Just bought a Remington 870 Police, did I make the right choice?

[Joe Link]

I was planning on buying a Remington 870 Express Magnum from Gun Broker (a gun shop local to me) brand new for $329. I remember reading years ago that the Police Magnum models were quite a bit better in a few different ways, but I can't remember what they are. On a spur of the moment a couple days ago I bid on an 870 Police Magnum on gunbroker.com and today I won the auction for $275. After shipping and FFL fees I estimate it'll be around $320 total. Of course, now I'm wondering, did I make the right choice buying a used Police model vs a new express model?

Almost forgot, here's a link to the auction: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=106631758

 

[mtngunr]

You did well, Grasshopper, at least in gun choice....you'll see, once you play with it.....new 870P's are a min. of $400, most folk asking closer to $500, for a Wingmaster-quality gun....

The time to ask questions is BEFORE you buy...

And you can never pay too much, but only pay too soon...

 

[Joe Link]

Damn, $400? Where?

 

[A man with a gun!]

I bought a new 870P here in CA. about 3 months ago. If my memory is right it is a model #403. 18.5" barrel, parkerized, bead sight, synthetic stock. It is my constant companion as I hike in and out of the mining claims

Maybe it's just a California price but I paid $590 for the shotgun and with tax and FFL fees it was something like $660.00 out the door.

I absolutely love my 870P and I'll bet you'll never look back with regret either.

 

[mtngunr]

Damn, $400? Where?

Hoplite, Inc.....regular advertiser in SGN.....

 

[Joe Link]

Wish I would have known that, I would have bought a new one

 

[dasanii19]

I bought a new 870P here in CA. about 3 months ago. If my memory is right it is a model #403. 18.5" barrel, parkerized, bead sight, synthetic stock. It is my constant companion as I hike in and out of the mining claims

Maybe it's just a California price but I paid $590 for the shotgun and with tax and FFL fees it was something like $660.00 out the door.

I absolutely love my 870P and I'll bet you'll never look back with regret either.

Mining claims? How do you carry the 870p? and why do you carry it in these mining claims? Just curious, thanks

 

[proud2deviate]

The differences. Of course, things might have changed a bit since this was put out.

Oh yes, to the OP; ya done pretty good. Not as well as me, but pretty good

ETA: Hey, I just noticed, those are the same people I bought my 870 Police from! Good to deal with, quick shipper.

 

[A man with a gun!]

"Mining claims? How do you carry the 870p? and why do you carry it in these mining claims? Just curious, thanks"

No problem.

During an average summer I have 15-20 one on one bear encounters. Carried a pistol till I met one pushing 700 pounds last fall. I normally carry the shotgun with a shoudler sling over the top of my pack straps on my right side. The gasoline for the dredge is packed in and the placer gold concentrates out at the end of the day. It's steep country and it works me pretty hard.

95% of the time I work the claims alone. The nearest residence from the claims is 17 miles. Trust me.. back there nobody would ever hear me scream. I find the 870P rather comforting even though over the years, I've never met a bear with an attitude problem or one that really made me worry.

 

[mtngunr]

Wish I would have known that, I would have bought a new one

I happily paid about what you did...used gun, too....mine had been Duracoated, which suited me fine....the Hoplite gun would have been $400, plus shipping, plus transfer....$450 minimum....you did just fine....try to find another used 870P for your price.....you'll feel better the more you look.....put another way, for an Express price, you got a far superior piece....like I said, once you play with it and get your ears rung cycling the action bunches, you'll wonder how you lived without it....I've had Rem M10's, M31's, Win. M12's, Ithaca M37 M&P's, and the 870P is my very favorite assault rifle, beating out expensive hi-cap domestic and import assault rifles I've owned as my go-to gun....I live in the boonies, 45 miles from the nearest deputy's car, and the 870P is my 911.....when the dog is going crazy at night, it's a great comfort....

PS....the Speedfeed stock on your 870P is vastly superior in ruggedness and handling comfort to the nylon on Express models....you'll see what I mean on hot or cold days...the SF tenite/fiberglass blend is temperature nuetral.

 

[Jeff F]

Wish I would have known that, I would have bought a new one

Theres nothing wrong with buying a used 870 of any flavor thats in good shape. Somebody else has started breaking it in for you.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Used vs New....

Since 870s last longer than a bad reputation, buying used makes sense.

Of the 6 I've bought, 5 were used. None were worn out, though one needed a refinish prior to me getting it.

I put close to 20K rounds through the 870TB I had. It was 25 years old when I got it and had not been a safe queen. Two firing pin springs were all it needed. Now it's making a friend happy.

Several of mine have over 10K rounds through them. They're nice and smooth shucking.

And, in well over a decade of being a highly public booster of 870s, I've yet to see a thread titled.....

"I Wore Out An 870".....

 

[mtngunr]

Back a decade or so, in GUNS magazine, the author of a tribute to the best selling sporting arm of all time stated something along the lines of, "in the 40yrs since its introduction, I don't know of a gunsmith who has made two weeks wages repairing broken 870s"....my local dealer/smith who's been doing while-u-wait counter-top repairs of every sorta of gun you've ever seen says they're a mighty reliable gun....very few repairs ever needed....the rare broken FP or worn spring, rare ejector, and with guns hunted a LOT, the safety jams from wear to the aluminum trigger housing....said he's probably not repaired but 15 guns since 1959....