Norinco shotguns: Police use?

[Slater]

A poster on another forum brought up the point that some Police departments (according to him) have purchased the Norinco clone of the Remington 870, chiefly due to the price. This seemed extremely improbable to me, but who knows? Anyone know for sure one way or the other?

[WillBrayJr]

I doubt it. All the Police Departments I know don't use anything generic.

[Slater]

Thanks. Thought so.

[dfariswheel]

I strongly doubt it.
Althought ANYTHING is possible, American Law enforcement is very firmly wed to the Remington 870.

Something on the order of 95% plus of American cops and agents use the 870, and until the unlikely case that someone develops a better, more durable pump gun, they always will.

For an American department ot be found buying a Chinese made firearm would be politically a disaster.

[JNewell]

Roger all that, plus how much cheaper can it be? If co$t is a big factor, buy the Express. The difference between that and the Norinco clone is not a lot...and if something ever goes wrong with the Chinese copy, you are open to a world of hurt, far exceeding the few hundred dollars total that was saved. I don't believe it.

[Rob62]

There are many smaller departments (3 - 7 sworn officers) that can hardly afford any equipment at all. I know for a fact that at least one of these departments (of which I was a member) only had two off brand shotguns.

One was a Phillipine imported 12ga pump with the extended magazine tube that goes all the way to the muzzle. The second gun was a cut down Revelation brand 20ga pump that was missing a front sight bead (I fixed that problem).

So I don't doubt that an agency might consider purchasing the Norinco 870 clone. I know the agency I referenced would have loved to pick up a couple of these guns.

I doubt that any agency that is of any size or has teh finances would go to anything but a top name gun, such as Remington, Mossberg, Benelli, etc.

Regards,
Rob

[Rotorflyr]

Also remember some really small departments out there allow the officers to use and carry what ever they choose. So it isn't impossible for one to be using a Norinco, but no big department is likely to choose them, especialy since departments get discounts on the purchases.

[ARGarrison]

Our small rual Sheriff's Department last year (04) traded in four of their old shotguns. The dealer figured they would all be similar or an odd make through in. The dealer got a old Mossebrg 500, a Remington 870 with rifle sights, a Winchester 1300, and an Ithaca 37 that was marked something on the order of "Police Special". Never underestimate what a budget tight department will end up with.

[model 649]

If I thought MY cops were that hard up I'd kick in for two Rems for them myself.
Josh