which pump gun ?

[Scibaer]

ok, i spent the morning at the local gun show.

 i found a remmy 870 express magnum in 20 gauge with a vent rib barrel.
 it wears some nice wood stocks, with checkering, has a smooth action and overall in nice shape.
 the shell follower is metal and though its a used gun and shows wear on the finish at the mag tube and slide, the slide and bolt are still tight with no slop.
 i paid $200 for it. i got an email off to mother remington for a manufacturing date. it feels more solid then the new ones on the racks now.
 i'm happy so far 

ok, i took the 870 apart. wow did it need to be cleaned ! so i gave it a good cleaning out and then gave it a few drops of oil and cycled a few rounds thru it for a basic functions check and its got a nice smooth action.
i put a new primer in a used shell and fired off a blank and everything works 5x5.
the fire control group is all metal, not sure its steel though, looks like 'die cast or white' metal, but its not plastic 
the checkering on the furniture is pressed ( im sure ) and you really cant feel it that much, it looks nice though.
over all its a keeper , for me anyhow, im happy
thanks to all who gave me advice and helped me out.

 

[cwlongshot]

Sounds exactly like one of mine!!

Good luck with it!

CW

[Scibaer]

i have a email in to remington, i'd like to know what year it is. dont really matter though
but yeah i cant wait to get it in the field and see how it runs

[Scibaer]

i got my email from remington, they say its a 1995 build.
that dont seem right to me. if for no other reason that it cast the cast pot metal fire control , not the plastic material.
 and im not sure but they stopped using the "express magnum" sometime in the 80's i though and just went with 'express" that can handle 2 3/4 and 3 inch shells, and the super magnum for the 3 1/2's..
 im thinking ( knowing the record keeping at remington ) that maybe its a 85 not a 95

[mcwoodduck]

Does it have screw in chokes?
There were pretty much standard in 95 but almost unheard of on an express in 85.

[Scibaer]

yes it has a 26 inch vent rib barrel with screw in chokes.
 according to the remington society , the rem chokes were first offered in 1986.
but a newer barrel could have been put on this reciever with no  trouble at all
maybe i am over thinking it ?? the same website says the express designation came out in 1987 ..
i guess the cast metal fire controls were used a bit longer then i thought

[mcwoodduck]

yes it has a 26 inch vent rib barrel with screw in chokes.
 according to the remington society , the rem chokes were first offered in 1986.
but a newer barrel could have been put on this reciever with no  trouble at all
maybe i am over thinking it ??

Maybe,
Usually if there was a second barrel, it tends to be with the gun and usually in 12 ga guns as you would have a 28 or 30 " full  of Mod choke that was the everything gun and when steel was mandated in the late 80's early 90's patterns in the full chokes were a joke. (I remember using up a box of shells trying to kill two wounded wooducks with my 30" full choke barrel. the next day I stuck on my 26" improved choke barrel and was killing ducks with the same loads)
And unless the barrel was damaged they tend to stay with the gun.  If the barrel was damaged they trend to be haced off to barley legal for buck or slugs.

[cwlongshot]

Its not a express, its a magnum.  Even express modles stayed metal for a long time and unless I am mistaken, only went plastic for a short time then back to metal. But I am not positive.

Magnums and Wingmasters are all metal again unless I am mistaken,

YES the screw in makes it newer than mine by a decade. BUT it could have old wood and a new barrel on it too.....

Dont worry about any of this.. go shoot it and enjoy your new to you shotgun!

CW

[Scibaer]

yep your right , like i said the year really dont matter. i was curious is all.
anyhow i went and got some chokes for it today and a turkey tube, so im all set to get it patterned and get some shooting in.
its been cleaned and lubed, choked and  i got a new case for it .... its ready to go