America’s Shotgun, the Remington 870 by Gary A. Engberg

gengberg December 19th, 2009

  I wrote this article for Buckmaster’s in 2008. After seeing the new “celebration” of the 870 I thought I’d give it to you again. Enjoy reading about America’s shotgun!  Gary

America’s Shotgun

There is little doubt that the Remington 870 Wingmaster pump action shotgun is the best-selling and most popular firearm ever produced by Remington in its 189-year history. The Model 870 is “truly King of the shotguns” and one if not the most successful sporting gun ever produced in the world.Remington 870 small
Here’s a little history on the favorite shotgun of Americans ever manufactured since the Industrial Revolution. Remington recognized at the end of World War II that the industrial world was changing. The price of labor was increasing and automation was beginning to take hold and change America. Then, the Remington Model 31 was their top model pump shotgun, but the company recognized that the new era of automation was changing the face of America and many guns in their line were just getting too expensive to manufacture. The Model 31 was singled out as being one model that was too costly to continue producing even though many shooters believed that it was superior to the ever famous Winchester Model 12. The Model 31 had many precision-machined parts and the handfitting required with the gun made it too expensive for Remington to continue building. Then, the Model 12 was considered the best pump action shotgun available on the market.The Remington engineers, which included L. Ray Critterdon, Phillip Haskell, Ellis Hailston, and G.E. Pinkney were faced with developing a replacement for the Model 31, which could and would be built entirely on high-speed production machinery and then assembled by semi-skilled workers.
The Remington 870 was the fourth major design change in the company’s production of pump shotguns. John Pederson designed the fragile Model 10 and working with John Browning helped design the Model 17 which was later produced by Ithaca as the Ithaca 37 and later served as the model for the Remington Model 31. Though, the Model 31 was a great shotgun, sales struggled when pitted against the Winchester Model 12. Remington sought to correct that figure and its engineers realized that they could save money by incorporating items that they currently produced. So, they began utilizing parts from their stock 1187 autoloader. Prior to the 870, all guns were made from milled parts that were hand-fitted to each gun, which was very expensive. During the Second World War, Remington had developed a process to stamp the metal parts in the production of the 1903A3 military rifle, and this technology was what paved the way for the Model 870.
In 1949, the Model 31 was discontinued after only 18 years of production and in 1950 its replacement, the Model 870 was introduced to the hunting and shooting world. The new Model 870 shotgun breech locked securely in a hardened barrel extension, and a new locking block and slide was developed for a precise and smooth operation. The Model 870 was modern, streamlined, inexpensive, and above all reliable under all conditions.

   The basic design of the Model 870 has not changed since its introduction in 1950 and its huge popularity can be attributed to its dependability, ruggedness, and above all a reasonable price. The shotgun’s features include a bottom-loading, side ejecting receiver, tubular magazine under the barrel, dual action bars, an internal hammer, and a bolt that locks into an extension in the barrel as earlier mentioned. The action, receiver, trigger mechanism, safety catch and slide release catch of the Remington Model 870 shotgun are very similar to those of the Remington model 7600 pump-action centerfire rifles. For reference, many of the parts of the 870 will interchange with the semi-auto Remington Model 1100 and the 11-87.

The Model 870 hit the market and retail stores in 1950 and officials knew that they had a “winner” from the beginning and wanted to take advantage of the booming middle class of the post war years. Remington did not enter the market tentatively with only a few models of its new and innovative Model 870. Initially, there were 15 different models of the 870 in 12, 16, and 20 gauges and all with 2 ¾ inch chambers. The standard 870 was priced at $69.95 when first introduced to the public. The 12 gauge 870 Magnum with a 3 inch chamber was produced in 1955, the first 870 slug gun, the Brushmaster, hit the woods in 1961, the initial 28-gauge and .410 guns with their scaled down receivers were introduced in 1966, left-handers got their wish with “southpaw” models in 1971, the first camo finished models appeared in 1997, and finally the 12 gauge Express Super Magnum chambered for 3 ½ inch shells came out in 1998.
When the Remington Model 870 was first introduced many hunters and shooters, who had been accustomed to the machined parts, blued metal, and the fine walnut of other pump guns like the Remington Model 31 and Winchester Model 12 were critical of the stamped parts and homely looks of the new Model 870. It took Remington 15 years to build their first million guns, but then the Model 870 took off and after that it took only two more years for production to reach two million shotguns. Then, between 1973 and 1978 another million 870’s were built, and by 1984 the fourth million guns were manufactured for the ever-increasing demand of hunters and shooters. Two more million guns were manufactured between 1984 and 1993, and the seven millionth Model 870 was assembled in 1996. Now, the number of 870’s produced by Remington has exceeded the eight-million number.
Why has the Remington model 870 been the most popular gun ever manufactured? First, Remington has always made a point of making many different variations of the Model 870 that fit every “nook and cranny” in the shotgun world with all the different models available in the 870. This goes far beyond the world of hunting and includes all the shooting sports. Remington hit the bulls-eye and the Model 870 was and is widely accepted by the sportsman. Second, the gun was a great bargain and hunters and shooters realized this and bought the guns by the millions. Lastly, the Remington Model 870 was a reliable gun that performed magnificently under adverse conditions, was and is durable enough to last for decades of rugged use, and is reasonably priced for most if not all pocket books.
Field and Stream magazine picked the Remington Model 870 as one of the 50 best shotguns ever made. They said, “If you think of a gun as nothing but a tool, then the 870 is the greatest shotgun ever made. It is the Gun That Works, and if it doesn’t, it disassembles to the molecular level in a few minutes, and whatever ails it can be quickly be put right. With the stamped parts and pressed checkering, the 870 sold for much less than the Winchester Model 12, the Ithaca 37, and the Model 31 it replaced. Though relatively inexpensive, the 870 is every bit as reliable and durable as its costlier competitors. It has gone on to become the best selling shotgun of all time.”
Delta Waterfowl, the North Dakota based conservation organization, asked its readers to vote for the “best waterfowl gun ever made” and over 1200 shooters replied and picked the Remington Model 870. Delta goes on to say that the 870 is a “true thoroughbred” and again one of the most affordable and reliable shotgun ever produced besides being the all-time sales leader. The Model 870 has been in continuous production since January of 1950 which is when Harry Truman was president and the average family made less than $3,000.00 a year.
Jack Heath, who was the Remington historian for 34 years before he retired in 1996, said “The 870 is one of the most reliable shotguns ever made, it’s like a Timex watch-it takes a licking and keeps on ticking.”
One also must remember the Model 870 is not just a shotgun used by civilians for hunting, target shooting, and self defense. It is also used by the military and law enforcement agencies as a defensive weapon. Remington produces dozens of models for the military, law enforcement agencies, and civilian’s sales. By simply changing the barrel length, type of load used, accessories, etc, the gun can serve just as well as a home defense weapon as it does as a law enforcement or military combat weapon. Some of the various models can be distinguished by;
• The Wingmaster shotguns feature a glossy and bluey wood finishes.
• The Express model has a satin wood and bead blasted finish or is made with a synthetic stock.
• Marine and many military guns have a nickel finish and synthetic stocks.
• Police models feature parkeetized or blued finish and synthetic or satin wood stocks.
It’s easy to see why the Remington model 870 is the King of the shotgun world or as the gun manufacture says on their website, “Pump action shotguns fall into two categories: the Remington Model 870 and all the others.” I’ll agree with that observation and I’m sure many of you will too!

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