$1000 Wilson Combat 870 vs $270 870 Express

870 Express

Granted it may not say Wilson and therefore not have resale value. However My self built 870 express rocks. The time spent researching then modifying it was part of the package for me. There are some cool things left to try but $ for $ I would stack mine against the average guy using a Wilson or scatergun any day.

One piece of advice I had to learn the hard way. When adding mag extension I had issues with the Vang shell follower beating up the shotgun. I have swapped from the stainless one to a softer aluminum and painted it flourescent green. I love it an it does slam my gun so hard. The stainless follower with the extra spring was beginning to wear on my gun.
 
If you're going to spend $1K on an autoloader then consider a Saiga and reconfigure it yourself. Out of $1K you'll have $ left for the expensive 20rd drum mags.
 
If you're going to spend $1K on an autoloader then consider a Saiga and reconfigure it yourself. Out of $1K you'll have $ left for the expensive 20rd drum mags.
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:rolleyes: The OP said he was looking to purchase an 870.
 
I agree, for 1000$ there's no point in throwing cash at a pump when excellent semis are around for less that will still shuck em' faster than the most expensive pump shotgun.

Have a look at the semiauto options; mainly the SX3/slp action, 930SPX, Benelli M2, 1100, and maybe think of building up a field gun.
 
870 express

bought this early model express that was a mess. Someone that thought they knew what they were doing butchered the stock & barrel. After replacing both, I still have less than $150 in it. Save your $$$ and do it yourself.

RemEx12.jpg
 
Yes - it is....

However, you won't know that until you turn around and sell it.

A $270 Express is always going to be just that. A $270 Express.
You can add whatever "goodies" you want to it, but, it will never say "Wilson" on it.
Heck, it might even be "better" than a Wilson,,,but,,,it will still not be a Wilson.
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Really who cares if it says Wilson on it. It will not hold its value any better than any other 870 pump gun. The Express is a $270 or so gun and if you shoot it & maintain it you will be able to sell if for $150 to $175 depending on wear.

Take that $1000 Wilson and shoot it and maintain it and if you turn around to sell it you will be lucky to get $500 for it. Things on the high end/custom end do not hold their value as much as people think. The market for standard guns is much larger than semi-custom guns like the Wilson 870 and resale prices reflect that.
 
Folk with more money than sense.
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Yeah I guess. I can see picking up a Wilson 1911 or havings Wilson do some custom work on a 1911 but everytime I look at the cost vs my go to guy I simply cannot justfy the price.

I can get custom work without the Wilson name, from a shop run by a member of the US Pistolsmith Guild, even using Wilson parts for about 50% of what Wilson would charge me so I never end up using them.

I certainly would not bother with Wilson on an 870 Police. IMHO they are the best value in defensive shotguns. They do not exhibit the flaws you see in the express models. They have cleaner actions from the factory and IMHO feel more robust and the upcharge is reasonable.
 
Really who cares if it says Wilson on it. It will not hold its value any better than any other 870 pump gun
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Prove it...
The ball's in your court.
Let's see some cold hard facts to back that up, not some speculations.

Let's not use a plain $270 Express against a Wilson either.
You have to factor in the add ons to the $270 Express and if applicable, any gunsmith charges.

PS - This is far from the first time a question like this has come up...
One previous poster had the cold hard truth explained to them that - while they had put all the same "goodies" on their 870, it was just that an 870 with goodies.
The person that broke the news to them told them that at the gunshop she worked in, the Wilson would always be a Wilson. Their 870 would be an 870 and sorry, we can't give you anywhere near what you put into the goodies.
 
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You don't even need the police model. It is the same gun as the express. The only difference is a few $5 parts and a lot of marketing.
 
I purchased an 870 Express (20 gauge), and did the following for relatively little money:
  • replaced extractor with police model
  • replaced carrier dog spring with police model
  • replaced recoil pad with Remington Supercell
  • installed Elzetta flashlight and mount
  • replaced mag extension with Scattergun Tech model (Wilson) for the stronger spring
The first three cost me less than $30. The flashlight cost me around $200, the replacement mag extension around $70. That's a LOT of change left over compared to buying the Wilson.
 
