Remington 870 Police: justification

[Slater]

I've long wanted one of these shotguns and would like to get one as soon as I can manage the money. I was talking to a local gun store owner and he said that the 870P is nice but the 870 HD will do everything the Police model will do and at a lower cost.

He's probably right, and they're both essentially 870's except that the Police model is Parkerized, has a couple heavier duty components, and is finished a little better than the Express HD version.

So is the 870P just a "nice to have" variant over the HD model (since it won't be subjected to any extreme operating/storage conditions), or is there any good reason to buy the Police model?

I'm just trying to justify the 870P, I guess

 

[steveracer]

The Police costs more.

But I really like it. I think parked is the way to go on a fighting gun, and I think you'll like the 870 Police. The express will do fine, as will any good pump gun, but the Police model has rifle sights, holds 7 rounds, and is parked. You'll love it.
Justification? If we need more than "it's cool", we're in the wrong hobby.

 

[PJR]

There are five reasons I chose the Police over the HD. The first is the standard safety instead of the J-lock. The second is an ejector made from bar stock as opposed to MIM. The third is a short forearm that permits the use of a sidesaddle. Fourth was an IC choke instead of a cylinder and finally I found the Police smoother in operation than the Express. YMMV.

 

[orangeninja]

I like the Express, for the money, it's tough to beat. As for MIM, I've never seen a Remington part fail yet, and I shoot a 20yr. old Express. But the Police is cool.

 

[obm]

differences between P and express

from Remington LE division:

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=32488&d=1134415084

 

[dfariswheel]

You'll read about problems with the Express models, ranging from the bead blasted blued finish, to extraction problems cause by burrs.
Most of what you hear concerns the rough finish, a rougher action, plastic and MIM parts, and the "dimples" in the magazine.

You'll VERY rarely hear anything but raves about the Police guns.

On thing that can make justifying a Police gun easier is when you can find a really good deal.
Here's the BEST deals around.

Kevin Wells
Discreet Ordnance
[email protected]

Kevin sells Remington shotguns, including the Police models as more or less a hobby and public service.
His delivered prices are usually astoundingly low.

 

[BozemanMT]

Justification? If we need more than "it's cool", we're in the wrong hobby.

totally.
I mean, if I had to justify my collection, it woudl be a lot smaller.

The police is definately heavier built
will it ever be needed? probably not, but it's nice to have.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Just because.....

I've had zero probs with any 870 (except for the minor one of firing pin springs documented here) and regard "Improvements" with a jaundiced eye.

If the Police model speaks to you, get one.

I see no flies on the HD model or other Expresses. Most of the probs reported by new owners boil down to, pardon the expression, pilot error. Few glitches and that "Rusting" thing get reported by those who have done this for a while and/or read the manual and follow the break in procedure.

Best, get one of each and try to wear them out......

 

[ArmedBear]

You can replace anything you don't like about the Express with aftermarket parts for pretty cheap. About the only things I can think of are the plastic follower (never had any trouble, but you can get a machined aluminum one), and the J-lock safety, which frankly doesn't seem like a problem to me.

HOWEVER and it's a big however, Parkerizing is a vastly superior finish compared to the Express finish, which is prone to surface rusting. Rust comes off with a CLP-type product and some rubbing, but it wouldn't be there at all on the Parkerized gun.

I have an Express with the original finish, and it's fine with me. But don't let anyone tell you that it's "very similar" to Parkerizing. It just ain't.

 

[Gary A]

My pump life started with Winchester but I have begun to swing pretty solidly towad the 870. I have an 18" parkerized 870 police with mag extension and I want an 870 police, 18" with the standard 4 round tube, but not for the same reasons many do. I like to hunt pheasant in mixed wooded and field areas around here and I like a pretty short shotgun. 18" might be too short, I don't know, but I think a plugged standard magazine parkerized 870 with its fixed improved cylinder choke (we have to use steel shot where I hunt) would be just dandy. Yes, I'm gonna have to pay a bit more, but over the life of its use, for the enjoyment I'll get, it's not much. I can also buy the mag extension kit and change it over to a defense shotgun in short order, although for my situation, a 4 shot tube should provide all the defense I need. And...I have the other one. I had a 20" rifle-sighted 870 briefly, but I'm a short guy and I like the balance of the 18" better and figure a bead gives me more versatility than the rifle sight. I guess I could have altered the 20" gun and had a dandy bird gun but that's hindsight. I'm gonna try that 18 incher in the field, for sure. Anyway, I'm coming up with "logical" reasons to buy another one.

 

[LaEscopeta]

I went with the 870P because I was buying used and had heard Remington builds the police models to take abuse and keep working. I figured a previous owner might be able to damage an express model but likely not a police one. So far (1.5 years and 600+/- shells later) she is working fine.

 

[AStone]

870P?

I bought mine because it felt right, which was substantially better than the express ... to me.

I liked the shorter barrel, the tighter action, the fore end, the finish, the reviews I read...

I regret it not.

But then, I always buy the best I can afford, even if I don't really "need it".

YMMV.

 

[mrmeval]

Get the one that makes you drool. You will be happier. Everything I've looked at about the 870 tells me I'm getting the 870P police model when funds allow. I'll get something else for trap and 'refined' stuff.

 

[556A2]

I started with an 870 Express HD

I then bought an 870 Police

I then realized the extra $120 was worth it.

Go with the 870 Police, you WON'T be dissapointed

 

[bofe954]

Depending on the exact configuration you want the police may actually be cheaper than buying an HD and converting.

Mine has a 20" barrel, rifle sights, and a 3 shot extension.

I liked the parkerization and the maple vs. birch stocks. I wouldn't pay someone to park an HD and I am sure finding walnut stocks would have cost as much as the PD for me.

Function will probably be the same for me if I bought an HD. I don't like the J lock but I just wouldn't use it and I doubt I'd break any MIM parts. But it is a nicer shotgun in my opinion and worth paying a few bucks more for something I liked and will keep forever compared to a cheap shotgun that works.

My PD was about $450 and I didn't shop too hard. For what it is I think it is relatively inexpensive. I have had it a few years and will have it in 20 years. What's $150 spread over that kind of time?

Get what you want, not what your dealer wants you to get because he has it on his shelf.

 

[ilmonster]

I bought a 870P, a 20" parkerized, bead sighted, std. magazine for $385. Fit and finish is great. Have put 75 rounds through so far, no problems. Like the fact that if ever need to use and have to defend in court afterwards, it has a trigger pull heavier than a HD Express or Wingmaster (heavier, but still a nice crisp trigger pull) which shows I was being prudent.

 

[Doggieman]

heck, the police model is nearly as good as a Mossy 590