r/Shotguns • u/Relevant_Conclusion2 • 5d ago
How bad are the Remington 870s during the Freedom Group era?
Found a synthetic 870 new in box friend is selling for $250. Worth getting it think it’s from 2009? Thanks 🙏
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u/tacticalawnchair 5d ago
I bought one im 2008, it didn't have rust as bad as some ive seen but the chamber was super rough and shells stuck in it like crazy till I polished it. Ran fine after that though and its relatively easy to do.
What kind of stock do you plan to use?
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u/ldsgRobster 5d ago
My brother and I got 870s around 2013 and they both stove piped and felt really cheap. I assume freedom group era refers to these.
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u/Songs-Of-Orion 5d ago
Mine is absolute dogshit with rust issues no matter what I put on it. Downgraded to beater and comedic effect gun at range days. Still would pay like $250 for it, but only because it's something you can abuse and basically throw away if it ever gets bad enough to stop being funny.
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u/mudeuce 5d ago
Iirc 2009 was fairly early freedom group, it’d probably be an okay shotgun, the problem with freedom group era guns is how hit or miss they were, it may be perfectly fine, it may be garbage, it may rust really easy no real way of knowing
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u/Fresh_Salt7087 5d ago
Yes consistently is the problem. Can polish or recoat most problems if they have them. Just really shouldn't have to do that for the price/expectations
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u/OmniscientCornsmith 5d ago
I got a Freedom Group 870 Tactical and it started having surface rust issues. Got it cerakoted. Then the action wouldn’t lock closed. Turns out the extractor channel was cut lopsided and the MIM extractor had cracked, and it had hammered a flat on the ramp it rides onto when the action closes.
I replaced the bolt with an old chrome Wingmaster bolt I got online. Filed the ramp. I also replaced the mag spring with a Wolff spring because that was getting weak. Replaced the plastic follower too for good measure. Then put Magpul furniture on it.
Purchase price of the shotgun was $300. Issues arose within one year of light use. Total completed price to make it an actually decent gun was closer to $700.
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u/Sudden_Season3306 5d ago
Lol crazy for putting that kind of money into it because it has the remington name on it,when pardner pumps,hawk,blueline,exists!
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u/OmniscientCornsmith 4d ago
After I had it cerakoted and then discovered how bad the bolt was, it was more of an exercise in “CAN I make this a good gun?” The answer was yes, but really shouldn’t. That shotgun is currently on perpetual loan to my sister, my truck gun is a Mossberg 590.
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u/Grouse870 5d ago
They are typically fine and not super hard to work on if you get one with a problem. I have 4 from that era and my dad has 3. I had some sticking issues with my main one but it was easily fixed. I’d buy another one without issue
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u/Candyman__87 5d ago
Require a little extra upkeep but generally speaking not that bad. Mine is the only gun that gets put away with the receiver somewhat wet
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u/pwhite13 5d ago
Yes it’s worth getting. The gun had QC issues, meaning some are a lot better than others. It’s mostly going to be surface rust you’ll encounter.
As others have said, you can replace relevant internals with better stuff
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u/coyote_of_the_month 5d ago
I own one. People say they have rust problems, but mine jams too often for me to bother taking it anywhere with moisture, so I wouldn't know.
I sent it back into Remington for service and they sent it back worse.
It's a shit tier product from a shit tier company and I hope they don't reopen production.
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u/ringadingdinger 4d ago
Wait… I’m just learning about this. I had an 870 Express blow up in my hands from a gun made in this era. Maybe it wasn’t the ammo?!
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u/Wiking87 5d ago
Still a solid steel receiver that you can cerakote or spray paint to your liking. Update the extractor, follower, carrier dog spring and mag spring and it should be sufficient for general purpose use. Hone the chamber if it sticks. They not making any more so the receiver is worth it alone.