870 Police vs Express

[BT JUSTICE]

Hey all-

Im thinking of picking up some his & hers 870s before the new year and I'm wondering if I should spring for the more expensive models. The Express shotguns are a great price, but I've always used the Police models on patrol. I understand there's a difference in some of the innards, but I'm kinda shocked at the price of the Police models.

I currently have two Mossberg 500s which I inherited and I'm not at all fond of the controls (mainly as I've had all my training with 870s and I handled them way more often).

I just want plain synthetic stocks and I'd prefer Ghost Ring sights as that's what I've trained with. I don't need any fancy tacticool Magpul stuff, just a solid black shotgun.


Any input?

[ERdept]

I just copy pasted this....

REMINGTON ARMS COMPANY, LE DIVISION
Important differences between Remington 870 Police and 870 Express shotguns

The 870 Express has been an important part of Remington’s offering to the sporting market.
It was designed to meet a price point in the commercial market while still providing classic 870 functionality.
All of Remington’s 870’s have interchangeable parts, even if they have cosmetic differences.
It is also important to note that many manufacturers use the 870 Express platform for their Police / Combat models.
Without exception, every manufacturer who utilizes our 870 platform serves to upgrade their system to a more efficient, street worthy platform.
While the 870 Express is still an 870, the best pump shotgun on the market, there are some very important cosmetic and functional differences between it and the 870 Police.
To our customers in Law Enforcement, Military, Corrections, and Security, whose lives depend upon the unfailing performance of Remington shotguns, the Police modifications are of paramount importance. Synopses of the variances are provided below.

• 870 Police shotguns go thru a special 23 station check list – ranging from visual inspection, functional testing, test firing, and final inspection.

• All Police shotguns are assembled in a “special build area” at the plant in Ilion, NY. This section is secured and serves only to build LE and Military shotguns, with the same factory personnel working at that assignment each shift.

• All parts that enter the “special build area” are visually inspected by hand to ensure top quality and functionality.

• Due to heavy recoil in buck and slug loads, all 870 Police guns have a longer magazine spring which ensures positive feed and function.

• A heavier sear spring is used to generate a reliable, positive trigger pull between 5 and 8 lbs.

• A heavier carrier dog spring is used to ensure when the carrier elevates the shell, it will be held there until the bolt can push it into the chamber. This ensures positive feeding when using heavier payload rounds.

• Police shotguns do not have an ISS (Integrated Safety System) which is a locking mechanism on the safety of commercial shotguns. This type of locking mechanism can cause delay to an officer who needs the weapon but does not have the appropriate key. LE shotguns have the standard, proven, cross bolt safety.

• The fore-end on the Express model is longer and not compatible with many police shotgun vehicle racks.

• The Police shotguns utilize the heavy duty SPEEDFEED Stocks and Fore-ends.

• The Express model will not allow for the addition of an extension tube without physical modification to the tube and barrel, which can nullify the warranty.

• The Express model has a BEAD BLAST BLUE finish while the Police models utilize either High Luster bluing or Parkerization.

• The Express model utilizes a synthetic trigger housing while the Police models use a compressed metal housing.

• The Police shotgun barrel is locked down with a “ball detent” system in conjunction with the magazine cap vs. a lesser grade “synthetic magazine spring retainer” lock down as used on the Express system.

• The receivers used in Police guns are “vibra honed” to smooth out rough finishes and remove burrs before parkerization or bluing.

• Police shotguns use machined ejectors and extractors, as opposed to powdered metal cast which are utilized on the Express models.

[ERdept]

I guess you'll have to decide if it's worth it.

I got the Police and was happy that is was so heavy duty.


But now got a Benelli M2, which will be sold after the upcoming Deadwood shotgun competition. Just rotating thru.

[m1a1driver]

I use the police 870's on patrol too, spring the extra dough for one. Proforce has them on sale right now. You have your choice of bead or rifle sights, My duty shotgun has the ghost ring sights which proforce has too, but I like the regular rifle sights too so I got those.

[Rickrock1]

I also sported the the 870 Police for nearly 17 years and today I have a express and the 500.
I have to say I like the 500 much better, just me.

[BT JUSTICE]

Thanks for the info fellas. Looks like they do a lot for the Police versions that would be hard to upgrade later.

