Remington 870, Express vs Police models

Big Bad

Big Bad

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I hear different things about comparing the usual 870 civilian models and the official police and military versions; unfortunately I've never been able to do a side-by-side comparison (I did have the distinct impression the Police version is sturdier). However, at least one skilled person has told me that once you have the larger magazine in place, the only difference is that the official tactical version has a metallic rather than a plastic follower. And of course one other difference I can easily see is that the "police" models list for up to hundreds of dollar more.

I'm confident people here will have the definitive answer, so what is it?
 
The Police model is much heavier and has far better internals.

The Express is lighter, has plastic trigger guard, and cheaper internals. The Express isn't worthy of the 870 moniker IMHO.

The Police is considerably more, but buy once, cry once...
 
Frankly, there isn't that much difference - the receivers are the same, but the P is better finished, the extractor on the P isn't MIM, the trigger guards have been metal on the P, the mag tube doesn't use a dimpled retainer, there's a spring detent to retain the barrel position, springs are heavier duty, and they're put together by people who have been around longer.
 
Police model also has a heavier carrier spring and heavier sear spring.

I have two 870P's and handled many Expresses. Trust me, buy the 870P if you can swing it.

You dont NEED any of these things, however I'd recommend adding an S&J mag extension & mag spring, an S&J or Van Comp follower, add an S&J or Van Comp over sized safety, add an XS tritium big dot, maybe a lighter sear spring (if you find the trigger a little heavy).

You'll never need to purchase another pump action SG again.

And if you want to expand for different uses, it's by far the most versatile design ever. Get a 14" Remington HD barrel if you want to hang with the cool kids, a 24" ribbed Carlson barrel for birds, maybe a 24" rifled bore/rifle sight barrel for throwing sabots at things.

If you can't tell, I think the 870P is the best platform going to cover all the pump bases. I wouldn't spend for all the accessories for an Express model. Handle both if you can, you'll see why.
 
enefgee said:
Frankly, there isn't that much difference - the receivers are the same, but the P is better finished, the extractor on the P isn't MIM, the trigger guards have been metal on the P, the mag tube doesn't use a dimpled retainer, there's a spring detent to retain the barrel position, springs are heavier duty, and they're put together by people who have been around longer.
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This...the police models are built on their own line by experienced assemblers using upgraded extractor and heavier springs.
 
I don't think the Police model run heavier springs anymore, they weren't needed for normal function and were simply a hedge against the kind of neglect they'd received sitting in a squad car gun rack back in the old days.

I've also heard that the Police models are no longer assembled on their own line, if indeed they ever were.

The main differences are the Police's heavier profile barrel, Parkerized finish, machined extractor and some other small parts.

They MAY receive more in the way of polishing, but the difference is minor if that's the case.

On my Police, I ended up having to polish the chamber to get it to extractor certain cheap shells, just like many folks have to do with the Express models. The action was also as rough as I ever felt on a pump gun. Granted, mine was manufactured in 2003, when Remington was in financial trouble before they got bought up by Freedom Group.
 
enefgee said:
Frankly, there isn't that much difference - the receivers are the same, but the P is better finished, the extractor on the P isn't MIM, the trigger guards have been metal on the P, the mag tube doesn't use a dimpled retainer, there's a spring detent to retain the barrel position, springs are heavier duty, and they're put together by people who have been around longer.
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Now you mention it, the dimpled retainer thing has been a problem for me in the past all right. Never noticed what was in place until it became a problem. But I've never seen a plastic trigger guard on an 870 that I can think of.
 
870P said:
I don't think the Police model run heavier springs anymore, they weren't needed for normal function and were simply a hedge against the kind of neglect they'd received sitting in a squad car gun rack back in the old days.

I've also heard that the Police models are no longer assembled on their own line, if indeed they ever were.

The main differences are the Police's heavier profile barrel, Parkerized finish, machined extractor and some other small parts.

They MAY receive more in the way of polishing, but the difference is minor if that's the case.

