Walk into any farm supply store in North Carolina and you will likely find a Remington 870 in somebody's truck. The 870 Express here is a 12 gauge pump with a 28" barrel, a four-round capacity, a matte black finish, and a weight of 7.5 pounds.

The Express is the working version of the 870 line. The receiver is milled from a solid block of steel, and twin action bars keep the pump from binding or twisting. According to the maker's notes it has non-reflective black metalwork and a no-frills laminate stock and fore-end. Pattern your chosen load on a large sheet of paper at the distance you expect to shoot, because every shotgun prints a little differently.

A 28" barrel is long enough for doves, ducks, and clay birds. It swings smoothly and gives you a good sight plane. It is heavier than a short-barrel defense gun, but weight helps absorb recoil on a long day.

The price is hard to beat, and parts and accessories are available almost everywhere. If you want a first shotgun that does a bit of everything, this one fits.

New. It ships to a North Carolina FFL dealer for pickup and the background check.