What year did the Remington 870 degrade in quality?

[DamionLedner]

There is a gunshow this weekend and I’ll be looking for a good deal on a scattergat. The ideal shotgun would be a Mossberg 590, but I’ll settle for an 870 if the price is right. I know Remington went to poop after freedomgroup bought them out.

[Sully]

If you would read down a few titles you will find this has been discussed.

https://rem870.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5391
https://rem870.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5434
https://rem870.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5428

CY6
Greg Sullivan "Sully"
WeaponsArmorer
SLR15 Rifles
Defensive Edge Training

[Scorpion8]

Who says it actually ever degraded in "quality"? It may have become cheaper to produce, with nitride-finish instead of deep polished blue. But that was just the grade, the Express had the nitride finish, the Wingmaster was still deep blued. 97.375% of the parts were common to both models. And those Expresses are still around going bang with every trigger pull. I wouldn't stop to think twice about buying any 870 irrespective of YOM. Heck, if it means a late Remlin is cheaper $$$-wise.....send it my way.

[lyraellington121]

I think the “Remington went downhill” thing gets a bit exaggerated online. From what I’ve seen, the biggest shift was around the Freedom Group era (mid-2000s), mainly in finish and consistency, not that the guns suddenly stopped working.
The Express models definitely feel rougher compared to older ones or Wingmasters—finish, machining marks, etc. But function-wise, most of them still run just fine if you clean them up a bit. I’ve handled a couple newer 870s that were totally serviceable.
If I found a good deal on a later 870, I wouldn’t pass it up either—especially if it’s going to be a shooter and not a safe queen. That said, if a clean 590 shows up at the same price… yeah, I’d probably grab the Mossberg too

[Scorpion8]

lyraellington121 .... I removed the spam link in your signature. Please don't bring that sort of stuff here.

But this discussion is correct. Late 870's at the time of Freedom Arms seems to be more comprised of NOS parts cobbled together to make some operating cash. I saw some terrible stock fitments of the wood stocks. But in the end, they can be made to work and are still great versatile pump guns.