On my Police, I ended up having to polish the chamber to get it to extractor certain cheap shells, just like many folks have to do with the Express models. The action was also as rough as I ever felt on a pump gun. Granted, mine was manufactured in 2003, when Remington was in financial trouble before they got bought up by Freedom Group.
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I've heard of that polishing being required, I think 0000 steel wool and a power drill fitted with a cleaning tool plus an hour or so in time were mentioned?
 
Big Bad said:
I've heard of that polishing being required, I think 0000 steel wool and a power drill fitted with a cleaning tool plus an hour or so in time were mentioned?
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Yeah, that's what I did.

BTW the Express models all have a plastic trigger group, even some Police models starting getting them for brief time a few years back. I find them ugly on a more traditional looking build, but from a purely functional standpoint they seem to be better than their metal counterparts.
 
- 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.

I've never seen the above disputed with any facts, just hearsay. One thing's for sure, my 870P's are as smooth and reliable as any Wingmatser I've owned, and finished just as nicely.

Buy one and enjoy.
 
Shooter_01 said:
I've never seen the above disputed with any facts, just hearsay. One thing's for sure, my 870P's are as smooth and reliable as any Wingmatser I've owned, and finished just as nicely.

Buy one and enjoy.
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As per aippi who is basically the guru of all things 870:

Correct, they are the same weapon built with the same parts except a couple small ones. The only difference is the finish, the stocks and two small parts. The Express has a polymer trigger plate assembly the Police and Wingmaster still use the old cast metal.

Every other part is the same in every 870 and there are no plastic parts or beefer parts as stated in another post by someone.

There is only one 870 and the reason other models cost more is you are paying for high end stocks and finishes, not parts as these are all the same. Anyone not understanding this simply go to www.remington.com and click on Support, when that page comes up click on parts, and then down load the parts list. for 12ga you will find only one left shell latch, one right, one hammer, one hammer spring, one hammer plunger, one disconect and so on and so on. Oh, did I mention they are all built with the same parts. So where are these other parts if not on the parts list and why are they not manufactured by Remington? Because they don't exsist except on these gun blogs by people that don't know the subject and give wrong information.

It is this simple. The Police and Wingmaster have a steel extractor and the Express a MIM extractor. The police has one small spring different then the Express or Wingmaster and that is it. All other parts are the same except for the trigger plate assembly I mentioned.

Look at the parts list and see the 18.5" Express matte finish bead sight barrel cost $134 yet the 18.5" parkerized police bead sight barrel cost $101. Yep, the Express barrel cost $33 more then the police barrel. The Police receiver is $247 and the Express receiver is $247. The Express breech bolt is $97 and the police breech bolt is $97.

Learning the parts list is the best way to understand these weapons and to avoid making incorrect comments when the subject comes up. Simply repeating something else you read on another blog is not answering the OP's questions if it is wrong.
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I don't think anyone is saying the 870P has EXTRA parts, just a couple a parts that are a big "heavier" duty. (extractor, barrel, finish).

Interesting find on the barrel cost difference though !
 
i have a police 870 that i bought for cheap at a gun show . it was basicaly a like new gun even though it was made about 1996 . the reason it was sold cheap was because you had to strong arm it to work the pump. when i got it home i took it apart . in order to get the bolt out of the receiver i had to pull very hard . my first impression was an improperly made receiver but that proved not to be the case. i compared parts to a wingmaster and discovered an improperly machined bolt carrier plate . i milled it down and now have a gun that functions properly. heavier springs in the police model , heavier barrel , mag cap ball detent like a wingmaster, different police forend that comes up flush with the receiver, magazine without any impediment for a extension,heavy mag spring, different follower in the mag tube, better finish, and i am sure a couple of things i may have missed .i find the police model a gun that you have to operate in a more forecefull manner . heavier trigger pull due to a heavier spring, a pump release that is stiff and you must put more effort to release. i may be totaly out to lunch on this as it is my own opinion and i have zero police background but i believe they did this for safety reasons.would i buy another ? the answer is yes.
 
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