Remington Model 870
A Model 870 Fieldmaster
TypePump-action shotgun
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1951–present
Used bySee Users
WarsVietnam War
Lebanese Civil War
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Production history
DesignerL.Ray Crittendon, Phillip Haskell, Ellis Hailston, G.E. Pinckney
Designed1950
ManufacturerRemington Arms
Unit cost$350[1]
Produced1951–present[2]
No. built11,000,000+[2]
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass7.0 lb (3.2 kg) to 8.0 lb (3.6 kg)
Length26.3 in (670 mm) to 50.5 in (1,280 mm)
Barrel length14 in (360 mm) to 30 in (760 mm)
Cartridge12 gauge, 16 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge, or .410 bore
ActionPump-action
Feed system3+1, 4+1, 5+1, 6+1, or 7+1 round internal tube magazine, or an external 6+1 box magazine
SightsBead, twin bead, adjustable open sights, or ghost ring (all iron sights). Also cantilever and receiver-mounts for scopes[3]

The Remington Model 870 is a pump-action shotgun manufactured by Remington Arms Company, LLC. It is widely used by the public for shooting sports, hunting and self-defense, as well as by law enforcement and military organizations worldwide.[4]

Development

The Remington 870 was the fourth major design in a series of Remington pump shotguns. John Pedersen designed the fragile Remington Model 10 (and later the improved Remington Model 29). John Browning designed the Remington Model 17 (which was later adapted by Ithaca into the Ithaca 37), which served as the basis for the Remington 31. The Model 31 was marketed as the “ball-bearing repeater” and was well-received, but its many machined and handfitted parts made the gun expensive to manufacture. Consequently, it struggled in sales compared to the Winchester Model 12. To achieve better sales, Remington produced the Model 870 in 1950, which was more modern and reliable in its construction, easy to take apart and maintain, and relatively inexpensive.[5][6]

The 870 was a commercial success. Remington sold two million guns by 1973 (ten times the number of Model 31 shotguns it replaced). As of 1983, the 870 held the record for the best-selling shotgun in history, with three million sold.[7] By 1996, spurred by sales of the basic "Express" models, which were added as a lower-cost alternative to the original Wingmaster line, sales topped seven million guns. On April 13, 2009, the ten millionth Model 870 was produced.[8]

Design details

The 870 features a bottom-loading, side ejecting receiver and a tubular magazine under the barrel. The gun comes with a plug for migratory bird hunting which reduces the magazine's capacity to two[9] rounds. It has dual action bars, internal hammer, and a bolt which locks into an extension in the barrel. The action, receiver, fire control group, safety catch and slide release catch of the Remington Model 870 shotgun are similar to those used on the Remington Model 7600 series pump-action centerfire rifles and carbines. The basic fire control group design was first used in the automatic 11–48.[10] Twelve gauge stocks will also interchange on the older 12-gauge-sized 20-gauge receivers, although modification is needed to fit the smaller sized 20-gauge receivers employed since the late 1970s. Several parts of the 870, such as buttstocks and magazine tubes, will interchange with the semi-automatic Remington 1100 and 11–87.[11]

The original 870 models were offered with fixed chokes. In 1986 Remington introduced the new Remington "Rem Choke" system of screw-in chokes (also fitted to Remington model 1100 auto-loading shotguns at the same time). Initially, the Rem Chokes were offered only in 12 gauge in barrel lengths of 21", 26", and 28". The following year the availability was expanded to the 20 gauge and included other barrel lengths.[12]

The 870's production for over 30 years had a design flaw whereby a user could fail to press a shell all the way into the magazine when loading - so that the shell latch did not engage the shell - which could result in tying up the gun. This was caused by the shell slipping out of the magazine under the bolt in the receiver to bind the action, requiring rough treatment of the action or even disassembly. The potential issue was resolved with the introduction of the "Flexi Tab" carrier. Guns with this modification can be identified by the U-shaped cut-out on the carrier, visible from below the gun. The cut-out, combined with modified machining on the underside of the slide assembly, allows the action to be opened with a shell on the carrier.

Variants

Remington 870 Police Magnum 14 inch barrel (customize painted with cerakote color "Gunmetal")
Remington 870 Express Tactical fitted with aftermarket Remington ShurShot stock.
Remington Model 870 Wingmaster with 20" Home Defence barrel.
Remington 870 fitted with a pistol grip, Surefire light, and M4-type stock

There are hundreds of variations of the Remington 870 in 12, 16, 20, 28 gauges and .410 bore. All Remington 870 versions are built on the same platform and receiver, but there are small differences that can be more than just cosmetic. In 1969, Remington introduced 28 gauge and .410 bore models on a new scaled-down receiver size, and in 1972, a 20-gauge Lightweight ("LW") version was introduced on the same sized receiver, and all of the smaller gauges today are produced on that size receiver. From the original fifteen models offered, Remington currently produces dozens of models for civilian, law enforcement, and military sales. 870 variants can be grouped into the following:

