Turning Point for Remington 870

[T2C]

Other members have posted in the M4C Shotgun Forum that the current Model 870 produced by Remington has reliability issues. I own two trouble free Model 870 shotguns, the newest one produced in the early 1990's.

Can anyone narrow down approximately what year the 870 began to have so many issues? If your 870 was/is problematic, what year was it purchased and/or produced?

[SeriousStudent]

I think I'm going out on a pretty sturdy limb, but I'd start my research after this date: April 5, 2007.

That was the date Ceberus announced they were buying Remington.

[austinN4]

I think I'm going out on a pretty sturdy limb, but I'd start my research after this date: April 5, 2007.
That was the date Ceberus announced they were buying Remington.

And maybe differentiate between the regular 870 and the Express.

[T2C]

And maybe differentiate between the regular 870 and the Express.

Most of my experience is with the Remington 870 provided under contract to LE agencies and the two I purchased for myself. You make a good point that we should differentiate from the Express model.

[austinN4]

There are actually 3 lines of 870s currently being produced: Wingmaster, Police and Express.

[Slater]

From what I've heard, polishing the chamber will cure some of the 870 Express issues.

[artoter]

I think I'm going out on a pretty sturdy limb, but I'd start my research after this date: April 5, 2007.

That was the date Ceberus announced they were buying Remington.

That sounds about right to me!

[Arik]

Is there a way to tell age? I own two police traded Police Magnums. I got them both for a great price and shotguns are low on my priority list. I may have shot a few boxes in the last few years but it would be nice to know the manufacturer date

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[SeriousStudent]

I believe you can do a serial number search.

I shall consult The Google.

[SeriousStudent]

My search fu is mighty today, I found this:

DECODING REMINGTON SERIAL NUMBERS
Model 870 LETTER PREFIX
1950 TO APPROX 1968: NO SERIAL NUMBER PREFIX
1968 TO PRESENT: LETTERS USED (IN SEQUENCE)
S-68, T-74, V-78, W-84, X-90, A-91, B-94, C-97, D-01, AB-05

Model 870 LETTER SUFFIX (DESIGNATES GAUGE)
V 12 GA. (2 3/4”)
M 12 GA. MAGNUM (3”)
A 12 GA. “SUPER” MAGNUM (3 ½”)
W 16 GA. ( 2 ¾” )
X 20 GA. “HEAVY FRAME” (DISCONTINUED)
N 20 GA. “HEAVY FRAME MAGNUM” (DISCONTINUED)
K 20 GA. “LIGHT WEIGHT” (“LW”) (ALSO INCLUDES M/1100 “LT”)
U 20 GA. LW MAGNUM (ALSO INCLUDES M/1100 “LT”)
J 28 GA.
H .410 BORE (2 ½” OR 3”)

Model 1100 LETTER PREFIX
1963 TO APPROX. 1968: NO SERIAL NUMBER PREFIX
1968 TO PRESENT: LETTERS USED (IN SEQUENCE)
L-68, M-74, N-78, P-85, R-90

Model 1100 LETTER SUFFIX
SAME STRUCTURE AS THE Model 870

Model 1187 LETTER PREFIX
1987 TO PRESENT: “PC” 12 GA., 1999 “TL“ 20 GA.,
2000 “SM” SUPER MAG.

LETTER SUFFIX
NO LETTER SUFFIX ON THIS MODEL

Then look on the left side of the barrel near the receiver and look for a two letter date code stamp and follow this chart with the first letter being the month and the second being the year the barrel was made;
Month
B - Jan L - Feb A - Mar C - Apr K - May P - Jun
O - Jul W - Aug D - Sep E - Oct R - Nov X - Dec

Year
M - 1921 N - 1922 P - 1923 R - 1924 S - 1925
T - 1926 U - 1927 W - 1928 X - 1929 Y - 1930
Z - 1931 A - 1932 B - 1933 C - 1934 D - 1935
E - 1936 F - 1937 G - 1938 H - 1939 J - 1940
K - 1941 L - 1942 MM - 1943 NN - 1944 PP - 1945
RR - 1946 SS - 1947 TT - 1948 UU - 1949 WW - 1950
XX - 1951 YY - 1952 ZZ - 1953 A - 1954 B - 1955
C - 1956 D - 1957 E - 1958 F - 1959 G - 1960
H - 1961 J - 1962 K - 1963 L - 1964 M - 1965
N - 1966 P - 1967 R - 1968 S - 1969 T - 1970
U - 1971 W - 1972 X - 1973 Y - 1974 Z - 1975
I - 1976 O - 1977 Q - 1978 V - 1979 A - 1980
B - 1981 C - 1982 D - 1983 E - 1984 F - 1985
G - 1986 H - 1987 I - 1988 J - 1989 K - 1990
L - 1991 M - 1992 N - 1993 O - 1994 P - 1995
Q - 1996 R - 1997 S - 1998 T - 1999 (*) U - 2000 (*)
V - 2001 (*) W - 2002 X - 2003 Y - 2004 Z - 2005
A - 2006 B - 2007 C - 2008 D - 2009 E - 2010
F - 2011 G - 2012 H - 2013


And this:


http://www.rem870.com/2012/01/19/rem...number-lookup/