Help identifying new to me 870

Tactical, combat, military, law enforcement and home defense use of a Remington 870 shotgun.
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eveled
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Help identifying new to me 870

Post by eveled »

I don’t know what this is. Your help is greatly appreciated. I’m new here, but not new to gun forums. I know how tiring it is to have new members join to ask a question before they flip a gun. That is not the case here. I want you all to know I appreciate your time and expertise. Thank you.

Just says Remington 870. I’m guessing it is an express with 2-3/4 chamber. Barrel says 2-3/4 or 3. The receiver doesn’t specify.

S/n begins with RS, I think that is just after Remington sold.

What does the B suffix mean?

I believe the 2 piece extended magazine is OEM?
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eveled
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Re: Help identifying new to me 870

Post by eveled »

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eveled
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Re: Help identifying new to me 870

Post by eveled »

It looks a lot like this one. But the pad and checkering are different. Did they stop marking them POLICE?
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BKinzey
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Re: Help identifying new to me 870

Post by BKinzey »

That's interesting. Looks like an Express that somebody added the extended (looks OEM) mag and forend to look like a Police Magnum.

Not sure what the buttstock is from though. Plastic trigger guard is stock for an Express. Magnums say "Magnum". Funny this doesn't say Express either.

Hopefully someone with more info will come along.

It's still a nice shotgun though.

If you have the time in the General Discussion Forum there is the "Pictures of Your Remington 870 Shotgun" thread. Lots of people included descriptions with their pics. You could slog through the over 70 pages to see what matches yours.
eveled
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Re: Help identifying new to me 870

Post by eveled »

Thanks. I’ve been searching the net, every way I could think of. good idea to search the picture thread Thanks again.
eveled
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Re: Help identifying new to me 870

Post by eveled »

Found a few this one looks like a match. Just needs a mag extension Notice it’s not marked Express or Police.

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eveled
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Re: Help identifying new to me 870

Post by eveled »

These 2 are close same stock but the magazine and how it mounts is wrong.
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eveled
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Re: Help identifying new to me 870

Post by eveled »

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eveled
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Re: Help identifying new to me 870

Post by eveled »

BKinzey wrote: Sun Jun 01, 2025 12:48 am That's interesting. Looks like an Express that somebody added the extended (looks OEM) mag and forend to look like a Police Magnum.

Not sure what the buttstock is from though. Plastic trigger guard is stock for an Express. Magnums say "Magnum". Funny this doesn't say Express either.

Hopefully someone with more info will come along.

It's still a nice shotgun though.
All indicators say your assessment is correct. A sterile (unmarked) Express model with an OEM extended mag tube. A Police clone. The stock and forend look original and correct for the time period just after Remington sold. Same for the RS prefix and meaningless B suffix on the serial number.

The lack of Magnum markings (or M suffix) had me concerned, but numerous posts indicate it is indeed safe with 3”magnum shells.

The one in this review is identical to mine minus the extended mag tube.

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/gun-review-remington-870/

Mine looks unfired, at $350 I am very happy with the purchase. Thanks again.
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FrankGibson
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Re: Help identifying new to me 870

Post by FrankGibson »

Nice pickup, and welcome to the forum!

From what you’ve shown, here’s what your 870 appears to be:

1. RS-prefix serial number
You’re right — RS prefixes fall into the era just after Remington’s ownership transition. These are generally considered late‑model Express guns unless otherwise marked.

2. “B” suffix on the serial
The suffix letter doesn’t indicate chamber size. It normally refers to the specific receiver configuration or production batch. “B” is common on Express receivers and doesn’t imply anything unusual.

3. Chambering
Even if the receiver doesn’t list the chamber size, the barrel controls it. Since your barrel is marked 2‑3/4 or 3 in., it’s safe for 3‑inch shells as long as that barrel remains installed. Many Express models from this period used those barrels.

4. Two‑piece extended magazine
Yes, that looks OEM. Remington used that two‑piece design on certain Express Tactical and Police-style variants. Yours seems to match an Express synthetic model with factory extension.

5. General ID
Overall it looks like a late-production Remington 870 Express with factory extended mag, synthetic furniture, and a swapped or original 3-inch barrel.

Nice, solid shotgun — especially since it already has the extension installed.

If you can post the barrel date code (small stamped letters near the receiver end), folks here can help you pin down the exact month/year too.
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