Model Gauge Barrel Length Barrel Type Description
FieldMaster Deer 12 gauge 20 Fully rifled 20-inch fully rifled barrel with adjustable rifle sights. Satin black finish with walnut stock and fore-end with rubber recoil pad.[13]
410 Turkey TSS .410 bore 25 Vent Rib, Rem Choke Extended full choke, TRUGLO rail system. Receiver milled for maximum strength and reliability.[13]
Turkey Camo 12 gauge 21 Vent Rib, Rem Choke Pump action with full Rem Choke. Matte black finish on barrel and receiver. Synthetic stock. Shoots both 2 3/4" and 3".[13]
SPS Superslug 12 gauge 25 1/2 Fully rifled extra heavy (fluted) Drilled and tapped sights, Matte black finish. Synthetic stock.[13]
Fieldmaster 12, 20 gauge 28, 26, 21, 18.75, 26" & 20 Vent rib Rem Choke and fully rifled Bead and rifle sights, satin black carbon steel receiver finish, American walnut satin stock finish.[13]
Fieldmaster Synthetic 12, 20 gauge 28, 26, 21, 21 & 20 Vent rib Rem Choke and fully rifled Bead and rifle sights, satin blue receiver finish, matte black synthetic stock finish.[13]
Special Purpose Marine Magnum 12 gauge 18 1/2 Cylinder Choke Corrosion resistant utility gun with synthetic stock.[13]
SPS Super Mag Turkey Predator 12-gauge, 2 3/4", 3" and 3 1/2" 20 Rem Choke Slide action with pistol grip stock and black overmolded grip panels.[13]
Super Magnum Flyaway 2 3/4", 3" and 3 1/2" 12-gauge 28 Vent rib, Rem Choke Slide action with innovative bolt design keeps cycle stroke equal for all 3 lengths of shotshells.[14]
Super Magnum Turkey/Waterfowl Camo 2 3/4", 3" and 3 1/2" 12-gauge 26 Vent rib, Rem Choke Pump shotgun with camo coverage.[15]
Wingmaster 12 gauge 2 3/4" and 3", and 20 gauge, and .410 bore 25-28 Vent Rib, Rem Choke Satin finish on stock and fore-end. American walnut woodwork. Receiver and barrel are polished blue.[16]
Fieldmaster Fully Rifled Cantilever 12 gauge 20 Fully rifled Fully rifled barrel with black satin finish and walnut stock with fore-end rubber recoil pads.[14]

Norinco imitation

Chinese arms company Norinco has made unlicensed copies of the Remington 870, as the design is no longer under patent protection. The most common of these designs are the Norinco HP9-1 and M-98, the difference being that the HP9-1 has either a 12.5" or 14" barrel, whereas the M-98 has an 18.5" barrel.[17] In the United States, where most Norinco products are specifically non-importable,[18] this shotgun was imported and sold under the names Norinco Hawk 982 and Interstate Hawk 982.[19]

Users

A map with Remington Model 870 users in blue
A U.S. Coast Guard petty officer from Maritime Safety and Security Team 91106 armed with an Mk870P fitted with a Trijicon RX01 reflex sight and a Speedfeed stock
The Remington 870 12-gauge shotgun loaded with pyrotechnical shells (blanks) is seen here used as a last resort to scare off unwanted birds in flight from the vicinity of Incirlik Air Base
A U.S. Air Force Security Forces Marine Patrol airwoman from MacDill AFB with an M870
Country Organization name Quantity Date Reference
 Australia Australian Defence Force _ _ [20][21]
 Austria EKO Cobra _ _ [22]
Austrian armed forces
 Belgium Federal Police Special Units _ _ [22]
Belgian Armed Forces _ 2008 [23]
 Brazil First Special Forces Battalion (BFEsp) _ _ [24]
 Canada Canadian Armed Forces _ _ [25]
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) _ _ [26]
Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) _ _ [27]
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) _ _ [26]
London Police Service (LPS) _ _ [28]
 Finland Finnish Army

(designated pumppuhaulikko 12 HAUL REM 870)

_ _ [29]
 Germany Bundeswehr, GSG 9, and Spezialeinsatzkommandos _ _ [30]
 Greece EKAM counter-terrorist unit of the Hellenic Police _ _ [31]
 British Hong Kong Royal Hong Kong Regiment _ _ [32]
 Ireland Army Ranger Wing, Special Detective Unit, Emergency Response Unit _ 2000 [33]
 Israel Israel Defense Forces and YAMAM _ _ [34]
 Luxembourg Unité Spéciale de la Police group of the Grand Ducal Police _ _ [35][36][37]
 Malaysia Various special operations such as: _ _ [38]
 Portugal Portuguese Marine Corps _ _ [39]
 Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Police 51+ After 2001 [40]
 Sweden Swedish Armed Forces (designated "Understödsvapen 870") _ _ [41]
 Switzerland Swiss Armed Forces (designated Mehrzweckgewehr 91; MzGw 91) _ _ [42]
 South Korea Republic of Korea Navy Special Warfare Brigade _ _ [43]
 Taiwan Taiwan Coast Guard, Taiwan Reserve Army (T85 Shotgun) _ _

[44]

 United Kingdom United Kingdom Special Forces (designated L74A1), Police Service of Northern Ireland and Specialist Firearms Officers as a breaching weapon _ _ [45]
 United States U.S. Border Patrol _ _ [46]
U.S. Department of Education 27 2010 [47]
U.S. Military (designated M870) _ _ [48]
U.S. Secret Service 1,600 2001 [49]
Internal Revenue Service 60 2010 [50]
Various police forces such as: 2 (Cambridge PD) _
 Vietnam Mobile Police Force (Canh Sat Co Dong) _ _ [57]

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b "Model 870 Wingmaster". Remington Arms Company, Inc. 2009. Archived from the original (Firearm Model History) on 1 March 2009.
  3. ^ "Remington Model 870 Shotguns". Remington Arms Company, Inc. Archived from the original on 8 June 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2008.
  4. ^ The Handbook Of The SAS And Elite Forces. How The Professionals Fight And Win. Edited by Jon E. Lewis. p.47-Tactics And Techniques, American Army Special Forces. Robinson Publishing Ltd 1997. ISBN 1-85487-675-9
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  8. ^ By (27 July 2020). "The Story of The Remington 870". Field & Stream. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
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