Remington 870 Bottomland Model Info

[HayleyDavidson]

Hi everyone!

This is my very first post here on the forum so bear with me.
I'm the proud new owner of a like-new Remington 870 that I'd like to know more about, so I guess this is a post for the real 870 aficionados.
See pictures below!

The shotgun is a 1994 Remington 870 Magnum in Bottomland (same as the 90s Special Purpose ones) but it has a Ducks Unlimited engraving on the receiver and doesn't have the "SP" engraving under the ejection port. It also came in a Ducks Unlimited case with two Rem Choke tubes.

It appears to also have a metal trigger group, white magazine tube follower and a forged extractor, not the MIM ones like on the newer 870s.
The receiver is also marked 870 "Magnum" not like my father's 870 which is marked "Express".

Just wondering what I have here? Is this shotgun as good as a newer 870 or am I better of with a Mossberg?

[Scorpion8]

Is this shotgun as good as a newer 870 or am I better of with a Mossberg?

Well, I was about to say "welcome" and then I was about to say "Banned to the hinterlands to be chased by the hounds of hell!" but since we know from your username that expanded intelligence is not to be expected ( ) (yes, sarcasm....). What you have is one of the myriad different versions the old Big Green used to produce. Ducks Unlimited was only one of many companies that had special editions made for DU banquets as prizes and offered for sale via many venues back-in-the-day. The Magnum receiver means it'll handle the larger shells, depending on which barrel is installed. So check your barrel for the chamber size.

Is it anything special? Internally? No. Standard 870 of the prime years, well made, a sure keeper. Collector's edition? Only for rabid DU fans. A shooter? Yes, if you want to use it. If it comes with a lot of DU-items, you may want to keep it as a prime set. If you bought it as a shooter, then enjoy that!

All kidding aside, welcome aboard.

[HayleyDavidson]

Thanks for the info Scorpion8!

I absolutely bought this gun as a shooter and workhorse for around the house.

I live in a rural area around coastal Labrador and we get all sorts of nuisance critters that make an appearance sometimes.

From the large Eastern coyote/coywolf to black bears and even the occasional mean swamp donkey that decides the house driveway belongs to him haha. I also do quite a bit of saltwater duck hunting so I needed a gun that could handle birdshot, buckshot and slugs with no issues.

I also thought the camo coating was appropriate, I can always get it taken off by a gunsmith when it begins to wear and chip.

I just wanted a second opinion of sorts as to what I have here from people with more experience than me. My buddy bought a 2015 870 Express that was made by the famed “Freedom Group” and it has been nothing but trouble.

Shells getting stuck in unpolished chambers, weak ejection due to the crappy MIM parts, finish that attracts rust while inside the damn house, etc. That’s why I made the tongue-in-cheek joke about Mossberg haha! In all fairness, my Dad has a Maverick 88 and it’s as equally a workhorse as any 870 ever made. But I’m a lady with a smaller frame so I found the Remington more comfortable to point.

After shooting two boxes of Winchester aluminum target loads through this one, my fears are gone. She runs even the lowest quality shells like a top, the machined extractor gives me extra confidence in the gun’s reliability.

I’m also kind of glad that I have an 870 from the 90s when Big Green was still making quality stuff! I’ll be sure to rub that in with my hunting buddies when they show up with their new “RemArms” guns haha.

On another note, how long do you think a well cleaned and maintained older 870 like this can last? I’ve heard stories of them going through 250-300K rounds before the steel reciever wears out or cracks as opposed to Mossberg’s aluminum receivers which begin to crack at around 50-65K shells. Have you ever had any failures with the older extractor or ejectors?

Thanks again!
Hayley

[rshooter]

I'll bet that this shotgun lasts longer than you do. The older Remington's are made to last. I have four right now and will never shoot enough to wear one of them out. One is a 60's riot gun making it over 50+ years old and it runs like a top. It only takes 2 3/4 inch shells but for social uses using 3 inch shells only shows you do not like yourself. Enjoy that nice looking shotgun. As a side note we had Remington shotguns in the Marine Corps while I was in that were older than the troops using them and they ran and ran.

[HayleyDavidson]

Wow rshooter, that’s impressive!

Hearing the opinions of veteran 870 users has all but assured me that this will be one of the guns that I never sell!

Kind of reminds me of all the old No.4 Mk.1 Lee Enfield .303s I see here all the time. Most have never even seen a brush down the pipe and are still bringing home caribou, moose, black bear, seals and even the odd nuisance polar bear.

Same can be said for the Remington 870 Police Magnums that ride in the back of every RCMP cruiser, much like they do Stateside.

I agree that 2 3/4" shells are fine for up close social work, especially when you’re running slugs and buckshot.

Thanks for the reply!

Hayley

[Scorpion8]

I'll bet that this shotgun lasts longer than you do. The older Remington's are made to last.

I'd echo that sentiment. The old 1950's era Wingmasters are prized, as are the older 870 Trap models. Sure it's metal and metal wears and rusts, but take care of it, replace the occassional part, never speak ill of it when the gun can hear you, and she'll outlast you and be an heirloom. I have both 12- and 20-ga 870's that I carry for black bear medicine in my area of Alaska, so this gun is well suited to your use.

[Mattredick]

Hey Hayley very nice gun! I collect the vintage camo guns ie bottomland, green leaf, trebark. If you are ever interested in selling it let me know, I’d buy it in a heartbeat. I’m in Ontario. What ever you do, don’t take off that camo pattern haha.

[Sidney]

Hi everyone!

This is my very first post here on the forum so bear with me.
I'm the proud new owner of a like-new Remington 870 that I'd like to know more about, so I guess this is a post for the real 870 aficionados.
See pictures below!

The shotgun is a 1994 Remington 870 Magnum in Bottomland (same as the 90s Special Purpose ones) but it has a Ducks Unlimited engraving on the receiver and doesn't have the "SP" engraving under the ejection port. It also came in a Ducks Unlimited case with two Rem Choke tubes.

It appears to also have a metal trigger group, white magazine tube follower and a forged extractor, not the MIM ones like on the newer 870s.
The receiver is also marked 870 "Magnum" not like my father's 870 which is marked "Express".

Just wondering what I have here? Is this shotgun as good as a newer 870 or am I better of with a Mossberg?

Rudy Etchen fired over 4 million rounds through his old Remington 870 Wingmaster:

https://www.qwant.com/?q=rudy+etchens+870&t=web

Sidney
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Canada

[kelseyradley]

This shotgun will endure longer than you will, I'll wager. Older Remington rifles are built to last. I now have four, and I'll never shoot enough to exhaust one of them. One is a riot gun from the 1960s, making it older than 50 years and operating flawlessly. It just requires two and a half inch shells, but utilizing three inch shells for social purposes only reveals your lack of self-esteem. Enjoy your attractive shotgun. As an aside, when I was in the Marine Corps, we had Remington shotguns that were older than the soldiers shooting them, and they ran and ran.