Remington Stock Differences (Dating an 870)?

[kwb377]

I know, I know...if I had better looks and more charm I wouldn't have any problem dating an 870.




This may have been brought up elsewhere, but I probably wasn't paying attention.


All of the 80's through 00's vintage 1100/1187P/870P Remingtons I've owned/been issued with synthetic stocks had checkering on the pistol grip...




All of the more recent vintage Remingtons I've handled/seen have a textured area with a surrounding groove on the grip...and a definite "cheaper" feel to the stock.




When perusing guns online, often I either can't get the seller to offer the barrel date code or I can't make it out in the ad pics.

Does anyone know when the change took place? Is the stock a semi-reliable way to date the Remingtons as to pre and post Freedom Group?

[gato naranja]

I
All of the 80's through 00's vintage 1100/1187P/870P Remingtons I've owned/been issued with synthetic stocks had checkering on the pistol grip...

All of the more recent vintage Remingtons I've handled/seen have a textured area with a surrounding groove on the grip...and a definite "cheaper" feel to the stock.

When perusing guns online, often I either can't get the seller to offer the barrel date code or I can't make it out in the ad pics.

Does anyone know when the change took place? Is the stock a semi-reliable way to date the Remingtons as to pre and post Freedom Group?

I am not 100% certain, but I seem to recall that stock with the molded-in sling swivel attachment showing up in 2008 or 2009.

[Joe Mac]

I'm not sure if the new stocks showed up pre-reboot, but I don't think so. If I were buying one online I'd go for the new stock, because QC is better now than it was 5-8 years ago. I own two of the new 870s, and they're better than the 2016 (or so) Police Magnum that I bought as NOS in 2020. I'm gonna change the stock regardless!

[AdioSS]

I was really hoping this thread would be about older 870’s since I just picked up one that appears to be from the late 70’s.

[DDTSGM]

I was really hoping this thread would be about older 870’s since I just picked up one that appears to be from the late 70’s.

If you are wanting to find your 870's date of manufacture, here is a resource:

https://www.leeroysramblings.com/Gun...date_code.html

Of course, this assumes barrel and receiver are as came from factory, no barrel swaps.

[kwb377]

I'm not sure if the new stocks showed up pre-reboot, but I don't think so.

In 2019 I decided to dust off my old 1100 that I had originally "tacticalized" circa 1992, and started searching Ebay, GB, etc. for a factory synthetic stock to replace the old Choate FAL-style pistol grip stock that was on it. I saw several used (and they looked well used) stocks of the newer style, so I'm assuming they were introduced sometime prior to the RemArms period.