't the quality of my old 870. Generally speaking, not much is built like it used to be. I wouldn't hesitate to use the new one in a home defense situation if needed. It is a reliable gun.
I mean...it's a shotgun. What are you using it for?
If you are going to use it for home defense a 12 gauge she'll from an 870 is just as good as a 12 gauge shell from a $20,000 hand crafted gun engraved by an Italian artist.
If you are going to be doing competition level shooting, get a nicer shotgun.
Three camps for pump shotguns; Mossberg, Remington, Other. Many of us got our start with the Mossberg 500 or the Remington 870. Most of us stuck with what we were trained with. No reason to get into which pump is better.
There are ways of upgrading a newer 870, and that is all fine, but if you are just looking for a new, solid 870, for self-defense, I suggest you look at a the Hawk/IAC 982. Sounds crazy to recommend a Chinese gun, but for basic use, the 982 is a more solid, well built gun than the 870 express. And like any pump, the more you use it, the more smooth it will function. They are all a bit clunky when brand new, but with lots of use, they will all function well, and it doesn't hurt that the 982 can be found for under $200.
The big complaint about current 870s is that they tend to rust prematurely do to a poor exterior finish. TBH, the plastic trigger group is a total non-issue, much like the 10/22's trigger group, and I say that as a dude who's used both. If you can stretch your budget, the Stoeger M3000 Freedom Defense is a MUCH superior option - no pump-loading shenanigans to sort out, ghost rings, lighter weight, and based off the proven Benelli M2 platform.
Mixed signals about remington and QC in more recent times.
Looking at the 870 home defense model # 81197. Yay or nay says the crowd ?
Agree. Maybe they're regretting not pricing the Ohio National Guard ones in this new higher price range - a year or two back when they had them (for like a day).Get an LE trade Wingmaster or Police Magnum. Should be $250-$350.
I’d love one of these from SOS but you gotta be kidding me with that pricing