The Remington 887 Shotgun
The Right Ideas Poorly Executed
The Remington 887 was a space-age new design that failed wildly in the market despite incorporating
a number of cutting-edge design ideas.
Heaven help me, but I’ll admit it — the gun looked so “tacticool” and devastatingly sexy, I had to buy it. Yeah, sometimes even I fall for the hype. But beyond the “pretty face,” the Remington 887 has been a solid performer for me, even if its reputation otherwise isn’t the best.
Possibilities
The Remington Model 887 Nitro Mag is one of those shotguns that looked like it had all the right ingredients for success and was visually appealing, but it still missed the mark. Introduced in 2009, the 887 was Remington’s bold attempt to bring their legendary pump-action lineup into the modern era.
Built around the tried-and-true bones of the revered Model 870, the 887 featured new technology, aggressive styling, and a futuristic coating system called ArmorLokt. It also chambered the 3½” Super Magnum shells for those who wanted to go big or stay home. The 887 was offered in a hunter-centric regular model aimed primarily at goose and waterfowl hunters and a Tactical version with an 18 1/2” barrel and other goodies. This dangerous-looking 7+1 beastie is what I own. There were a number of other special models, such as the Nitro Mag Bone Collector and Camo Combo.
On paper, the 887 was everything Big Green could do with a pump shotgun to compete with the popular Mossberg 835 and Benelli Nova. In practice, however, the 887 struggled to win hearts and minds—and by 2015, after only six years, it was gone from the catalog for good.
Good, But …
I’m one of the few folks who own an 887, and my experience has largely been good. It’s been dependable and will absolutely shrug off abuse that might sideline a typical blued-and-walnut pump. Still, I have to admit there are some shortcomings, chief among them what I lovingly call the “Remington finger guillotine.”
Here is the infamous ‘Remington finger guillotine’ opening with the fore-end one inch from full rearward travel.
Can you see the problem here?
Using the action release invited an unpleasant surprise when you briskly cycled the pump action. The first time you did it, it hurt.
The second time in a row, it REALLY hurt!
On the 887, Remington extended the fore-end so far back that it actually overlaps the front of the trigger guard when you operate the slide. If you’re not careful when cycling the action, the moving fore-end will happily slam the thin polymer edge into your index finger if the digit doesn’t move out of the way quickly enough after you hit the slide release. Even worse is the finger jam that can occur if your trigger finger is safely straightened over the trigger guard but wanders into the path of the fore-end. I learned quickly to keep my fingers clear, but it’s a quirk that never should have made it past the design stage. It’s truly one of the most horrendous design ideas ever seen on a production gun since WWII.
Even if you kept your finger out of the way when using the action release button, a properly stowed trigger finger
could also get in the way of the fore end. Did Remington’s engineers ever take the gun to the range before approving this??
Lots of people took a Dremel tool to shorten the fore-end (as it should have been from the factory) with varying results. As my home gunsmithing projects generally resemble work done by spastic beavers, I’ve resisted the urge to fix the problem and just focused on being careful. One of these days, it’ll get the big chop.
Robust
This significant misstep aside, the 887 really is a tough gun. Its defining feature is the ArmorLokt finish, a glass-filled nylon polymer overmold that encases the barrel and receiver. Unlike a spray-on finish or a dipped camo coating, ArmorLokt is thick and permanent. The steel core gives the shotgun its strength, while the polymer provides complete protection from rust and weather. In marketing tests, Remington engineers literally dunked the shotgun in salt water and mud, and it came back none the worse for wear. In the field, I’ve had mine soaked in rain, splattered with snow, covered in mud but sure enough, no rust.
The ArmorLokt coating serves well to protect the gun from most forms of abuse but many folks didn’t like the "truck tire" design motif.
Had the 887 been introduced today, it probably would be considered "edgy."
That rugged finish gave the 887 its most noticeable feature: a surface texture that many claim looks a lot like a truck tire. Some folks loved the aggressive tread pattern, while others thought it was butt-ugly. There was no mistaking an 887 in a rack. It looked like a piece of space-age sporting equipment, especially compared to the classic lines of an 870.
Generally, I like the ArmorLokt skin with its slip-resistant and protective capabilities, and I don’t mind the truck-tire motif. I think if the gun were introduced today, the aesthetic wouldn’t be considered quite so futuristic or oddball.
Under the Hood
Under the plastic skin, Remington made several big internal changes from its older pump. The 887 used a rotating bolt with dual lugs instead of the 870’s single locking block. The action bars and trigger assembly were designed to drop out easily for cleaning, at least in theory.
The slide release is a large button on the front of the trigger guard. It’s easy to find and positive to engage even when wearing gloves.
However, watch out for the finger when you shuck the action!
