Remington 870 Home Defense Shotgun Images
Remington 870 Tactical Features
- Optimized for home defense and competition
- 18.5-inch cylinder bore barrel
- Chambered for both 2¾ and 3-inch shells
- Dual non-binding action bars
- Locking breach block
- Milled steel receiver
- Bead front sight
- Steel-lined grooved forend
- Black Magpul CTR 6-position adjustable stock
- Hogue pistol grip
- Cross-bolt safety
- 6+1 total round capacity
- Black parkerized finish
Want to purchase this pump action shotgun right away? Get the Remington Tactical shotgun from any of these trusted dealers:
Remington 870 Express Tactical Specifications
Note: The following specs are particularly for the Remington 870 Tactical shotgun with model no R81212.
Manufacturer | Remington |
Model/Series | 870 |
Sub Model | Tactical |
Model Number | R81212 |
Action | Pump |
Magazine Type | Tube |
Magazine Capacity | 6+1 |
Caliber/Gauge | 12 Ga |
Receiver Material | Steel |
Receiver Color | Matte Black |
Receiver Finish | Black Oxide |
Handguard/Forend Material | Synthetic |
Stock Type | User-Adjustable |
Length of Pull (LOP) | 11 – 14″ |
Drop (Heel) | 1 ½” |
Drop (Comb) | 2 ½” |
Stock Material | Synthetic |
Stock Finish | Matte Black |
Stock Description | 6-Position Adjustable with Pistol Grip |
Grips | Black Hogue Rubber |
Safety | Cross-Bolt |
Barrel Length | 18.5 in. | 46.99 cm |
Barrel Finish | Matte Blued |
Chamber Size/Length | 3 in. | 7.62 cm |
Choke | Fixed Cylinder Choke |
Sights | Single Bead Front |
Orientation | Right |
Overall Length | 36 – 39 in. | 91.44 – 99.06 cm |
Weight | 7.5 lbs. | 120 oz. |
Applications | Competition, Home/Personal Defense |
Remington 870 Tactical Description
The Remington 12ga Tactical 6-Position shotgun is built on the ever-reliable Model 870 platform, and belongs to the manufacturer’s line-up of tactical workhorses which includes some of the most trusted and popular shotguns in the industry, each fine-tuned for specific tactical applications.
Built to deliver exceptional performance and consistency in a lightweight and reliable design, the Remington 870 Express Tactical comes with an 18.5-inch barrel featuring a 3-inch chamber with a fixed cylinder choke which is ideal for a variety of defensive ammunition.
This firearm is also equipped with twin non-binding action bars to ensure the smoothest operation, and a bead front sight that sits atop the barrel intuitively keeps users on close range targets in emergency situations.
Made of a synthetic material, the Remington 870 Tactical stock is compact and 6-position collapsible, while the Hogue rubber pistol grip makes the pump action shotgun easy to control.
More features include a steel-lined, grooved forend; a substantial bolt; an easy-to-operate slide release that is just in front of the trigger guard; a cross-bolt safety located behind the trigger; a precision-machined ordinance steel receiver; and a breech block that locks into the barrel extension for unparalleled strength.
The extremely strong Remington 870 shotgun receiver machined from a single block of solid steel is at the heart of the landmark dependability and durability of this firearm that has been optimized and taken to the next level.
While the magazine tube holds six 3-inch cartridges, one more round can fit into the chamber to make for a total capacity of seven rounds. The magazine follower that is fluorescent orange makes it very easy to see whether there’s a round in the Remington 870 Tactical magazine or not.
On the whole, Remington Tactical shotguns are depended upon by America’s law enforcement and military personnel on a daily basis, and this trust has been earned not just due to decades of reliable performance in the field, but also the guarantee of a long service life.
Read the “Additional Information” section farther below for even more info about this Remington 12ga pump.
Remington 870 Shotgun for Sale
The Remington 870 Express Tactical is quite affordably priced for such a great shotgun. As of time of writing, the Remington 870 cost ranges between $420 – $500, depending on the specific model and dealer. You can purchase it from any of the following reliable sellers:
Remember that if the shotgun is currently not in stock at any of the preferred dealer website(s), you can either choose to backorder the Remington 870 Tactical, or opt in to be notified when it is back in stock.
Also, be sure to check out the “Variants” section further below for different versions of the firearm to consider.
Note: While on the product page, look out for any shipping restrictions or NFA rules which may apply before you purchase.
Remington 870 Tactical Additional Information
Choke
The advantages of the fixed choke featured on the Remington 870 Home Defense shotgun include:
- Simplicity – there are no additional parts to maintain or purchase
- Reliability – fixed choke shotguns tend to be more reliable than those with an interchangeable choke system; this is because there are no moving/removable parts, and there’s no chance that the choke will come loose during use.
- Lower cost – fixed choke shotguns such as the Remington 870 Express Tactical are generally less expensive, making them ideal for shooters who are budget-conscious
Action Bars
Designed for positive, non-binding extraction and ejection of empty cartridges, this shotgun’s twin action bars are silky-smooth and excellent at preventing binding and twisting so that you’ll always have the chance to get off a second shot.
Safety
The manual (cross-bolt) safety mechanism featured on the Remington 870 Tactical is in form of a simple, push-button action that utilizes a metal bar which can be positioned to act as a positive block to trigger movement. When pressed from right to left, the red part of this safety shows up, indicating that the gun is in the “Fire” position.
Receiver Finish
The receiver of this Remington pump shotgun wears a black oxide finish that not only looks attractive, but which also provides improved corrosion and wear resistance, as well as durability and aesthetics. Thanks to this finish, the firearm holds up well under harsh usage conditions.
