Rifleman Review: Remington Model 870 DM Shotgun

by
posted on May 19, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Originally introduced in 1950 and with around 11 million produced, the Remington Model 870 is one of the most successful pump-action shotgun designs in American history. Most version of the Remington 870 have traditionally fed from a tube magazine instead of a detachable box magazine, except for the Remington Model 870 DM.

The Remington Model 870 DM magazine-fed, pump-action shotgun.
The Remington Model 870 DM magazine-fed, pump-action shotgun.

The Model 870 DM feeds from a detachable box magazine that can hold six shells. The magazine attaches to an extended aluminum magazine-well housing attached on the underside of the receiver, where shells would normally feed into the tube. The use of a box magazine instead of the traditional tube magazine gives the Model 870 DM the ability to reload faster, as well as change between shell loads in different magazines with ease.

A view of a magazine feeding into the magazine well of the Model 870 DM.
A view of a magazine feeding into the magazine well of the Model 870 DM.

The single-stack magazines are detached with the use of a release paddle located on the front of the magazine well. Other than the additional magazine well, the controls on the Model 870 DM are the same as those found on standard versions of the Model 870. Despite there being some changed to the internals of the Model 870 DM, The tube magazine is still present and serves as a guide for the for-end. 

Cycling the Model 870 DM action.
Cycling the Model 870 DM action.

The Remington Model 870 DM is chambered for 12-ga. with an 18.5" barrel, and can take 3" shells. It weighs in at 7 lbs. 4 oz. with an unloaded magazine. The standard furniture is made from black polymer, though camouflaged options were made available for hunters. Currently, the 870 DM lineup has ceased production, following Remington Outdoors' bankruptcy. The Remington facility in Ilion, NY, has restarted production of the 870 shotgun line, but there's no word on the relaunch of the DM models.

To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.

Latest

Canik Mc9 Prime Review 1
Canik Mc9 Prime Review 1

Review: Canik USA MC9 Prime

Canik USA built out its concealed-carry handgun lineup with the MC9 Prime, which is a larger, yet still slim, CCW gun that sits in the same category as other upsized micro-compacts.

U.S. Army Awards Mossberg Contract for Additional 590A1 Pump-Action Shotguns

The U.S. Army has awarded O.F. Mossberg & Sons a contract for approximately $11.6 million dollars to supply the U.S. Army with additional Mossberg 590A1 pump-action shotguns.

250 Years of the U.S. Army: Bolt-Actions & Semi-Automatics on the Battlefield

In just a few decades, the U.S. Army would see itself go from a single-shot, blackpowder design in the form of the Trapdoor Springfield to a modern, semi-automatic fighting rifle in the M1 Garand.

Modernized & Economical Muzzleloaders: The CVA Optima XP & XP-SB

CVA's longest-lasting muzzleloader design, the Optima, has been updated in 2026 with "modern ergonomics and modularity."

MidwayUSA Awards $7.5 Million in Cash Grants to Support Youth Shooting Teams

MidwayUSA Foundation recently announced that it concluded its most recent grant cycle, which resulted in a total payout of more than $7.5 million to youth shooting teams and organizations nationwide.

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act is on the Move

The story of American freedom, now almost 250 years on since delegates to the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence, leads irrevocably to the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.