870 - what a cheap trigger assembly!

[dave3006]

My boss bought an 870 express about 2 years ago. He is a firearms novice. He brought it to work to have me show him the proper disassembly and cleaning of the gun. When I was taking it apart, I could not believe that Remington switched to a cheap plastic trigger assembly. It was a total POS. They also had a plastic follower and retaining plug.

I was thinking about getting one. However, I can't bear to spend good money for a gun with this type of cheap trigger.

Do they do this on the Wingmaster?

Can you buy a replacement trigger assembly?

 

[Badger Arms]

There's nothing wrong with plastic, many guns today have plastic receivers, let alone trigger assemblies. Plastic is significantly cheaper to produce and is stronger in many applications such as this one. It's also lighter, requires no finishing, is self-lubricating, and is completely corrosion resistant. Plastic can be molded and cast to greater precision as well.

When a part is designed to be an aluminum casting (as was the replaced trigger-guard assembly) you don't really gain anything by staying with the Aluminum except piece of mind. One can FEEL that aluminum is superior because it's heavier, and feels more solid, but reality is something completely different.

 

[444]

"It was a total POS"

I predict that, that total POS will still be working fine 100 years from now.

 

[romulus]

You CAN buy a rem 870 all steel trigger group but it costs more than the SG. Frankly aluminum is so unaesthetic that I'd be fine with a modern polymer TG. Mine are aluminum as one is a telve or so year old Express, the other a three year old Police model. Plastic would have been fine in any case.

 

[Flatfender]

They are a POS!

Please, for his peace of mind and yours, just have your boss put the gun and the parts in a box and ship it to me.

 

[Dave McCracken]

The guys pretty much nailed it. Both on TFL and here, repeated inquiries on plastic part failure have only come up with a handful of busted Mossberg safety buttons.

Don't take our word for it. Run 25K rounds through your Express and let us know how many times the TG busts or glitches.

 

[9mmMike]

I ran a poll about this on another forum (sorry I strayed ) and there was one reported failure of an 870 plastic trigger assembly. It was crushed and in all probability would have been just as smooshed if it had been aluminum.
All my 870's are metal though since I bought used assemblies and had them tweaked and or coated.
FWIW, several of my plastic assemblies had nicer triggers than the unmodified metal ones.
Mike

 

[christophera]

I'm just trying to figure out why it took your boss 2 YEARS to figure out that he should learn how to clean it.

 

[Al Thompson]

Christopher, in the world of 870s, he's a clean freak! Everybody knows you clean once a decade whether it needs it or not!

 

[dave3006]

He bought it after 9/11 and only shot it twice. He forgot how to even disassemble the thing.

I start to feel sick to my stomach and uneasy if I go more than a week or two without going to the range. I always clean my guns as if I were going to need them for a life and death battle after every trip.

 

[Swamprabbit]

I'll chime in with confidence in the 870 Express trigger assembly. Have never had any problems with them and have had MANY rounds through them.

My only real complaint about the Express version is the metal finish. The metal will rust VERY easily if not diligently maintained and isn't very forgiving. Other than that, they seem to be fine guns.

 

[9mmMike]

I have never had a rust problem with my Express-finished 870's. I do not live in Kentucky either but I do shoot in the rain. I use CLP on the finish and it seems to hold up well. I do clean after every shoot and never store a gun wet.
My complaint about the Express models is the sharp edges all over the place. The inside of the receivers and really cut you up if you're not careful.
Mike

 

[ralphtt]

Had a Remington 870 trap gun some years ago. Bought it with a new Timney trigger installed. The old 'steel' trigger assembly came with the gun, wrapped in a shot bag.

Sold the trap gun some years later, including the Timney trigger. Forgot about the old trigger assembly which is in the bottom of the gun cabinet still wrapped in the shot bag.

According to Romulus (see above post), You CAN buy a rem 870 all steel trigger group but it costs more than the SG.

Anybody want to trade me an 870 for this steel trigger group?

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

All these anti-complaints about plastic... yet some people are still anti Beretta Storm due to the plastic hammer...

 

[Fred Fuller]

ralphtt,

Break out the magnet and try it on that trigger plate. Most likely it is anodized aluminum. Shoulda punched those two pins and pulled the Timney, unless the guy who bought it from you paid gun price plus trigger price for it... .

lpl/nc