You don't even need the police model. It is the same gun as the express. The only difference is a few $5 parts and a lot of marketing.
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This might be true these days but when I look at my 870 Police vs a 870 Express the differences are clear. When I bought mine they were still using the ISS safety so the extension tubes were different. These are no longer being used. It is my understanding that currently the recievers for express, Police and wingmaster are the same. This was not always the case. To me this is pretty sad and is an example of the cheapening of the product in order to achieve greater economy of scale. Remmy has cheapened the Police and Wingmasters which is also why I often buy used.

The big difference in the express and the Police these days is the finish. Park vs Matte. The express has a plastic trigger assembly plate and group. It also uses a MIM extractor. So yes currently you are talking about a few parts and few $$ but that is not what you are really paying for IMHO.

The real difference IMHO is the finish work on the gun. The Police and the wingmasters have a smoother action becuse they have had a little more hands time at the factory. Most of this can be corrected by the end user but having it right from the factory is nice IMHO. For some this is not worth it but since I spend my money and you spend yours UMMV... LOL
 
Prove it...
The ball's in your court.
Let's see some cold hard facts to back that up, not some speculations.

Let's not use a plain $270 Express against a Wilson either.
You have to factor in the add ons to the $270 Express and if applicable, any gunsmith charges.

PS - This is far from the first time a question like this has come up...
One previous poster had the cold hard truth explained to them that - while they had put all the same "goodies" on their 870, it was just that an 870 with goodies.
The person that broke the news to them told them that at the gunshop she worked in, the Wilson would always be a Wilson. Their 870 would be an 870 and sorry, we can't give you anywhere near what you put into the goodies.
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Hal look around on GB, Auction arms, Guns america and classified on forums and you will see that Wilson shotguns priced over $500 to $600 depending on config simply do not sell. They sit while 870 express, 870 wingmasters & 870 Police sell.

Yes absolutely if you add a ton of stuff onto a 870 express you are not going to get your money back. If you put $2000 into a custom Colt by Wilson you are not going to get your money back. You will be lucky to get 50% of your investment back. If you buy a 870 Express and put $300 into is you can expect to get back about $325 to $350 out of it. About 70% of the base gun plus 50% of the upgrades.

Now lets take that Wilson. You paid $1000+ and again you will be lucky to get $600....

That is a pretty straight up apples to apples comparision. So please explain to me again why I need the Wilson name on my Remington receiver..... :cool:
 
One item that the current police comes with that is unwanted is the 10 pound trigger spring. The synthetic trigger guard of the Express is actually preverred. You are correct about the Parkerized finish on the police. One police armorer sells police departments guns based on the Express on the Police and if you get an Express he can have it Parkerized. Google AIPI Tactical.
 
One item that the current police comes with that is unwanted is the 10 pound trigger spring. The synthetic trigger guard of the Express is actually preverred.
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Yeah that is a matter of preference. Some people like the plastic because it does not scratch and will not rust. I prefer the steel. I can see it both ways.
 
Ok - here's the cold hard facts/prices..
Taking all the features from the Wilson Border Patrol and putting together what's needed to bring a stock 870 Express to that.

$ 170.00 parkerize
$ 45.00 extension tube
$ 120.00 sights
$ 75.00 butt stock
$ 30.00 foreend
$ 15.00 jumbo head safety
$ 45.00 sling
$ 12.00 spring and follower kit

$ 15.00 swivel and mount
--------------------------------------
$ 527.00

Add the cost of a new 870 to that:- using an arbitray figure of $268.00 - since I couldn't find on anywhere less than $319.00 online. But hey, it's Christmas and sales go on all the time.

$ 795

Wiilson Combat Border Patrol
$ 1135.00

Difference - $340

while 870 express, 870 wingmasters & 870 Police sell.
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I agree 100% with that - however none of those three compare apples to apples with a Wilson Border Patrol. The Express is agood solid basic gun, the Wingmaster is a thing of beauty and awe and the police is a police.

Yes absolutely if you add a ton of stuff onto a 870 express you are not going to get your money back.
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The actual cost difference between a Wilson and a no name built up using the same parts is $295.00.

Assuming you can get back 50% on each...
Which BTW, I think the Wilson will return more than 50%.
I also think the stock Express is going to lose a lot of value due to the parkerized & add ons seldom return much more than a token - 30% at best and more like 25%...

The Wilson will be $572 and the no name will be $397.
 
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Hal,

I think your $572 figure is $45 to high. You added the $45 sling in twice.

So, bottomline, the cost difference between the two would actually be $340.
 
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