Applications
Built on the legendary pump action that’s now the gold standard for high-risk applications, this edition of the Remington 870 Tactical with its quick pointing 18 ½-inch barrel, 6-position adjustable synthetic tactical stock, pistol grip and 6 + 1 capacity, offers versatility for different environments.
From home and personal defense, to competition and law enforcement, the firearm is optimized to deliver the edge you can count on when you need it most, and no challenge is too great for the Remington 12ga pump action shotgun.
Recommended Ammunition
For home defense, birdshot works fine at short distances, but may not penetrate optimally at longer distances, especially if the target is wearing thick leather clothing for example. Slugs, on the other hand, perform better at long ranges, but tend to over penetrate at close ranges; when shot through a firearm like the Remington 870 Tactical they can go through the target and then through a wall or two.
At reasonable home defense distances, either 00 or #1 buckshot works pretty well, and is less likely to penetrate walls provided it hits the target first. #4 buck is better for really close ranges.
The following ammunition are worth considering for use with the Remington 870 shotgun:
- Federal Premium Vital Shok 00 buckshot (2¾ -inch or 3-inch)
- Federal Premium Personal Defense 00 buckshot
- Federal TruBall 1-ounce slugs (2¾-inch or 3-inch)
- Remington No. 4 buck.
Remington 870 Express Tactical Reviews
Take a look at these reviews from shooters who have bought and used the Remington 870 Tactical:
![](https://armsintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/870-rev.png)
“No issues in shipping or condition upon arrival. Purchased this to make myself feel better about the Turknelli clones I’ve purchased lately. Great weapon. Owned several 870s. Always reliable.”
![](https://armsintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/870-rev2.png)
“870 Remington is my go to shotgun. I have never had a failure with one, and this one is no different. Awesome home defense.”
![](https://armsintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/870-rev3.png)
“The best home defense shotgun made! Great price and customer service is the standard from Palmetto StTe Armory. Don’t waste time shopping around no matter what your looking for!!!!!”
![](https://armsintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/870-rev4.png)
“As described, on time, fair price!”
Remember that this Remington pump shotgun can be purchased from these trusted sellers:
Remington 870 Tactical Variants
There are several firearms in Remington’s lineup of shotguns developed for tactical purposes. The following are popular variants of the Remington 870 Express Tactical (R81212):
Remington 870 Express Tactical (R25077)
Unlike our focus model with an adjustable Magpul stock, this variant features a fixed synthetic stock. The tubular magazine can hold six 2 3/4″ or five 3″ cartridges.
![](https://armsintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/R25077.jpg)
Remington Model 870 Express Tactical (R25549)
This variant comes with a fixed synthetic stock as well, but the magazine tube holds 4 rounds.
![](https://armsintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/R25549.jpg)
Remington 870 Express Tactical Magpul (R81192)
This Remington 870 shotgun model features a black Magpul stock and tactical-style forend. Magazine capacity is 6 rounds.
![](https://armsintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/R81192.jpg)
Remington Model 870 Home Defense (R25559)
This model comes with traditional dark stain hardwood furniture, and a CYL bore choke for use with common home defense shotshell loads. It also accepts standard Model 870 replacement barrels without modification. Magazine capacity is 4, but there’s also a 6-shot version (R81197) of this Remington 870 Home Defense shotgun.
![](https://armsintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/R25559.jpg)
Other Remington 12ga Tactical Shotguns
Also worth checking out is the V3 tactical line of shotguns which are the next generation of home defense shotguns. There’s the:
Remington V3 Tactical (R83441)
This Remington semi-automatic shotgun utilizes the patented Versaport gas system and is equipped with a synthetic stock and XS low profile sights. There’s also another version (R83442) of this Remington tactical shotgun with a vent rib bead sight.
![](https://armsintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/R83441.jpg)
Bear in mind that all these variants or tactical models are 12 gauge and feature an 18.5-inch barrel. You can click on any to read details and purchase.
Remington 12ga Tactical Accessories
Consider the following aftermarket accessories with which you can upgrade your Remington 870 Tactical for optimal performance:
ADAPTIVE TACTICAL EX Performance Remington 870 Tactical Light and Forend
This very useful accessory offers a compact, powerful 300-lumen tactical flashlight that seamlessly integrates into forend body, and which produces three levels of illumination designed to offer wide, smooth beams ideal for close-range, shotgun applications.
The removable light reveals a 2-inch Picatinny rail for attaching other accessories to your Remington 870 Tactical, and this rail may be concealed under the included nose cap.
Nightstick SFL-13GL Shotgun Forend Weapon Light with Green Laser
The SFL-13GL shotgun forend weapon light with green laser is a complete forend replacement for your 12 gauge Remington 870 and TAC-14 pump action shotgun. It features a super-bright LED rated at 1200 lumens, ambidextrous switches, an ergonomic palm swell design for improved grip, and more.
PROMAG Archangel Tactical Shotgun Stock System for Remington 870
This stock system includes a six-position collapsible buttstock made of a proprietary lightweight, carbon-fiber reinforced polymer. This Remington 870 shotgun accessory allows shot-gunners of all sizes to find the optimum adjustment for fit and comfort, and features a tunable, interchangeable-insert recoil pad; molded-in QD sling swivel hardpoints – L&R; a detachable cheek riser, etc.
ADAPTIVE TACTICAL Remington 870/1100/1187 12 Gauge Shell Carrier
This durable and flexible carrier securely holds six 12ga shotgun shells. Easy to install, it features a rapid access design that reduces chances of snagging; and its streamlined, lightweight design features a shaped mounting plate which fits closely to the receiver’s contours.
All you have to do is click on any of the Remington 870 Tactical accessories above to view specs or more details, and make a purchase too.