New 870 Express Advice Please

[gd2a]

Hello All

I'll be picking up my new (and first) shotgun this week and while I'm expecting a first-quality product ... I have also been reading some horror stories of problems straight out of the box. It's an 870 Express Tactical, specifically an 18 inch barrel, one-piece, six-round mag tube, "Plain Jane" entry level HD ordered from Bass Pro.

To be honest here, anything too technical will be lost on me; so in the simplest terms:

What should I look/listen for upon initial inspection?

How should I prep it for the first trip to the range?

What are some common problems (and solutions) I might encounter putting the first 50-100 rounds through it?

In the likely event I missed a key question please feel free to jump in with the answer

FWIW, my experience is with handguns; Smith & Glock, very different animals from a long gun ... a pump action at that.

Thank you kindly,

Matt

[vmax]

Try it first. Maybe you will get a good one. If you have trouble reply with the problem. It can be fixed.

[Vitaly]

Matt, first of all, check it with dummy shells. That way you will make sure that it functions properly. Most of the 870s are good out of the box but can be improved.

Buy several boxes of different ammo and test it on the range. You need to find several reliable and easy to get types of ammunition: birdshot, slugs and buckshot.

[jkloeker]

Can you post pics of the gun? I've been wanting to buy one for a while now but can't seem to get the exact one I'm looking for. By chance does yours say Tactical on the receiver?

[gd2a]

Yes it does say Tactical and I've attached a photo of the model I bought. FYI, unless they've updated their website; BPS, where I bought it, displays an image of a model they no longer sell.

482153_03_remington_870_tactical_12_ga__640.jpg (59.04 KiB) Viewed 7280 times

[jkloeker]

Thank you good sir! I guess the one on their website is an older model? For some reason I really like the way it looks. I think it's because the mag tube is the same length as the barrel and the different forearm. Are there any other differences? How do you like the gun?

[gd2a]

I agree about the gun they have pictured, both for its smart looks and larger capacity! I've yet to take mine to the range - the ammo I want had been hard to find but I just bought some and I'm awaiting shipping in the next few weeks ... tough time to get what you want for a fair price!

[jkloeker]

Does yours not hold 6+1?

[gd2a]

It does, but the one in the photo is a five round with an extension that makes the gun 7 +1.

[Synchronizor]

The gun in this photo has a stock 6+1 capacity, as do all the 870s with those long magazine tubes. None of them come with an extension, but it is possible to add a +1 extension.