[ERdept]

Thanks for the info fellas. Looks like they do a lot for the Police versions that would be hard to upgrade later.

The police version is just serious business and tough as nails. It's meant to be thrown around a patrol car trunk, beat around through running through houses, and generally abuses, but still fires.

[2761377]

$320 police trade-ins

http://summitgunbroker.com/image/76829731.jpg

link to summit gb site

http://www.summitgunbroker.com/

[BT JUSTICE]

Sounds like a used Police model could be a better buy than a new Express...

[boukca]

I am not an expert, but bought a new 870 Express. I don't use it much and figured it will still stand up to a lot of wear and tear over the years.

Now if I could get my hands on a used police model with wood furniture, that would be sweet.

[aippi]

I am amazed how any time this come ups some one post that out dated marketing mess from the LE site that is not relevent. Search this site and you will find a few hundred of the same topics and you will find out there is only one 870 and they differ only by finish furniture and about $6 in parts.

Anyone that had read that mess would have realized it is outdated by many years and not posted it. Two quick examples you should have picked up on is the fact that Remington stopped putting the ISS (J-lock) on any shotgun years ago. They stopped using the Heavy sear in P models years ago also. There are more. Any 870 that comes with a two shot extension comes with a barrel with a detent ball on the barrel ring, all of them. All receivers are vibra honed as part of the process. NOWHERE IN THAT POSTING does it say these inspections are only done on the P models. Remington is not letting any gun out of that factory that does not get the same inspections they list in that marketing mess you posted. Anyway, that mess is years old and it proves nothing about the P over any other 870. It is for marketing only.

OP - the only internal parts different on the Express V the Police is one little black spring that cost $4, yet the silver one in the Express cost $4 also, so the only reason they only put the black one in the Police and they put the silver one that cost the extact same in the Wingmasters, Tacticals and Express is so they can market the P model as being built with heavier parts. The second part is the Extractor and the Solid steel one is $14 and the MIM that comes on the Express is $7.50. There are no other internal parts that are different in any 870. Express barrels cost more. The standard 18.5" Bead sight I/C parkerized barrel that comes on the 4+1 Police cost $105 on the Remington parts list. The standard 18.5" bead sight matte finish Express barrel that comes standard on the Express 4+1 HD model cost $134 on the Remington parts list. Yep, the Express barrel cost $29 more dollars then the Police barrel.

I also love how the MIM extractor which is of course pressed powder Metal is looked at as inferior yet in the same Marketing mess ER posted Remington braggs about using the pressed metal trigger plate housing on the P models. Anyone Pick up on how silly that is? Yet even the LE guys at the factory will admitt the Polymer housing is stronger and one even said off the record he believes they need to do away with the cast aluminum and go Polymer on all the models.

Anyone who knows the 870 also knows there is only one 870 and they differ by finish and furniture and a couple small parts. The buy decides if one model is worth more to him then another, not the quality as they are the same shotguns.

[dunndeal]

I bought my 870 from aippi and I'm 100% satisfied.

[2761377]

Anyone who knows the 870 also knows there is only one 870 and they differ by finish and furniture and a couple small parts. The buy decides if one model is worth more to him then another, not the quality as they are the same shotguns.

So are you disputing the notion that Parkerization is superior to bead blasted blue? you seem dismissive of the finish difference.

[Vasili Arkhipov]

OP - the only internal parts different on the Express V the Police is one little black spring that cost $4, yet the silver one in the Express cost $4 also, so the only reason they only put the black one in the Police and they put the silver one that cost the extact same in the Wingmasters, Tacticals and Express is so they can market the P model as being built with heavier parts. The second part is the Extractor and the Solid steel one is $14 and the MIM that comes on the Express is $7.50. There are no other internal parts that are different in any 870.

False.

Magazine Spring.

[Jeff17815]

If you live anywhere near San Jose you have to go to LC Action Police Supply. They only sell to law enforcement, so prices are great. They get 870 police departmental trade ins somewhat often. They only charge 240$-280$. I hand picked one for 280$ that looked like it was never fired from Lassen County. Also all Glocks are 425$ And come with 3 high cap magazines. All the guys from my department pick up the 870's when they get them in.