Remington 870 Express Tactical Magpul Shotgun Review

by Ryan Cleckner

February 20, 2020

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Remington Arms has a reputation for being one of the absolute best out there. And their 870 model is no exception. As a matter of fact, it’s been touted by Guns and Ammo magazine as one of the greatest shotguns of all-time! (By the way, the 870 is just one of three Remingtons on that list.)

Now, the Remington 870 has definitely evolved over the years, but that doesn’t mean it’s lost its edge. If anything, these guns have become lighter, more tactical, and more effective.

And when outfitted with Magpul furniture, Remington has taken an already outstanding shotgun and has made it better.

Remington 870 Specs

  • Operating System Pump Action
  • Gauge/Bore 12 Gauge
  • Weight 7.5 lbs
  • Overall Length 38.5″
  • Barrel Length 18.5″

The History of the Remington 870

Once you purchase a Remington 870, you become a proud owner of a little slice of Remington history.

Back at the turn of the 20th century, Remington entered into the realm of pump action shotguns. However, their early pump action shotguns didn’t quite reach the heights that they wanted to.

Their Remington Model 10 was extremely fragile, and although the later Model 31 was well-received…it didn’t really garner any sales.

But in 1950, Remington was going to flip the pump-action shotgun world on its head. They introduced the Remington 870. It was a reliable, rugged, and inexpensive shotgun. And the best part (for Remington anyway) was that it sold.

In 1973, Remington reached two million units sold, and just 10 years later broke the record for best selling pump action shotgun with 3 million units sold. For next few decades after, the 870 just kept selling with the 10 MILLIONTH model being sold in 2009.

Remington may have started out rough, but now their 870 dominates the pump-action shotgun world. And it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down anytime soon.

Remington 870 Express Tactical Magpul Features

1 Magpul Stock

This stock offers much needed adjustability to the 870 with its spacer system and recoil-reducing butt-pad. It also offers a unique grip ergonomics that may appeal to those who enjoy a pistol grip on their scattergun.

2 Rugged and Reliable Receiver

Remington increased the durability of their receivers by manufacturing the entire receiver out of a single billet of steel.

3 18.5″ Tactical Barrel

The shorter length of the barrel allows for a faster point-and-shoot operation.

4 Tactical Magpul Forend

The Magpul Fore End is perfectly designed to help you maintain your grip. Also, if your lead hand does come off the fore end, it’s much easier to find again due to its longer grip than others.

Remington 870 Express Tactical Magpul – Our Take

If you like Remington 870s and modern designs (no wood), then you’ll LOVE the Remington 870 Magpul.

However, if you love Mossberg 500s and wood furniture, you’ll probably hate it.

Kudos to Remington to realize that Magpul had made some great upgrades for the 870 and that many of their customers were buying shotguns and paying for Magpul features they would have prefered to not spend money on later.

Problem Solved! This option gets you everything you need right out of the box and we absolutely LOVE it!

The simplicity of a pump-action shotgun and the awesome look and feel of the Magpul stock – what’s not to love?

Remington 870 Express Tactical Magpul Pros and Cons

  • Remington 870 reliability
  • Magpul furniture
  • The forend can get a bit slick

Report Card

Reliability

It runs!

A
Accuracy

Accurate enough

A
Customization

The Magpul M-Lok lots allow for many accessories

A+
Ergonomics

We love the Magpul ergonomics

A+
Value

EXCELLENT

A+

Our Grade

A+

Reviewed by Ryan Cleckner

Reader’s Grade

A

Based on 8 Reviews

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The Remington 870 Magpul, is a well made shotgun, and just like any firearm it has needs in order to function properly. Here are some essentials that every gun owner would do well to have, in order to maximize their owning experience.

Now that we’ve got the must-haves out of the way… Let’s get into some cool extras for the Remington 870 Magpul.

