hub
Member
I think the only thing budget about the express is the fit and finish, stocks, and trigger group. Just looking at the picture I think it has the plastic trigger group. Also you have a different finish with the armor tuff and phoshate coating on the barrel. Your stock is upgraded too so that's not an issue.
I'm not sure about the armor tuff finish. Like I said that was what I found with a quick ten second search. I bet if you did some digging you could find some decent reviews. Probably more on some 1911's refinishes using it.
Wilson accessories are expensive. I looked on their order form and to retrofit your own 870 express to the border patrol package is $700. I'm guessing a new express would be somewhere around $300, then you have to add another $165 for the knoxx stock, side saddle upgrade and still mail and wait time. So that's what? $1165. $50 bucks more not including shipping.
Here are some of the accessories from Wilson if you did it your self.
express 12ga $300+ or -
case $70
magazine extension $45
Hi viz follower $7
Heavy duty spring $8
Over sized safety $15
Sidesaddle $32
Ghost ring sights $115
CCB sling $45
Armor tuff finish $250
Knoxx stock $135
That's $1022, with out any gunsmithing work, and or labor costs.
Are some of the things overpriced. Yeah, and you could find them cheaper somewhere else but how much would shipping or gas money add if you got them all separate.
Do you really need all of them? NO, but if you got the money and that's what you want then why not it's your money?
From what I read Wilson does do some work to the 870's internals to ensure reliability too.
I copied this from a magazine review I found on the Ultra tech 870 that had the border patrol package installed on a base 870 express.
To ensure total reliability -- a hallmark of Wilson-tuned firearms -- the gunsmiths hone the slide action bars and ensure they are straight and parallel. The bolt is checked for smooth operation and the ejector and extractor are inspected for correct fit and function. There is not an awful lot that can go wrong with an 870, which is why it is the favored police shotgun of all time, but Wilson's skilled technicians make double-certain everything checks out.
Hope that helps you feel a little better about your purchase. Yeah you probably could have got it cheaper, or used cheaper products that may function just as good if you had done your homework but we all learn from our mistakes.
From what you said about your neighbor's bear encounter then your life just might depend on it's reliability someday. You might want to look in to getting some hard cast slugs also and practice.
Another thing I would do if my life depended on it would be to shoot a wide range of ammo through it. I'm talking slugs, magnums, and cheap wal-mart value packs (Winchester bulk aluminum base) just to make sure it won't choke on anything at all. The biggest complaint about the express's reliability is that it may need the chamber honed and polished if shells are hard to extract. Wilson may do that too but I didn't read that anywhere.
I'm not sure about the armor tuff finish. Like I said that was what I found with a quick ten second search. I bet if you did some digging you could find some decent reviews. Probably more on some 1911's refinishes using it.
Wilson accessories are expensive. I looked on their order form and to retrofit your own 870 express to the border patrol package is $700. I'm guessing a new express would be somewhere around $300, then you have to add another $165 for the knoxx stock, side saddle upgrade and still mail and wait time. So that's what? $1165. $50 bucks more not including shipping.
Here are some of the accessories from Wilson if you did it your self.
express 12ga $300+ or -
case $70
magazine extension $45
Hi viz follower $7
Heavy duty spring $8
Over sized safety $15
Sidesaddle $32
Ghost ring sights $115
CCB sling $45
Armor tuff finish $250
Knoxx stock $135
That's $1022, with out any gunsmithing work, and or labor costs.
Are some of the things overpriced. Yeah, and you could find them cheaper somewhere else but how much would shipping or gas money add if you got them all separate.
Do you really need all of them? NO, but if you got the money and that's what you want then why not it's your money?
From what I read Wilson does do some work to the 870's internals to ensure reliability too.
I copied this from a magazine review I found on the Ultra tech 870 that had the border patrol package installed on a base 870 express.
To ensure total reliability -- a hallmark of Wilson-tuned firearms -- the gunsmiths hone the slide action bars and ensure they are straight and parallel. The bolt is checked for smooth operation and the ejector and extractor are inspected for correct fit and function. There is not an awful lot that can go wrong with an 870, which is why it is the favored police shotgun of all time, but Wilson's skilled technicians make double-certain everything checks out.
Hope that helps you feel a little better about your purchase. Yeah you probably could have got it cheaper, or used cheaper products that may function just as good if you had done your homework but we all learn from our mistakes.
From what you said about your neighbor's bear encounter then your life just might depend on it's reliability someday. You might want to look in to getting some hard cast slugs also and practice.
Another thing I would do if my life depended on it would be to shoot a wide range of ammo through it. I'm talking slugs, magnums, and cheap wal-mart value packs (Winchester bulk aluminum base) just to make sure it won't choke on anything at all. The biggest complaint about the express's reliability is that it may need the chamber honed and polished if shells are hard to extract. Wilson may do that too but I didn't read that anywhere.
Last edited:
