Remington Shotgun Parts

This is a semi rant and a heads up for Remington shotgun owners. As you can tell from a my handle, I’m a fan of the 870 Remington shotgun. I’ve hunted with them, used the for a trap gun etc …. I currently use a BT99 to shoot trap with but I have an 870 that was my dads (purchased in 1973) that he hunted with and after his passing I added trap wood and a 30 inch vent rib barrel and used as a trap gun. I haven’t shot it in a couple of years but decided to shoot it for old times sake whe getting to gather with some other retirees for a couple of rounds of trap then coffee. I made it through the first three stations the. It would only fire randomly. I took it home expecting it to just need the small spring that hold the firing pin to the back of the bolt but when I took it apart I saw that the firing pin was broken and the retention pin was kinked so needed to be replaced too. No big deal, right, just a firing pin that was used in every 870, 1100 and 1187 in every gauge ever made.

I want to Midway - discontinued- Brownells - out of stock and on and on. I could find custom made firing pins but none of these had the spring I needed. The only place I could find both the firing pin and spring was Numrich. I’m glad,they had them, but what a sad state of affairs that when such a popular line of shotguns need a part you have to resort to going to a gun junkyard to find the part (sorry Numrich, glad you’re there providing service). I hear Remarms is marketing new 870 Wingmasters and I suppose you don’t feel the need to service shotguns that weren’t made during your watch, BUT if you want to bring Remington Firearms back to its former glory you need to provide basic parts for the flagship models. That’s probably enough said. Remington shotguns occasionally had small parts break but parts were readily available and pretty cheap and easy to replace yourself. If you are a regular shooter of 870s 1100s or 1187s you might want to pick up some of the small parts needed to maintain these shotguns.

It is my understanding that during the bankruptcy tooling was sold off and the current "new" guns are simply old stock parts being assembled which is why they show them but your not actually seeing them in the wild. There is now an after market solution to the Ejectors thankfully so the one really hard to find part is available. Springs can be had from Wolff and lots of other parts are also serviced by the aftermarket. Its a real shame.

It’s a pain. Old 870s are tanks until a little spring or pin goes and suddenly you’re hunting junkyards for parts.
Numrich’s still the reliable spot for that stuff. Stocking a spare firing pin and spring is just smart at this point. RemArms focusing on new guns while leaving the classics hanging is the new normal.

Another disappointing story to add about RemArms...

I have an Uncle who asked me to do some repair work on an 11-87 that he purchased at a store going out of business clearance several years ago. I don't think he ever even shot it, or if so it was minimally used. Fast-forward to earlier this year, he said the stock was sticky and needed replacement. I volunteered to work with Warranty department and do the change-out, as I had a similar issue with a Browning Maxus and their dura-touch material. Browning simply shipped me the parts I needed, even upgrading me from original black synthetic stock and forend to any of their current offerings in black, camo, or wood. A couple screws and I was off and running. RemArms, however, gave me a big middle finger and said they don't Warranty anything from the old Remington company since the bankruptcy. I would have to buy whatever parts I needed. So despite my first guns being a Remington Model 11 hand-me-down from my grandpa, and a used Remington 700 deer rifle I bought with my own earnings, several purchases since then, and cases upon cases of shotgun and some rifle ammo, I am forever turned off by their $hitty response and service. I will spend my money elsewhere, even if I know they don't care.