Diffs between Rem 870 police model #5023 and #4901???

[Dave McCracken]

Call 800-243-9700, Remington's help line and give them the serial number. They'll nail down the date to the month.

See other thread about my impressions of a new WM. All in all, good shotgun. Big Green's QC seems hit or miss, but they still make good pumps.

IMO, 23" is about optimum for a do it all barrel. I'd like to see one myself for an Upland Special clone.

Prices on older WMs have risen steeply. We may be to blame in part. Singing the praises of fine older shotguns may be ultimately responsible for us not being able to buy more of them.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Go ahead and get what you think will work, just to start with. Chances are pretty good you will change your mind regarding what you really want once you get some trigger time on whatever 870 you start with. That is not a poke at you or your thread, or an attempted insult, I mean it sincerely and I pretty much know the feeling myself. I have been mixing and matching with 870s for about 30 years now and am still playing with them. You can buy, sell, swap and trade till you get exactly what suits you, and if you shop and trade carefully you will never lose a dime in the process.

I tell people often to try whatever it is they are thinking about 'in the flesh' to see if they really like it- sometimes you have to buy it to try it, but if you can get hands on one belonging to a friend you are that much better off. With 870s their modular nature and wide variety of barrels and accessories make it possible to get pretty much whatever you want. But it is ice to be able to 'try before you buy' and shooting friends' or acquaintances' guns will let you do that.

Friend Dave McC has another saying, that 870s may not reproduce but they DO multiply. It seems that way. Once you get started you always seem to run across a bargain on this gun or that barrel or some other accessory item. You get exposed to ideas you never thought about and some of them you will want to try. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the process as long as you are _shooting_ whatever it is you are experimenting with.

Since the 'tacticool shotgun' became popular I see more and more folk who simply MUST have their gun "finished" with all the accessories and bolt-ons and gunsmithing in place before they will even fire a single round out of it. I secretly wonder if even then some of these folk actually shoot them, once they get everything they want bolted on. It's a mystery to me, for sure, since to me a shotgun has always been the most utilitarian of guns, the gun everyone had one of, the gun everybody used.

I know how much fun the anticipation of a new project is, believe me. But don't let that stand in the way of accomplishing the project. Nothing says you have to get it absolutely perfect the first time out the gate.

lpl/nc

 

[warriorsociologist]

So....how's THIS for a start??? (Stole it, didn't I?)
Now I'm on the prowl for a nice 870P, on which I will put a 21" VR rem-choke turkey barrel for all-purpose HD/SG/Turkey/etc...

Now...where's that self-absorbed giddy smiliey at?

 

[Dave McCracken]

Looks just like Number Six, and that's a good thing. Congrats and kudoes!!

As was stated, 870s do not reproduce but they tend to multiply. Comfort yourself(and maybe your spouse) with the idea that one can assemble a pile of 870s, suitable for any activity, for less than a used Perazzi or Krieghoff.

Let us know how it shoots.....

 

[warriorsociologist]

Thanks Dave. My original plan was to sell off my M1-s90 tactical w/ it's spare 28" barrel (recently sold it for $900 and change) and get a pump gun or three. Now that I have this one, I will look to spend the next $400-$500 on a 870 police/frankenstein gun. I will probably find a used parkarized 870 police and a 21" rem-choked VR baarrel (and have it parkarized if needed). Two guns, many uses. Thanks for your help (all of you AND the search function).

C

 

[sm]

870s are not an addiction - just a way of life.

 

[Fred Fuller]

That one looks nice. Let us know how it shoots!

No need to pay new retail price for the Police gun. Was gonna suggest you get in touch with our own sgtb re. a LEO trade-in, but I see you did that a couple hours ago. I got my 870P from him, it's a 1989 vintage blued/walnut/18" bead/factory mag extension model that is in great shape, and cost over a hundred bucks less than new.

And there should be 18- 20" barrels for that nice new old Wingmaster floating around, around a C-note or so should snag one. No reason that one can't do double duty too, I try to find a short barrel for every field gun I come home with, comes in handy to have an extra short barrelled shotgun (or a couple extra...) to issue out if someone's family needs babysitting or someone's property needs looking after (BTDT in both cases, too). That's one more reason I buy buckshot and slugs by the case, so there is enough on hand to issue out with the guns.

Congrats on the Wingmaster, hope you live long enough to wear it out!

lpl/nc

 

[warriorsociologist]

Thanks Lee. I wasn't planning on getting a new one. Either SgtB or my local dealer (who apparently has some) will get my money ($250-300 or so of it anyway). The rest will go to misc. things like perhaps an extra barrel, refininsh on the stock, parkarizing an extra 21" rem-choke for the 870P, etc.

 

[Marshall]

I have a Rem Mowhawk 48, 20ga 26" Imp Cylinder that I upland with while using 6 to 7 1/2", depending. I never go smaller (higher number). Pheasant 6 shot, quail 7 1/2. I also shoot dove with it using 6 shot.

I shoot as well with that little gun as I do with it's "special" brothers that cost more. Reminds me of bass fishing, I caught as many bass with my 16ft Tide Craft with stick steering and 60HP Evinrude than I do with my "had to have" Ranger and huge Merc. It sho look purdy though, sittin there.

 

[warriorsociologist]

SO....does anyone know if the "Marine Magnum" is internally more like the police series or the express series? I assume it is basically a "police" 870 with an electroless nickel finish....correct?