I've heard many refer to the 870 Police as the "gold standard" of HD/tactical pump guns. The ones I've examined do look quite nice. For the average person looking to get an 870 variant for HD, is the Police worth the extra cash over the Express?
Remington 870 Express & Police
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watson
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My thoughts
I am no expert on this but from my research and what I know here is the skinny. In recent years as far as the ammo capacity and finish goes the new what I call Express Home Defense civilian models are coming close to a police but the police is still a cut above. Main differences are
1. The police version is assembled by and individaual not on an assembly line and given inspection more detailed then your assembly line gun. Remington has a seperate area dedicated to LE gun assembly. This ensures a higherlevel of quality and attention to detail.
2. Of course the Plastic triggerguard on the Express vs metal on the Police (WHoopdy doo if you ask me).
3. The standard 870 short barreled express has only a CYLINDER choke vs the Police has an IMP CYLINDER choke. So that will give a little tighter patterning on the Police (NOTE I have seem some models mainly the "Tactical" models that Remington is producing that have IMP CYL chokes or with the breaching end models the choke is not fixed it is removable like a benelli so you could customize it to your likeing)
4. The finish on the police is parkarized vs the civlian models are what remington calls their Express matte finish or whatnot. If this is the same or better I do not know.
In a nutshell if your just getting a gun to protect your home and family and arent going to abuse the crap out of it one of the civiallian express or civilain tactical models will serve you fine. However if you just gotta have that little bit extra get the police either or will serv you fine and is a workhorse.
Best,
Watson
I am no expert on this but from my research and what I know here is the skinny. In recent years as far as the ammo capacity and finish goes the new what I call Express Home Defense civilian models are coming close to a police but the police is still a cut above. Main differences are
1. The police version is assembled by and individaual not on an assembly line and given inspection more detailed then your assembly line gun. Remington has a seperate area dedicated to LE gun assembly. This ensures a higherlevel of quality and attention to detail.
2. Of course the Plastic triggerguard on the Express vs metal on the Police (WHoopdy doo if you ask me).
3. The standard 870 short barreled express has only a CYLINDER choke vs the Police has an IMP CYLINDER choke. So that will give a little tighter patterning on the Police (NOTE I have seem some models mainly the "Tactical" models that Remington is producing that have IMP CYL chokes or with the breaching end models the choke is not fixed it is removable like a benelli so you could customize it to your likeing)
4. The finish on the police is parkarized vs the civlian models are what remington calls their Express matte finish or whatnot. If this is the same or better I do not know.
In a nutshell if your just getting a gun to protect your home and family and arent going to abuse the crap out of it one of the civiallian express or civilain tactical models will serve you fine. However if you just gotta have that little bit extra get the police either or will serv you fine and is a workhorse.
Best,
Watson
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One thing about older Police 870's I am not sure of that I thought I would mention.
I own a police 870 that came from a lot sale from the Minnesota Highway Patrol to ffl's only.
Mine was made in 1989,is Wingmaster Blue, with the rifle sights and the 20 inch barrel.
There are no police markings and the receiver says 870 Magnum.
Of course the stock is police style with the corn cob forearm and the wood is oil stained.
I am not so sure if the older police 870's were or were not hand assembled like the later versions but I can positively say mine is very well built.
In fact when I received mine I was stunned how spotless it was for a service weapon.
Easily 95 per cent.
I will probably never sell it.
You can find these but if in clean condition they will most likely run north of $300.
That of course beats the prices of the brand new ones being sold currently.
I own a police 870 that came from a lot sale from the Minnesota Highway Patrol to ffl's only.
Mine was made in 1989,is Wingmaster Blue, with the rifle sights and the 20 inch barrel.
There are no police markings and the receiver says 870 Magnum.
Of course the stock is police style with the corn cob forearm and the wood is oil stained.
I am not so sure if the older police 870's were or were not hand assembled like the later versions but I can positively say mine is very well built.
In fact when I received mine I was stunned how spotless it was for a service weapon.
Easily 95 per cent.
I will probably never sell it.
You can find these but if in clean condition they will most likely run north of $300.
That of course beats the prices of the brand new ones being sold currently.
I have a 870P that I bought in 1999. It has about 4000 rounds through it mostly bird shot some slugs and buckshot. I figure about another 4000 rounds it will start to break-in. It is cleaned every now and then. Never had the first problem with it.
Virginian
Member
Last time I checked, the Expresses had an MIM extractor and ejector, and I have seen chipped extractors. The non-Express Police models still use the forged machined parts. Yes, I have seen some Express Police guns. I guess even the local governments are pinching pennies.
I like the idea of an engineered plastic trigger group done right. No silver spots where you knock the anodizing off the aluminum. If they come out with one on the 1100 I will have to get one and see how it does.
I like the idea of an engineered plastic trigger group done right. No silver spots where you knock the anodizing off the aluminum. If they come out with one on the 1100 I will have to get one and see how it does.
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