870P Trigger Work?

[Zebulon]

I have a pair of 870 Police guns that I just don't have the needed time to get out and follow Daves' Wise Shotgun Mantra. I've also learned from reading a lot of threads that indicate that the 870P has a heavier trigger than other 870s because of liability concerns. Can this trigger be improved to the point of a well used 870 without the "use"? If so, who do you guys recommend to do the work? Thanks very much....Zeb

 

[sm]

Lee Lapin will chime in , I believe Red Lyle does this, still wait for Lee.

I do not recommend folks get into a trigger group on their own. I have seen disasters with clipped springs and dremel doctoring resulting in -disasters.

I have had sucess...

-Squirt Happich Semichrome Polish into a TG and simply do dryfire practice drills at home. Then clean TG out, and sparingly apply ATF [transmission fluid] to lube.

-Take someone's gun to a skeet range and I and others run about 100 rds each thru it. 4 folks at 100 rds each = 400 rds in one day smooths things up nicely. In a weeks worth of doing this...1k rds +.... well we put 2500 rds in one gun in a week once...officer real appreciative as he was out of town doing some Admin training.

-Have taken another's TG only, stuck into another gun and did the above.

 

[farscott]

You might want to try your 870P trigger before doing anything. My 870P trigger, after only a few rounds of skeet, is about as crisp as my well-used 870 CT. The pull weight is a bit greater, but not as much as I expected based on reading posts.

I also like the idea of putting the 870P trigger plate in another 870 for fun. I might out my 870P assembly in my 870 CT.

 

[Dave McCracken]

An 870 trigger is fairly straightforward for a decent smith. A tuneup would run about $50 here.

I do not recommend people doing their triggers for the same reasons I don't urge folks to do their own brake work. The consequences of a botched job can be truly horrific.

For the nonce, I suggest work polishing.....

 

[Fastlane]

The trigger pull on my 870P used to bother me but after several thousand rounds it no longer bothers me. Don't know if the trigger has improved or I'm used to it.

 

[Fred Fuller]

At some point in the history of the 870 Police guns, Remington started using heavier springs in certain areas- to include trigger springs. I don't know when that change was first made, my 1989 vintage 870P agency trade-in has a noticeably heavier trigger pull than any of my other 870s.

It could be a simple spring change to a 'non-P' trigger spring (accomplished by a 'smith, this is NOT do-it-yourself territory) will make things feel better. It shouldn't be a huge issue even as is, most folks 'slap' a shotgun trigger and don't worry about having rifle-like crispness. Still, if it feels bad to you it will be an issue in shooting the gun(s) well, so do what you need to do to get it like you want it. I suggest starting out with a good cleaning of the trigger plate assembly with GunScrubber or a non-plastic-damaging spray-on brake cleaner, followed by a good lube job with RemOil or the like. If that and some 'work polishing' doesn't do it, it needs some attention from a gunsmith.

lpl/nc

 

[dfariswheel]

The only difference between the Police models and the Wingmaster and Express is the trigger/sear spring.

The Police model has a stronger spring and this spring is easy to change.
All you need to do is buy a Wingmaster spring.

This will lighten the trigger pull to commercial standards.

No polishing or trigger work is required, or advisable.
Just change out the trigger/sear spring and dry fire the gun 100 times or so.

To change the spring, remove the trigger group.
Lower the hammer and push out the large split bushing at the rear of the trigger group.

This will allow the trigger to move FORWARD, and will take the tension off the trigger/sear spring.

Simply pull the spring out and insert a Wingmaster spring between the "nub" on the trigger and the rear of the sear.

Replace the split bushing and reassemble the trigger group into the receiver.

 

[riverdog]

Sear Spring. Fortunately I only own WingMasters so this is a non-issue for me.

 

[Zebulon]

Thank you gentlemen....I appreciate your wisdom. I'm a man of basics...I lean toward that which works....Your input is very much appreciated....Zebulon