What kind of 870 is this

General discussion about Remington 870 shotgun.
KBA
New Shotgunner
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2017 3:33 pm

What kind of 870 is this

Post by KBA »

Hello.

Could you please help me with identifying what gun is that?
I'm going to buy a second-hand Rem 870 and the one I found is 12 ga according barrels from one hand but receiver serial number suffix is "K" from anoter. I guess that K means 20 ga, does it?
Image
Image

The current owner told me that he bought the gun as a new one from the dealer and receiver and barrels have the same numbers

So what caliber is it and which shells can I use?

Thanks a lot,
Boris.
User avatar
Synchronizor
Elite Shotgunner
Posts: 3022
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2012 8:04 am
Location: The Inland Northwest
Contact:

Re: What kind of 870 is this

Post by Synchronizor »

If the serial number begins with "RS", it's a newer gun using the new serial number format, and the letter at the end does not indicate gauge. Your gun's a 12ga.

Would you mind sharing the date code on the barrel? I've been trying to nail down exactly what year the new serial numbers started.
Fish Springs
Newbie
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:26 pm

Re: What kind of 870 is this

Post by Fish Springs »

FWIW I have an 870 Express RS 40924 N (2013) which has a very faint *M on the barrel shank (under magnification it is only the M is distinct none of the usual date codes). As this gun was a 2nd or 3rd hand acquisition i know only what I can read on the gun. Flextab, orange mag follower, laminated stock so pretty typical. The barrel is a 2 3/4, 3 or 3 1/2 chambered, receiver dependent straight (no visible taper).
Last edited by Fish Springs on Thu Apr 27, 2017 8:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Gramps
Newbie
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2016 12:06 am

Re: What kind of 870 is this

Post by Gramps »

Synchronizer, did he answer your question?
KBA
New Shotgunner
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2017 3:33 pm

Re: What kind of 870 is this

Post by KBA »

Synchronizor wrote: Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:33 pm Would you mind sharing the date code on the barrel? I've been trying to nail down exactly what year the new serial numbers started.
Thank you for your responce!
Sure, as soon as I get the gun, for now I have these pictures only. But seller told me that he bought this gun in 2013, so I guess that it is from 12-13 year
Can you give me a hint - can I shoot 3" shells from this gun or not?

Thanks.
User avatar
Synchronizor
Elite Shotgunner
Posts: 3022
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2012 8:04 am
Location: The Inland Northwest
Contact:

Re: What kind of 870 is this

Post by Synchronizor »

Fish Springs wrote: Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:54 pm FWIW I have an 870 Express RS 5408xx N which has a very faint *M on the barrel shank (under magnification it is only the M is distinct none of the usual date codes). As this gun was a 2nd or 3rd hand acquisition i know only what I can read on the gun.
Doesn't help me much without a full barrel date code, or conformation of the serial number's manufacture date from Remington. Thanks anyway.

I need to work out the year that the RS- serial numbers first started, replacing the AB- serial numbers. There should be one transition year - probably either 2009 or 2010 - where both AB- and RS- serial numbered guns were produced. It's just a matter of collecting serial numbers and confirmed manufacture dates until I find it.
User avatar
Synchronizor
Elite Shotgunner
Posts: 3022
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2012 8:04 am
Location: The Inland Northwest
Contact:

Re: What kind of 870 is this

Post by Synchronizor »

KBA wrote: Fri Apr 21, 2017 7:18 am Can you give me a hint - can I shoot 3" shells from this gun or not?
It's an RS- receiver, with a barrel marked as having a 3.5" chamber. Yeah, it'll be fine with 3" shells.
KBA
New Shotgunner
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2017 3:33 pm

Re: What kind of 870 is this

Post by KBA »

Synchronizor wrote: Fri Apr 21, 2017 8:00 am It's just a matter of collecting serial numbers and confirmed manufacture dates until I find it.
As soon as I get a gun I will bring you all the information. As well as I wrote to Remington and ask them about the detailed spec for this gun, I will share their answer.
Fish Springs
Newbie
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:26 pm

Re: What kind of 870 is this

Post by Fish Springs »

Synchronizor,

There in lies the problem: the date code, customary on the Remington's I own, is not legible. On a new-ish barrel with it's finnish in tact, under light and magnification the 1st character is indistinct and the 2nd appears to be an M.

The roll mark is simply not deep enough to make our the 1st character--partial and light. Remington puts the gun at 2015 verbally and still waiting on a response from them on the full serial number.

Thanks,

FS
Synchronizor wrote: Fri Apr 21, 2017 8:00 am
Fish Springs wrote: Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:54 pm FWIW I have an 870 Express RS 5408xx N which has a very faint *M on the barrel shank (under magnification it is only the M is distinct none of the usual date codes). As this gun was a 2nd or 3rd hand acquisition i know only what I can read on the gun.
Doesn't help me much without a full barrel date code, or conformation of the serial number's manufacture date from Remington. Thanks anyway.

I need to work out the year that the RS- serial numbers first started, replacing the AB- serial numbers. There should be one transition year - probably either 2009 or 2010 - where both AB- and RS- serial numbered guns were produced. It's just a matter of collecting serial numbers and confirmed manufacture dates until I find it.
User avatar
Synchronizor
Elite Shotgunner
Posts: 3022
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2012 8:04 am
Location: The Inland Northwest
Contact:

Re: What kind of 870 is this

Post by Synchronizor »

Yeah, barrel date marks aren't always legible. They're even missing for some years. Emailing Remington with your full serial number is the best bet, though they're not infallible either.

I know for sure that 2015 is well past the AB-RS transition, but thanks anyway.
Post Reply