Remington Model 878

Remington Model 58
Type	Shotgun
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designer	L. Ray Critendon, Ellis Hailston, and Harold L. Hameister[1]
Designed	1959
Manufacturer	Remington Arms
Produced	1959–1963
Number built	~63,500
Specifications
Cartridge	12 gauge
Action	semi-automatic Gas Operated
Feed system	2+1 round Tubular magazine
Sights	Bead front, plain or Vent Rib barrel

The Remington Model 878, also known as the Automaster, is a semi-automatic shotgun manufactured by Remington Arms in the mid 20th century. It is a gas operated shotgun and was marketed alongside the related Model 58 and the recoil operated Model 11-48. The 58 was manufactured in 12 gauge only from 1959 to 1963 until it was replaced by the Model 1100.

Design

The Model 58 suffered from many design shortcomings compared to the contemporary Model 11-48 with which it shared many design features and parts. The 878 introduced an improved "self-adjusting" gas system^[2] compared to the Model 58 though it still operated similarly. Another change was in the carrier and bolt system which were now quite similar to the Model 870, thus the similar name.

While improved, Remington chose to retire the Model 58 and 878 quickly in favor of a new, more elegant design. The resulting Model 1100 immediately replaced the Model 58 and 878 and proved so successful that it soon also replaced the Model 11-48 and remains in production as of 2014, over 50 years after its introduction.

In recent years the collectability of the 878 has been on the rise. Due to low production numbers as well as the continued success of the 870 design on which is based, the 878 remains a solid field performer.

References

Remington Firearms and Cartridges
Rifles	Bolt-action JuniorTarget 521TL Remington-Keene rifle M1903 Springfield rifle Pattern 1914 Enfield M1917 Enfield Model 5 Model 6 Model 7 Model 30 Model 34 M40 Model 341 Model 504 Model 511 Model 512 Model 513 Model 521 Model 580 Model 581 Model 582 Model 600 Model 660 Model 673 Model 700 Model 710 Model 720 Model 721 Model 722 Model 725 Model 770 Model 788 Model 798 Model 799 M24 Sniper Weapon System M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle Modular Sniper Rifle Pump-action Model Six Model 14 Model 121 Model 141 Model 572 Model 572 Fieldmaster Model 760 Model 7600 Model 7615 Semi-automatic Nylon 66 Model Four Model 8 Model 24 Model 241 Model 522 Model 552 Model 597 Model 740 Model 742 Model 7400 Model 750 R5 Remington Gas System Model R-15 Model R-25 RSASS Automatic Adaptive Combat Rifle Single shot Rolling Block
Shotguns	Pump-action Model 10 and 29 Model 17 Model 31 Model 870 Model 887 Semi-automatic Model 11 Model 11-48 Model 58 Model 878 Model 1100 Model 11-87 Model SP-10 SPR 453 Break-action SPR 100 SPR 310
Handguns	Semi-automatic 1911 R1 Model 51 R51 RM380 Revolver Model 1858 Model 1875 Model 1890 Derringer Model 95 Rider Single Shot Pistol Zig-Zag Derringer Other XP-100
Cartridges	.17 Remington Fireball .17 Remington 5mm Remington Magnum Rimfire .22 BR .22 Remington Jet .221 Remington Fireball .222 Remington .222 Remington Magnum .223 Remington .22-250 Remington 6mm BR 6mm Remington .25 Remington .257 Roberts .25-06 Remington .260 Remington 6.5mm Remington Magnum 7mm BR Remington 7mm-08 Remington .280 Remington 7mm Remington Magnum 7mm Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum .30 Remington .30 Remington AR .300 Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum .300 Remington Ultra Magnum .32 Remington 8mm Remington Magnum .338 Remington Ultra Magnum 7 mm Remington Ultra Magnum .35 Remington .35 Whelen .350 Remington Magnum .375 Remington Ultra Magnum .416 Remington Magnum .44 Remington Magnum