Price check on an 870P

[Argus]

I've had my eye out for an 870P for a while now, and tonight I saw a used one at a local shop. It seems to be in good shape, really no wear to speak of. It's parkerized with walnut furniture, and has an 18" barrel with a bead. Serial number lookup indicates that it was manufactured in 1998. Price on it is $499, but I can probably get that down some.

I've seen a lot of recommendations to avoid the newer 870P's in favor of older ones. Is this 1998 specimen in the range of guns to avoid, or should it be good to go? Price wise, is $499 ridiculous, a little high, or a decent deal?

Any thoughts or opinions would be welcome.

[breakingtime91]

I just got a 870p for 300 shipped..

[breakingtime91]

Did you buy the one that was listed here in the FSOT section recently?

Ya but I've also seen a few online around 340

[MD7305]

Keep an eye on http://summitgunbroker.com. I'm not affiliated with them but they seem to always have police trade in 870Ps for sale. Not too long ago they had some Vang Comp guns with Surefire lights.

[Argus]

Cool, thanks. Sounds like the price is a bit high. I will keep an eye out.

[LSP972]

The caveat regarding avoiding new 870s, AFAIK, comes from two areas; first, a general distrust of anything Remington since their acquisition by the Freedom Group- an impression I share- and second, the slow but sure degradation of the 870 due to cheapening the parts in an effort to improve bottom line profits. A prime example is the trigger group. I have no clue when this occurred, but at some point Remington changed that relatively important assembly from a machined metal item to a polymer molding. That said, I know of no instances of trigger group failures due to this. They do fail, but mainly due to spring breakage.

Of more concern is that communist safety lock addition. This is where the safety button at the rear of the trigger has a weird-shaped cut-out that allows one to insert a special tool (included with the gun), twist it a quarter turn, and now the trigger is locked. Dunno when that appeared, either, but the brand-new 870 with polymer furniture, 18" barrel with two-shot mag extension that I purchased in 2007 had it. I took one look at that and called in a favor to secure a older all-metal trigger group (it is a drop-in assembly; no fitting required).

This is exactly like that execrable lock mechanism that S&W adopted in their revolvers just prior to the turn of the century; a concept of questionable viability, coupled with cheap implementation, equals a recipe for potential disaster.

Anyway… sorry for getting long-winded; I tend to do that in these matters, but only because the situation is rarely simple. I will say that if I was in the market for another 870, I would certainly avoid anything made prior to 2000; and if that was not doable, I'd buy a Mossberg 590.

.

[breakingtime91]

The caveat regarding avoiding new 870s, AFAIK, comes from two areas; first, a general distrust of anything Remington since their acquisition by the Freedom Group- an impression I share- and second, the slow but sure degradation of the 870 due to cheapening the parts in an effort to improve bottom line profits. A prime example is the trigger group. I have no clue when this occurred, but at some point Remington changed that relatively important assembly from a machined metal item to a polymer molding. That said, I know of no instances of trigger group failures due to this. They do fail, but mainly due to spring breakage.

Of more concern is that communist safety lock addition. This is where the safety button at the rear of the trigger has a weird-shaped cut-out that allows one to insert a special tool (included with the gun), twist it a quarter turn, and now the trigger is locked. Dunno when that appeared, either, but the brand-new 870 with polymer furniture, 18" barrel with two-shot mag extension that I purchased in 2007 had it. I took one look at that and called in a favor to secure a older all-metal trigger group (it is a drop-in assembly; no fitting required).

This is exactly like that execrable lock mechanism that S&W adopted in their revolvers just prior to the turn of the century; a concept of questionable viability, coupled with cheap implementation, equals a recipe for potential disaster.

Anyway… sorry for getting long-winded; I tend to do that in these matters, but only because the situation is rarely simple. I will say that if I was in the market for another 870, I would certainly avoid anything made prior to 2000; and if that was not doable, I'd buy a Mossberg 590.

.

If I wouldn't of found the 870p I bought, a 590 would be in my safe

[LSP552]

I think there is still a pretty big difference between an 870 Express and the 870P or Wingmaster. I'd avoid an Express model at all costs if you want the most robust, reliable shooter. I'm actually thinking about adding an 870 or two (P and Wingmaster), having gotten rid of mine when I started shooting over-unders and an 1187 for hunting.

Edited to add the last 870s I'e looked at didn't have that atrocious key lock trigger safety.

[breakingtime91]

I think there is still a pretty big difference between an 870 Express and the 870P or Wingmaster. I'd avoid an Express model at all costs if you want the most robust, reliable shooter. I'm actually thinking about adding an 870 or two (P and Wingmaster), having gotten rid of mine when I started shooting over-unders and an 1187 for hunting.

summit has some!

[LSP552]

summit has some!

Thanks BT. I've had good luck with them in the past.