870 plastic trigger guard

S

sawyerrog

New member
everybody talks about plastic trigger guards on expresses i have two early ninety models with aluminum trigger guards and both have the old style safetys my question is when did remington put plastic trigger guards and key style safetys on them does anyone know about this
 
your marine magnum has a plastic trigger guard/ does it have the key safety
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Mine does (plastic guard and the key safety). Bought it about a year ago. It is my only shotty, and I am very satisfied with the purchase. It may have some plastic, but it's got a solid feel and I have no regrets, and want no other shotgun (at the present time ;)
 
Yes mine has the key safety. but i dont use it. its a poor design and the two times i used it i had a hell of a time getting to turn off. Remington customer service said it needed to be broken in. I turned it off and filled it with epoxy. I too have 0 regrets with mine. it has served me well for seven years and over 3000 rounds. I will never sell it.

SW
 
So has anyone seen or experienced any problems with the plastic trigger assemblies? Mine is plastic and I'm thinking about picking up a nice aluminum one to replace it. Of course, most of my semi-auto pistols are plastic framed so maybe it's not really an issue.
 
I do have some problems with it, its kind of hard to explain it you kind of have to turn it softly. But with my brothers who has had it for a while it turns easily.
 
On one of the forums we had a post asking the members to report any broken plastic shotgun parts.

There were a couple of Remington 870 magazine followers, several Mossberg safety switches, and ONE broken Remington plastic trigger group.

I personally saw it, and it was a case of a catastrophic blow that would have broken an aluminum guard.
The plastic guard was smashed out of shape badly enough that you couldn't quite get your finger into the guard, and had flexed partially back into shape.

It looks like the plastic guard as done by Remington is as durable and long lasting as the aluminum guard.

It has some advantages, including that it flexes and returns to shape instead of bending or breaking if struck a reasonable blow, it's self-lubricating, there's no finish to wear off and get ratty looking, and seems to be wearing just as good as the aluminum version.

It looks like replacement is one of those "just because" things instead of a valid benefit.
 
I sent my plastic 870 guard and the 2 keys off to Wilson Combat for an exchange to a aluminum/no key model. They charge $40.
 
I have a '94 Express. It has the aluminum trigger guard and the old safety. It also was done more nicely than the more recent Expresses.
 
On one of the forums we had a post asking the members to report any broken plastic shotgun parts.

There were a couple of Remington 870 magazine followers, several Mossberg safety switches, and ONE broken Remington plastic trigger group.

I personally saw it, and it was a case of a catastrophic blow that would have broken an aluminum guard.
The plastic guard was smashed out of shape badly enough that you couldn't quite get your finger into the guard, and had flexed partially back into shape.

It looks like the plastic guard as done by Remington is as durable and long lasting as the aluminum guard.

It has some advantages, including that it flexes and returns to shape instead of bending or breaking if struck a reasonable blow, it's self-lubricating, there's no finish to wear off and get ratty looking, and seems to be wearing just as good as the aluminum version.

It looks like replacement is one of those "just because" things instead of a valid benefit.

On one of the forums we had a post asking the members to report any broken plastic shotgun parts.

There were a couple of Remington 870 magazine followers, several Mossberg safety switches, and ONE broken Remington plastic trigger group.

I personally saw it, and it was a case of a catastrophic blow that would have broken an aluminum guard.
The plastic guard was smashed out of shape badly enough that you couldn't quite get your finger into the guard, and had flexed partially back into shape.

It looks like the plastic guard as done by Remington is as durable and long lasting as the aluminum guard.

It has some advantages, including that it flexes and returns to shape instead of bending or breaking if struck a reasonable blow, it's self-lubricating, there's no finish to wear off and get ratty looking, and seems to be wearing just as good as the aluminum version.

It looks like replacement is one of those "just because" things instead of a valid benefit.
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One more plus for the 870 Express when we thought it was a minus.
 
There are many differences in parts and quality in the different model 870's that are being currently produced. They are as follows.

The Express Model has:
A plastic trigger group.
The dimples in the mag tube and the new style plastic 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, bead blasted 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 and pressed-in checkering.
The Defense version has 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 Wingmaster has:
An aluminum trigger group.
The old style magazine retention system.
A much smoother finish inside and out, no machine marks or burrs.
The Wingmaster gun receives a higher level of inspection and finishing.
A fine, commercial polished blue finish.
A polished bore.
A one piece barrel.
Walnut stocks with the famous "Bowling Pin" finish in gloss or satin. and better checkering.
Wide choices in barrel lengths and choke options.
No use of MIM parts, the extractor is milled.
The Wingmaster is the full top-of-the-line commercial Remington pump gun, and is priced accordingly.

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 "bottom of the line" budget gun, the Wingmaster is a "top of the line" sporting gun, the Police is the top-of-the-line in defense guns.
Bill T.
 
Actually I had this in a file in my "Word" software for a couple of years. It's a very informative piece on the makeup of the different 870's. Bill T.
 
I have two Express guns here, a '92 and a '94 (IIRC) and they both had the plastic guard. A very sturdy piece IMHO.
Mike
 
Actually I had this in a file in my "Word" software for a couple of years. It's a very informative piece on the makeup of the different 870's. Bill T.
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ummm Bill, that very informative piece comes from the esteemed Dfariswheel himself!:)

I've seen this several times now...poor Mr. Wheel posts a reply, and others chime in referencing info from older posts by Mr. Wheel himself! No offense to you Bill, I just think it's kind of funny.:D
 
I wasn't 100% happy with the plastic trigger assembly or the POS 'J'lock safety or the cheap plastic magazine follower that came on my new 870HD w/ 18" barrel and 2 round extension. I bought a new / unused complete aluminum trigger assembly on ebay for $27.00, a stainless steel magazine follower to replace the plastic one and a Wilson Big Button safety to replace the stupid lock. Now I feel I have a reliable well-built 870 that will serve me well for many years to come.
 
"ummm Bill, that very informative piece comes from the esteemed Dfariswheel himself!"

Where did I ever say it didn't???? Bill T.
 
I wasn't 100% happy with the plastic trigger assembly or the POS 'J'lock safety or the cheap plastic magazine follower that came on my new 870HD w/ 18" barrel and 2 round extension. I bought a new / unused complete aluminum trigger assembly on ebay for $27.00, a stainless steel magazine follower to replace the plastic one and a Wilson Big Button safety to replace the stupid lock. Now I feel I have a reliable well-built 870 that will serve me well for many years to come.
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I agree with the j-lock dealy but we do not see many reports on failed "cheap plastic magazine followers" here either.
I would like to see some long-term reports on those heavy stainless followers with regards to peening in the mag tube as well. Especially with folks also upgrading (cough cough) to such heavy mag springs. My Kuhnhausen book seems to suggest this could be a problem.
I suspect that many of the folks who build this combo are not building guns that will ever see the mileage of my own 870's though.
The best follower I ever saw (IMHO) was one that Vang sold for a very short time. It looked exactly like the steel one they offer now but it was made of synthetic something-or-other.
I'd rather spend the money on ammo and range fees but as always......I could be wrong.
Mike
 
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