I have an express that was made circa 2006, pre freedom group. I put a Volquartsen X-Act Edge machined extractor in it and with the +3 extension with the included choate spring gives it a lil more oomph when it send a shell onto the elevator.
I considered the enhanced power spring for the shell-evator or whatever but I don't think I'd like the increased resistance of the stiffer carrier when I'm trying to stuff the tube or top off. Besides all I'm ever shooting out of it is 2 ¾" shells anyways. My thinking is that the stronger spring would maybe be an advantage for heavier 3" magnums but I could be off base, just my thinking.
The Express is nowhere near the finished quality of a Wingmaster or one of the old WM police/riot/guard guns but it's still a good reliable shotgun. I haven't shot my express a ton yet but I've shot it and worked it enough to notice it's slicked up a lil. I think these guns have to be shot a fair bit to become slick and there are some things you can do to help it along, like a mild abrasive to the inside of the reciever, action bars, carrier, etc... also some of the expresses have rough chambers so chucking some steel wool or scotch brite into a drill and polishing the chamber can also aid in smooth extraction.
One thing is for certain, I would absolutely upgrade the MIM extractor to a machined Volq or other. Always good to have spares.
Express on top.
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