I love the slide release better than virtually any other pump gun. It’s a big triangular button on the trigger guard and is easy to find with gloves on, making it one of the shotgun’s best ergonomic touches. On the range and in the field, mine patterns well and has been reliable with everything from dove loads to goose-smashers, plus 00 buck and slugs, with some less-lethal thrown in for good measure. The gun digests everything like a hungry college kid after a pizza. Aside from the Dr. Doom looks, it’s truly a “do-it-all” 12 gauge.
The factory Remington Tactical Choke makes the gun look like it eats nails and glass shards for breakfast,
but works well to control pattern with buckshot and break windows.
The 887 uses the Rem-Choke system, which means you can tailor it for just about any hunt (if you don’t mind looking like Terminator in the blind) and mine sports a Remington Tactical improved cylinder choke with nasty spikes on the end. The spikes are ostensibly to be used as an improvised window breaker or to hold the gun steady against a door frame for breaching purposes. If we’re gonna talk about looking like a gun that can eat nails and glass shards for breakfast, it’s certainly a strong part of the presentation.
The gun also has a big squishy Remington recoil pad that does a decent job of taming the big shells, though shooting any 3 1/2” shell will remind you why not many people use them.
The fiber-optic front sight is durable and so far hasn’t lost the insert after more than a decade of hard use,
a common problem with factory fiber-optic sights.
Other standard features include a fiber-optic front sight, and the Tactical version sports a Picatinny rail for optics mounting on the receiver, an extended 2-shot mag tube and a very nice, stout tube clamp which also serves as a side-mount sling point. There is also a short section of rail on the other side for mounting a light.
My 887 is the long gun I keep underneath my side of the bed for things that go bump in the night. I’ve kitted it out with a red dot sight, a butt cuff of ammo, a Streamlight Protac HL-X light and a sling. It’s a big, heavy and menacing-looking gun, but if I have time or the need to grab a long gun, I feel comfortable that the 887 won’t let me down. Despite its weight and size, the gun shoulders well for me, and I’ve never had it fail to go bang when needed.
On the Other Hand
But, here’s where the story turns — many shooters didn’t share my luck. Early production runs were plagued by quality control issues, with owners complaining of sticky actions, and parts that rattled or bent too easily. It has been said some of the internal components were lightweight to the point of fragility, and owners used to the rugged-as-an-anvil construction of an 870 weren’t impressed. Some claimed the gun was challenging to take apart and reassemble, though I never noticed it especially difficult compared to other guns. However, Internet forums lit up with mixed reviews, ranging from “best all-weather pump ever” to “worst shotgun Remington has ever made.”
The factory extended magazine clamp keeps the stout 2-shot extension firmly in place and offers mounting points
for a sling and light. Overall, the Tactical version is very well-thought-out, aside from the abominable fore-end.
Much of this negative came from the nascent gun blogging community. A few people hated it, so that became ‘the narrative’ across the ‘net. The rest is history.
In my case, I’ll reluctantly agree on the sticky action bit. My gun, after many hundreds of rounds, still feels a bit tight, as if it needs lube — which it doesn’t. I’ve never had mine far enough apart for tiny bits to go flying, but just basic field-strip-level maintenance has kept it shooting flawlessly for over a decade.
Things went from bad to worse in 2014 when Remington announced a voluntary recall. A batch of flawed components meant some guns could slam-fire if the firing pin stuck forward. While Remington was quick to address the issue (mine was only gone a couple of weeks for the repair), the damage to the 887’s reputation was already done. By 2015, the model was quietly discontinued.
Today, the 887 lingers in the used market, usually for a bargain compared to other magnum-capable pumps. A check of GunBroker.com at the time of writing showed six guns for sale, most starting around $250 and ending up sub-$500. It will never achieve the timeless following of the 870, but a few shooters appreciate its durability and ability to handle 3 1/2” shells. Reviews have mostly softened over time, with many owners — including me — finding that with proper care and an attitude adjustment, the gun runs fine. Just remember those fingers …
The ArmorLokt molded polymer coating on the 887 left no doubts about your shotgun brand of choice.
Ultimately, the 887 is a better gun than its reputation would indicate and it is the gun under Brent’s side of the bed
to handle any late-night unpleasantries.
Final Verdict
The Remington 887 is a classic case of a gun design that was innovative but flawed in execution. The ArmorLokt finish was genuinely groundbreaking and the rotating bolt design had promise. However, the strange looks, early production stumbles, a venal blogger corps and safety recall doomed it in the marketplace. And, if you get right down to it, from a management standpoint, Remington in 2005 was a dumpster fire of a business. Yet, for all its quirks—even the dreaded finger guillotine — the 887 is a shotgun that I use, like and respect.
It may not be remembered as one of Remington’s finest hours, but the 887 deserves a second look from anyone who values durability above all else. One day, I suspect its oddball styling and short production run may even make it collectible. Until then, I’ll keep mine under the bed, ready for whatever happens next.
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