Guns: Remington 870 Express

There are some shotguns that are lovingly finished and impeccably crafted. The Remington "Express" version of their famous model 870 shotguns isn't one of them. The finish is a beadblasted blue that will rust and/or discolor if you don't soak the whole thing in some type of oil or lubricant after opening the box. The ugly painted hardwood stock is functional but unexciting, and the plastic trigger assembly and powder-formed internal parts won't inspire confidence, at least at first.

I had a couple of these shotguns, one in 20 gauge and one in 12 gauge. They were very reliable (well, as long as you didn't short-stroke them - you have to work that pump like you mean it), easy to clean, and inexpensive. Most importantly, they are available - in an area with harsh restrictions on private gun ownership, this might be the only home defense weapon you can get your hands on. If your local Wally World still carries guns, this will almost certainly be in the rack.

I sold both those 870s, and now I sort of regret it. I'll probably pick up a used 870 Police or Wingmaster next time around, if only to have some perspective on how good a value the Express is. Perhaps the best compliment I can give my 870s is this - for the price you pay, I can't imagine a shotgun doing a substantially better job for skeet, trap and home defense.