Best Gun Case for the Remington 870 Magpul

There is one need for me that is a number one priority when it comes to a new firearm, the need to protect it. There are only a couple options in order to accomplish this goal. One, I clean and maintain my firearm consistently. Second, I get a gun case to make sure it is out of the elements and I can transport it in safety.

Hard cases for my firearm are important to me because I travel so much. Of all my rifle/shotgun cases, the hard enclosed cases keep my gun the cleanest. I prefer this one and the editors choice because it has great protection and is reasonably priced . Airport travel is easy with this case as long as you have some good locks from Amazon on on them.

1. WolfWarriorX Long Rifle Case Tactical Double Rifles Gun Bag

This bag gets our Durability Award. It has strong stitching and can has good padding. The extra pockets and protected zippered compartments are perfect for my extra shells, mags, lights and more. 

2. Savior Equipment American Classic Tactical Double Long Rifle Pistol Gun Bag

Great bag. It has great value, but not at the cost of good quality. You can count on this bag and it locks up tight . This easily gets our Best for Budget Choice award. 

Best Sight for the Remington 870 Magpul

Red dot sights are the future of all handguns, in my opinion. So why would having one on a shotgun be any less important or different? As a huge fan of red dot sights, putting one on the Remington 870 takes this already amazing gun to another level completely.

Given the nature and history of shotguns, the normal for old school guys was iron sights. With the military now adopting Red Dot sights for almost all firearms, including shotguns, the DD Dagger Defense is a fantastic Editors Choice option. Check Amazon Price

Other Shotguns in its Class to Check Out

We know that some of you reading this are still needing more info because your still not sure… The Remington 870 Magpul Shotgun is an amazing gun, but there are so many others in its class that are just as good and maybe even better. So we want to help you make the best decision possible, by giving you at least one more review to see what else might compare.

#1 Remington Versamax

Remington Versamax

The Remington reputation is definitely upheld when it comes to their Versa Max Series. and the Versa Max Tactical is the centerpiece of Remington’s Versa Max family.

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  • Shootability B
  • Reliability A+
  • Ergonomics A-
  • Accuracy B
  • Value A

Our Grade

A-

Reader’s Grade

D

Based on 5 Reviews

Your Grade

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Success Your Grade Has Been
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Not all shotguns are the same which is why there are so many options. But, the Remington 870 is at the center of what the company was built on years ago, consistency and good quality. The Remington Versa is a version of the original, with a few extra add ons like a picatinny rail. So, if your curious to know more about it, check it out. READ MORE

#2 Mossberg 500

Mossberg 500 pump shotgun

Mossberg 500

Available in several calibers, Mossberg 500 models range from tactical to muzzle-loading.

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  • Shootability A-
  • Reliability A+
  • Ergonomics A-
  • Accuracy A
  • Value A+

Our Grade

A

Reader’s Grade

A

Based on 32 Reviews

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Success Your Grade Has Been
Added To Our Reader’s Score

The Mossberg 500 is a fantastic pump action shotgun and is highly trustworthy. Whether its the excellent reliability or the fact that it is budget friendly, it is an all around solid pick for me, or someone in the market for a new shotgun. A key feature I want to highlight about the Mossberg 500 is its ability to shoot mini shells which is great on your pocket book and for small vermin. READ MORE

How to Care for Your Remington 870 Magpul

The Remington 870 Magpul, and really any Remington in the 870 class, are touted as some of the best shotguns ever created. So, knowing that, I have to make sure that I am taking good care of it so it stays functioning properly. The amount of effort needed to maintain it, is not a lot, as long as I have the proper tools to clean it. Below, is a video to help show how to clean it and field strip it. Enjoy!

If you missed it above, this is my recommendation to clean your firearm.

Important Links And Manuals For Your Remington 870 Magpul

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About Ryan Cleckner

Ryan is a former special operations sniper (1/75 Ranger) and current firearms attorney, firearms industry executive, university lecturer, and bestselling author of the Long Range Shooting Handbook.

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