Personally i own a 870 police mag, cause i like the 870 platform alot.
The finish on the express or tactical line isnt as good as the older wingmasters /police. However when you can grab a expess in Canada for $370-400, it gets alot of folks shotgunning, that couldnt afford a $700-1000.00 SG. Dont be tricked by the "tactical line" its just an express in disguise.
I have had expresses and other brands of shotgun. Remington like other manufactures cut corners to to reduce costs. in order to put out a commercial "value" range of weapons, commonly available at walmart in the US. There retail market is the US (NOT CANADA) and typically people there who buy 870 express shotguns are paying $300.00 for these and that all they could afford.
Their commercal "retail" sales of guns in the U.S., out sells LE and Miltary sales hands down. Companies like these are only willing to make products to meet a price point of the average U.S. gun buyer, nothing more. In other words, the U.S. gun market is large (with more potencial buyers who in most states need not be qualified) 1/3 Americans own a firearm. The Canadian gun market is small and manufactures dont produce products tailored to our needs, wants or pricepoints. We recieve the spillover/surplus from the US firearms market, this is seen with ammo as well, US demand is always met first.
Getting back to the gun.
Soak that bolt and action bars in CLP, then break that sucker in 200-400 shells. The gun will polish its self.
With the steel low based shells (target load) the expand and deform making for a harder extraction. You have to be aggressive (like all things in life) on the extraction. Just rip the forend back those shells will have to come out (dont worry about breaking the gun). Or if you cant extract take both of your hands on the forend and slam the butt into the ground.
Shotgunning is agressive in nature, the shooter has to dominate that weapon. Go to the gym and man up...