I think the issue you are talking about is an issue with the 870 Express Guns which have a very cheap finish on them. If the one you are talking about in your original post is an "Express" model I'd recommend you find an older 870 Wingmaster Magnum 3" gun at a Pawn shop or used gun store for 250-400 and you won't have any corrosion issues. The "express" guns are made a lot "cheaper" as Remington decided it needed to compete with the Mossberg and Maverick, under $300 pump shotgun market. IMHO Remington was smart to compete with that market as they have sold a whole bunch of those express guns since most folks don't understand the difference. A new 870 Wingmaster MSRP's for $785.00 while a new express MSRP's for $383.00, difference being quality walnut verse birch stock, good finish verse terrible finish, more extensive quality control verse mass production with limited standards, hand checked and machined verse stamped and assembled to name a few things. Personally, I'd find a good used one. I have one that's over 30 years old and the finish was almost completely worn off from more than 20 years of my use and wiping it down. I had our gunsmith put a Parkerized finish on the Receiver and Cantilever Slug Barrel and removed the quality walnut wood years ago and fitted a Synthetic Camo stock and forend, along with reduced recoil, recoil pad. The Camo dipped finish Super Mag Model 870 ILuvhunt mentioned above might be the ticket for $355.00.
The 870 is a better gun of the 3 but you should also check out mossburg. I had a 870 the action was so much smoother than my 500 but I had shot the 500 so long that the 870 safety and everything just didn't feel right to me so I traded it.
While I won't disagree with you at all...I will tell you first hand the matte finish on the Express models is not that bad. Matter of fact, I actually like it. Not comparing it to the Wingmasters by any means, as I have 3 of them, and there really is no comparison. However what I find to be garbage is the parkerized (and I use that term loosely) finish they {Remington} puts on their rifles. I have it on my 243 and Carlos has it on his -06 (both model 700's). You can breathe on that finish wrong and rust will be on it in no time. I have to wipe that gun daily, and won't consider carrying it in any rainy weather
On both of my Express models with the matte finish there is zero rust on either, and they have both been well used
Hmmmm... Never heard that about the 700's with parkerized finishes. I have two 700's a CDL and a BDL Detachable Mag with the blue finish and haven't ever had an issue. Now that I think about it I used to have a 700 ADL in .308 that had a parkerized finish and it did form surface rust on me, more than once.
If you think the 870 has a smooth and "good feeling" action and trigger you should try a Winchester Model 12. They have such slick action it will take your breath away.
I believe mine is the ADL....not sure what all the _DL models actually mean
