Remington 870 Express 20 Gauge
Model: R68870
Remington 870 Express 20 Gauge
Model: R68870
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
More Remington 870s have been built than any other pump shotgun in American history — well over 11 million total across all gauges. The 20 gauge Fieldmaster is the current field version (RemArms replaced the Express with the Fieldmaster in 2022): 28" vented rib barrel, 4+1 capacity, 3" chamber, and a receiver milled from a single billet of steel. That steel receiver is heavier than the Mossberg 500's aluminum alloy, but owners and reviewers consistently cite it as the reason the 870 cycles smoothly from day one.
At 104 oz (6.5 lb), the 870 Fieldmaster 20 gauge carries well for a full upland day. The Flexi Tab anti-jam system is a real improvement over older 870 designs — early Express models from the 1990s and 2000s had widely reported feeding issues that RemArms addressed in the Fieldmaster's updated production. The gun ships with three RemChoke tubes (IC, M, F) and a choke wrench, which is a more complete starting kit than many competitors at this price.
The 14" length of pull fits most adult shooters well. If you're setting up this gun for a youth shooter or someone with a shorter reach, drop-in replacement stocks that shorten the LOP to around 12" are widely available. The 870's magazine extension threads are standardized, and a +2 tube extension is a straightforward field upgrade for hunters who want to reach 6+1 without significantly changing the gun's balance. The Fieldmaster receiver also ships drilled and tapped from the factory, which makes scope or red dot mounting a no-gunsmith job — something the Express never offered as standard.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- The steel receiver milled from a solid billet contributes to the smooth cycling that reviewers have noted since the 870 replaced the Model 31 in 1950.
- Ships with three RemChoke tubes and a choke wrench — IC, M, and F covers the full range of bird hunting and clay applications without any additional purchase.
- Receiver is drilled and tapped from the factory, so adding a red dot or scout scope is a no-gunsmith install — an upgrade over the Express it replaced.
- 4+1 capacity is 2 rounds fewer than the Mossberg 500 20 gauge, which matters for hunters who want a full magazine in the field.
- The cross-bolt safety requires deliberate thumb movement and is right-hand biased — left-handed shooters work the release from the wrong side of the trigger guard.
- Quality control on the Express line was inconsistent in its final years before RemArms replaced it; the Fieldmaster's metal prep is upgraded, but cycling the action at the counter before purchase is still worth a minute.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How reliable is the Remington 870, and what wears out first?
The 870 platform has a long track record of reaching 50,000+ rounds in law enforcement service with basic maintenance. On the Fieldmaster (and its discontinued Express predecessor), the most common wear point is the extractor — a stamped part rather than the machined extractor used on the higher-tier Wingmaster. Owners who shoot high volumes typically replace the extractor proactively at around 10,000–15,000 rounds. The action bars and shell latch are durable and rarely need attention in normal hunting use.
Can I use 2-3/4" shells in the 870 Fieldmaster 20 gauge?
Yes. The 3" chamber is fully compatible with 2-3/4" shells, which is the most common load size in 20 gauge. Most field loads for quail and dove come in 2-3/4". The 3" chamber just means you also have the option of heavier 3" loads for pheasant or turkey without buying a different gun.
What's the difference between the 870 Fieldmaster and the 870 Wingmaster?
The Fieldmaster replaced the Express in 2022 as RemArms' working-grade 870 and sits below the Wingmaster, which remains the higher-end traditional line. The Fieldmaster has improved metal prep and finish over the Express, a satin walnut stock with fleur-de-lis checkering, smoother action bars, and a drilled-and-tapped receiver — none of which the Express offered as standard. The Wingmaster still uses polished bluing, higher-grade walnut, and a machined extractor, and costs noticeably more. For hunting use, the Fieldmaster is the value buy; the Wingmaster mostly justifies its premium on aesthetics and the machined extractor for high-volume shooters.
