Remington 870 and 11-87 Police models

B

bearkilr

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
357   0   0
Location
Nowhere, ......just past the middle
I'm thinking of getting one of these and have done a search on here, but still have some unanswered questions.
Can someone outline the difference between a regular 870 and the Police model? I've read about it being "better' and more "refined" but how exactly is this achieved? Is the action that much smoother with better parts?

I've read about the 11-87P being finicky with different loads. I had an 1100 years ago and wasn't impressed at all with that gun. The 11-87P(and 870) would likely see Challenger slugs only, these are 2 3/4 Foster type slugs.
Currently I'm using an old 870 Sportsman receiver with Rem 18.5" bbl. I believe this was the "Express" before that model hit the market.

I've had a Benelli M4, but that gun is too heavy and fancy for my uses, so we don't need to go to that recommendation.

Thanks for any and all info. Basically, is it worth double the price tag of an Express or am I paying solely for the "Police" insignia on the receiver.
 
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.
 
Yes, the Police is better than the Express, and well worth the price difference.
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.
Click to expand...


Model 870™ Express®
<http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model-870/model-870-express.aspx>

Model 870™ Wingmaster®
<http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model-870/model-870-wingmaster.aspx>

Model 870™ Police®
<http://www.remingtonle.com/shotguns/870.htm>

Law Enforcement Frequently Asked Questions
<http://www.remingtonle.com/support/faqs.htm>

Remington 870 Police versus 870 Express
<http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1144778>

remington 870 express vs. wingmaster: whats the difference?
<http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-445236.html>

870 Express vs. 870 Police Magnum
<http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?p=1765959>

870 express synthetic vs 870 police synthetic
<http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=62079>

Difference between a Remington Express and a Police Magnum
<http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_1/177796_.html>
 
not worth the price difference at all. I own both. Internal machining is the same. Put in a forged extractor and change some springs and they function the same. The main difference is just the exterior surface finish. If you upgrade the little components you will have the same functionality and reliability. I won't waste extra money on another P after seeing both side by side
 
I don't know J.P. I used to think that, but after shooting my Express at a 3G match on a huimid day, it had a blush where it was starting to rust everywhere I touched it. :eek:
I kept it well oiled, but a parkerized finish would have held the oil and protected from corrosion better that the blasted and blued finish on the Express guns.

I spent some time polishing the insidey parts of my Express. I swapped the plastic express trigger group for a metal Police one and even got a machined (not MIM) firing pin, action lock and extractor for the bolt. I bumped-out the mag tube dimples and replaced the factory synthetic stocks with a Speedfeed set.
With the exception of the finish, I had an 870 identical to the 870 police model. I was always going to get it parkerized, but never did. No matter what I did to the gun, it was still an Express model. Same goes for kitting-up a Norinco: There are lots of nice Norincos out there, but no matter what goes into or onto them, they're still Norincos.

Recently I sold that 870, but if I was going to get another, I would buy the Rem 870 Police because of the finish, the Remington LE pedigree, and to save the time effort and money replacing parts.
All of those things make a difference to me, so the increase for a Police model is worth it to me. That's the fun part, I think. Manufacturers offer all sorts of options, and you choose the gun with the most options that appeal to you. At the time I bought my Express, price was one of the biggest things I was looking at. It's a good thing too, because I learned A LOT working on that gun: I mightn't have been so willing to completely disassemble it if she was really expensive.
 
Craftsman 441 said:
I don't know J.P. I used to think that, but after shooting my Express at a 3G match on a huimid day, it had a blush where it was starting to rust everywhere I touched it. :eek:
I kept it well oiled, but a parkerized finish would have held the oil and protected from corrosion better that the blasted and blued finish on the Express guns.

I spent some time polishing the insidey parts of my Express. I swapped the plastic express trigger group for a metal Police one and even got a machined (not MIM) firing pin, action lock and extractor for the bolt. I bumped-out the mag tube dimples and replaced the factory synthetic stocks with a Speedfeed set.
With the exception of the finish, I had an 870 identical to the 870 police model. I was always going to get it parkerized, but never did. No matter what I did to the gun, it was still an Express model. Same goes for kitting-up a Norinco: There are lots of nice Norincos out there, but no matter what goes into or onto them, they're still Norincos.

Recently I sold that 870, but if I was going to get another, I would buy the Rem 870 Police because of the finish, the Remington LE pedigree, and to save the time effort and money replacing parts.
All of those things make a difference to me, so the increase for a Police model is worth it to me. That's the fun part, I think. Manufacturers offer all sorts of options, and you choose the gun with the most options that appeal to you. At the time I bought my Express, price was one of the biggest things I was looking at. It's a good thing too, because I learned A LOT working on that gun: I mightn't have been so willing to completely disassemble it if she was really expensive.
Click to expand...

$350 vs $800

I own a park tank and a blasting cabinet so that does make it an even easier decision for me. Aside from cosmetics though, I think you agree that upgrading certain components gets you identical reliability and function for much less money. I think the P models are priced for government purchase and Remington knows how that game works.
 
J.P. said:
$350 vs $800

I own a park tank and a blasting cabinet so that does make it an even easier decision for me. Aside from cosmetics though, I think you agree that upgrading certain components gets you identical reliability and function for much less money. I think the P models are priced for government purchase and Remington knows how that game works.
Click to expand...

After doing quite a bit of reading about the various models and their attributes, I'd have to agree that most of the extra $$ is charged for the "Police" writing on the receiver.

So after much deliberation, I'm gonna bite the bullet and get another M4.
 
If I were doing it all over again, I'd buy a used older wingmaster and an NEA 14" barrel. I'd send it to Casry at Tac Ord for parkerizing and/or Armacoat finish and have Wilson ghost ring sights installed. Then I'd slap on a synthetic stock set and shoot the thing for the rest of my life :)
 
Where in Canada?

Where can you buy the internals - springs and small parts (maybe as a kit) to upgrade a standard 870 to the police model in Canada?
Does anyone have an idea of the approximate price?
 
Geoff B said:
Where can you buy the internals - springs and small parts (maybe as a kit) to upgrade a standard 870 to the police model in Canada?
Does anyone have an idea of the approximate price?
Click to expand...

why Canada? Brownells will sell you everything. Casey at Tac ord probably has a lot of it.
 
I am not a Rem fan by all mean, actually dont like their products much but i have to say this, in 1991 i bought a 11-87 Turkey gun all mat black, 18 inch barrel with chokes, paid over a 1000.00 for it , shot 2 turkeys a year for 20 years and each year i went tru 20 rounds for patterning and practicing, if i add right that make 440 rounds shots in the last 20 years and not once i had an issue, this gun is down right reliable... JP.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom