What is the difference?

[LSCurrier]

What is the difference between:

Remington 870 Police 12 gauge (4899 on the following link)
www.remingtonle.com/shotguns/870standard.htm


and the civilian version of the 870 with the closest length of smooth bore barrel to 18"?

I am told by some that the police version has all metal (no plastic) parts, and in some cases the parts are improved. Not sure if this is true of not.

I am looking for a home defense shotgun and am leaning towards the police version so far. NOTE: The police version is aboutt $100 or so more expensive than the 870 non-police version the gun store has on the shelf. Is it worth it?

Any input is appreciated.

Luke

 

[Fred Fuller]

If the 870 Express (the 'civilian' version you mentioned, nitpicky detail here but police except for MILITARY police are civilians too) is a new production gun, I would say spend the extra money on the 870P. If the 870P is new as well, definitely so, unless the Express gun is way overpriced.

There have been some problems with new production Express guns of late and I for one would not own a gun with that keylock safety Remington used for a while (I hear they have stopped now tho). The plastic trigger plate should not be a problem as far as I know, in 20 years it might prove to be less durable than aluminum (or it might last longer, who knows). There are some MIM parts in the Expresses these days (especially the extractor), machined parts are better IMO and that is what the 870P should have. It's an unusual recommendation for me but in your case I would say get the Police gun if you are going to get one of these two.

I personally like to look for older used Express guns and snag them for a song ($125-175), they turn up from time to time as real deals. The older Express guns have aluminum trigger plates, no magazine tube dimples and a rare one will have walnut furniture. These guns may look rough externally but if they are in good mechanical shape they will clean up well. Sometimes used LE trade-in 870Ps hit the market also, but lots of folks know how good they are and they usually get snapped up quickly.

Stay Safe,

lpl/nc

 

[dfariswheel]

The 4899 is the only 870 Police model still made with a blued finish.
The Police blue is a dark, smooth blue-black color.

The Express has a rough, bead blasted blue finish that's a flat black in color.

The standard Police parkerized finish is 60% more durable than either blued finish, according to Remington.

Here's the actual differences between the 870 Express and the 870P Police guns:

The Express is Remington's "budget" gun, made to compete with the cheaper to make Winchester and Mossberg guns.

How Remington lowered the price was to reduce hand labor to a bare minimum, and to eliminate much of the polishing and de-burring the better quality Wingmaster and Police guns get.

The Express is basically the same forged and milled steel receiver and heavy-duty internals gun the better 870's are.

The Express Home Defense Model has:
A plastic trigger group.
The dimples in the mag tube and the new style magazine retention system, EXCEPT on the extended magazine version, which does NOT have the dimples.
A rougher finish inside and outside, with machine marks and some burrs left.
A rougher blue job.
A less polished bore.
A two piece barrel. (not 100% sure about this)
Hardwood or synthetic stock, with a sporting-length fore end.
An 18", cylinder bore barrel, with a bead sight.
Some Metal Injection Molded (MIM) parts, like the extractor.
Has the locking safety button, although Remington MAY have discontinued it.

The 870 Police has:
An aluminum trigger group.
The old style magazine retention system.
A much smoother finish inside and out, no machine marks or burrs.
The Police gun receives a higher level of inspection and finishing.
A military-grade parkerized finish.
A polished bore.
A one piece barrel.
Walnut or synthetic stock, with a short police-length fore end.
Choices in different stocks, including Speed-feed, and others.
18" to 20" improved cylinder barrel, with a wide choice in sights, including rifle, ghost ring, and luminous.
Heavy-duty magazine spring.
Heavy-duty trigger-sear spring.
Sling swivel mounts.
No use of MIM parts, the extractor is milled.

The Express is a budget gun, the Police is the top-of-the-line in quality.
The Police is generally considered to be the finest quality pump gun made.