The author with the Remington 870 DM.
When something as different as the Remington 870 Detachable Magazine comes up for review, we have to change out tactics a bit. There is just no way to cram enough rounds through one in the time given to ensure it will hold up. So I have retained our original 870 DM, and I am back today with a follow-up report. The original review is here, and I am happy to say I can stand behind this one. The 870 DM remains the best change to shotguns since the original model 870 was introduced back in 1951.
The first question we got from readers was “ are the magazines durable?”, which is the obvious one to ask on a system like this. I am happy to report, yes. Just running a bunch of rounds through one isn’t the same as a life test, so we needed to do both. The 870 DM has ridden in my truck every test day for the last four months, both for the round count and the rattle test. At a round count North of 1000 now, we can say the magazines are definitely durable.
The magazines seem to be plenty tough and have held up just fine for the author.
The second question we had with magazines, how do they perform if left loaded? This is a good one too, as many people leave a home defense shotgun in cruiser ready configuration, and we don’t all cycle the tube every week. The old tube style magazines would hold up to this, so we needed to make sure the detachable box would as well. It’s not the longest test we’ve ever done, the shotguns haven’t existed for that kind of time frame. But I did load one of my magazines on December 15th, and on March 17th it cycled just fine. Time will tell if that holds true on a scale like 6 months or a year, but so far so good.
The third question was also important. Many of us have an old 870, and therefore old 870 parts laying about. I have had my 870 Super Magnum for over 20 years, and it has worn a lot of different stocks and barrels. I happen to like the Magpul furniture my 870 DM tactical came in, but I also like the original wood stock. Will the old stuff work? Yes, no problem. The same holds true for barrels. I have a 24 inch barrel I use for 3 Gun Heavy Metal and an 18 inch home defense special. They fit on the new 870 DM, there is zero design change. So if you also have a closet full of extras, you’re in business.
If you’ve got 870 barrels for different applications they’ll all work on the 870 DM.
Fourth is less of a question, more of an observation. The 870 DM has really grown on me over the last few months. The balance is a bit different when you start using it, but after a short time, you don’t even notice anymore. A box type detachable magazine is a step away from tradition, but everything has to evolve. Remington has really hit one out of the park here, and I think the 870 DM is with us to stay.
The accessories and furniture are all still interchangeable from your old 870 to the new 870 DM.
