I Tested And Reviewed The Remington 870 In 2024

The Remington 870 has proved itself to be one of the most popular shotguns throughout the years. Here's why I love it both as a home defense and a hunting weapon.

FYI, prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.

If you know anything about pump-action shotguns, odds are you’ve heard of the Remington 870. So, whether you're looking to help protect yourself and your family, or you’re just interested in adding another weapon to your arsenal, the Remington 870 won’t disappoint. It’s solid, reliable, and just a nice gun to have in the home. Here are 9 reasons why I personally love it.

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The Low Price

The first thing that you are probably going to notice about the Remington 870 is that it is shockingly affordable. It retails at around $350, making it one of the best bang-for-your-buck shotgun options. It being cheap means that it is a great introductory firearm. You won’t be spending a ton of money if you decide that you just want to try it out. The low price also allows for something else: you can get other weapons in addition. Because you aren’t spending thousands of dollars on one gun, you will have some money left over for a pistol. Say, a Glock 19 or a SIG Sauer P320. Or you could always just buy another Remington 870. I wouldn’t judge you for that.

It Has Incredible Versatility

The Remington 870 definitely has a reputation as being an excellent home defense weapon, and that’s true. It works well in that niche, but that’s not the only way you can use it. The 870 is a real multi-purpose weapon. If you want to simply use it for home defense, that’s great. But you can also take it out hunting as well. It works incredibly well when hunting smaller animals, but you can always adjust some of the parts to make it better suited for other kinds. Simply adding a choke will turn it into a turkey hunting machine. This weapon can rise to any occasion that you put it up to, and that’s one of the reasons why people have loved it for so long.

Very High Durability

We’ll be real with you here: there are a lot of cheap firearms out there. And while affordable is often good, it can also come with decreased quality. That means that you need to be really cautious when purchasing a less expensive gun. You want your weapons to last years, even decades, not months. Luckily, this isn’t really a concern with the Remington 870. This shotgun is constructed with really high quality materials that will last for a long time. That also means that you don’t need to perform a ton of maintenance. Whether you use the gun often or only once in a blue moon, you don’t need to worry about it falling apart.

Legality

A shotgun is a powerful weapon, there’s no way around that. But unlike assault rifles or other similarly intense firearms, a pump action shotgun like the Remington 870 is typically not considered an assault weapon by the law. It all depends on where you live, of course, but using a Remington is typically legally protected. This is nice for multiple reasons. The gun is uncontroversial, so that means you don’t need to worry about actually using it if there is a home intruder. It also means that you can go out and hunt with it without raising any eyebrows. You get all the benefits of an assault weapon without any of the downsides. That sounds great to us!

Improved Safety

Some newer gun users can be a bit wary when it comes to shotguns. They feel that shotguns are more dangerous than small pistols. I understand why someone might feel that way, but the Remington 870 is definitely a solid counterargument. It has a reputation as being one of the safest pump action shotguns around, and there are a lot of good reasons for that. One aspect of the Remington that I really like is the fact that it has a trigger safety. That means it’s much more difficult to accidentally fire the 870 than it would be if there were no trigger safety. This makes it a much more practical gun to keep in the home, as you will only ever fire it when you intend to.

The Short Barrel

The Remington 870 comes with a removable barrel, which means you can adjust the length to whatever you please. I definitely prefer the standard length that it comes with, clocking in at 18.5 inches. This means that your shot will be wide, something that definitely comes in handy during home defense. But that’s not the only benefit of a short barrel. It can be hard to walk around in close quarters with an incredibly long gun. Remington had that in mind when they made the 870, as the weapon’s short length makes it very easy to maneuver. This aspect alone makes it a great gun to have in the house.

It is a Modular Shotgun

This is an aspect that isn’t going to appeal to all gun owners, but those who really know their stuff will certainly appreciate it. The Remington 870 is a modular shotgun, which means that you can change out many of the parts to fit your needs. Don’t like the short barrel? Swap it out for a longer one for increased accuracy. Do you plan to use it at night? Add on a tactical light. Certain parts of the 870, such as buttstocks and magazine tubes, are even interchangeable with the Remington 1100 and 11-87. Customizability of a gun may not matter to you at first, but you may later learn that there are some things that you want to change. Having a modular gun means that you won’t need to go out and buy a completely new firearm just to make a few changes.

It’s Beginner Friendly

There are people out there who love complex firearms. They love analyzing them, training with them, and figuring them out over time. But most gun owners just want a gun that is simple and performs well. That’s where the Remington 870 shines. It is incredibly beginner friendly, and that’s one of the reasons it has done so well over the years. As soon as you pick up the 870, you’ll understand what makes it so accessible. It’s comfortable to carry, and it feels very smooth to shoot. It’s simple to aim the weapon, particularly in close quarters. It doesn’t take an expert to safely operate this gun, and that is a major plus for a popular weapon.

It Looks Intimidating

In general, I don’t recommend picking out a weapon based on its appearance. This is a trap that many newbies fall into, and it often results in someone getting a gun that they aren’t very satisfied with. A weapon looking cool does not mean that it will handle well. In fact, it’s often the simplest-looking guns that perform the best. But in the case of the Remington 870, its appearance is actually one of its strengths. A home intruder will turn on their tail and run if they see someone pointing the 870 at them. That means that you can scare someone off by simply having the weapon, reducing the need to ever fire it. In a way, the 870’s intimidating appearance makes it safer.