if i took a 870 express with a aluminum trigger guard and added 18in remington police barrel and changed out the 16in mag spring to 22in mag spring,switched out the 5lb sear spring to a 7lbsear spring added heavier lifter spring and changed the shell latches over to heavier shell latches if there is such a thing added a walnut police forend and stock,besides not saying police magnum on the reciever,would it be a police magnum
870 turned into 870p
- Thread starter sawyerrog
- Start date
That's a good bit of trouble to go to for essentially a theoretical advantage. A plain jane 870 Express, especially an older one, is plenty of shotgun as it sits. No need to go changing stuff out on it just because it's the kewl thing to do. Anyway, if you said your Express had everything changed over and was really, really a Police gun, no one would believe you if the receiver didn't actually say 870 POLICE. So it wouldn't change anything, really.
If your confidence in your gun as it is is so poor that you don't think the gun you have is up to the job, then my advice is to sell it and buy yourself a genuine real made from the factory always has been Police gun. IMO you'd be wasting your time and money, but you'll IMO be wasting time and money to go changing out parts on what is most likely a perfectly serviceable gun right now.
If you want to spend money, buy yourself a spare trigger plate assembly of the same vintage as your current gun. Also pick up a spare bolt assembly with slide too. And go ahead and order a new set of shell stops, Police gun shell stops while you are at it, and get on the horn with Brownells and buy the tool to stake them into place with. Then if anything ever does break you'll have the parts on hand to fix it.
But I doubt you'll ever need any of it. I think your Express gun will outlast you, no matter how much you shoot it, just as it is. I think you should be out spending your money on ammo and training and practice with the gun you have, and giving it every opportunity to break down on you. I don't think it will.
This summer I took Louis Awerbuck's basic 3-day shotgun class. The gun I shot most of the class with was an Express gun. I bought it used a few years ago, from a guy who was a member of a certain organization at Fort Bragg that doesn't exist. Yes, a lowly Express gun was good enough for a genuine operator to use as his personal shotgun, he only sold it because he got messed up pretty bad in a training accident and needed to switch to a semiauto. I don't know how much it had been shot before I got it, I suspect a lot. It's been shot a lot since then too. It hasn't offered one hint of a problem since I have had it, I doubt it ever will.
But it's your money and your time. You should spend them as you see fit.
Stay Safe,
lpl/nc
If your confidence in your gun as it is is so poor that you don't think the gun you have is up to the job, then my advice is to sell it and buy yourself a genuine real made from the factory always has been Police gun. IMO you'd be wasting your time and money, but you'll IMO be wasting time and money to go changing out parts on what is most likely a perfectly serviceable gun right now.
If you want to spend money, buy yourself a spare trigger plate assembly of the same vintage as your current gun. Also pick up a spare bolt assembly with slide too. And go ahead and order a new set of shell stops, Police gun shell stops while you are at it, and get on the horn with Brownells and buy the tool to stake them into place with. Then if anything ever does break you'll have the parts on hand to fix it.
But I doubt you'll ever need any of it. I think your Express gun will outlast you, no matter how much you shoot it, just as it is. I think you should be out spending your money on ammo and training and practice with the gun you have, and giving it every opportunity to break down on you. I don't think it will.
This summer I took Louis Awerbuck's basic 3-day shotgun class. The gun I shot most of the class with was an Express gun. I bought it used a few years ago, from a guy who was a member of a certain organization at Fort Bragg that doesn't exist. Yes, a lowly Express gun was good enough for a genuine operator to use as his personal shotgun, he only sold it because he got messed up pretty bad in a training accident and needed to switch to a semiauto. I don't know how much it had been shot before I got it, I suspect a lot. It's been shot a lot since then too. It hasn't offered one hint of a problem since I have had it, I doubt it ever will.
But it's your money and your time. You should spend them as you see fit.
Stay Safe,
lpl/nc
I recently upgraded a plain jane 870 express, $199.
I replaced the trigger assembly with a unit from an old wingmaster. $ 35
I added a walnut police stock. $ 40
I added a 18" cyl. bore barrel. $ 105
I added a wilson large head safety. $ 15
I replaced the MIM extractor with a machined extractor. $ 15
I added a Remington +2 mag extension. $ 20
I added a Wilson mag spring and follower. $15
I added a 6 rd. sidesaddle. $30
I added a simple nylon sling. $7
Matte gray guncoat finish $35
Total $516
Complete confidence in my weapon PRICELESS
I replaced the trigger assembly with a unit from an old wingmaster. $ 35
I added a walnut police stock. $ 40
I added a 18" cyl. bore barrel. $ 105
I added a wilson large head safety. $ 15
I replaced the MIM extractor with a machined extractor. $ 15
I added a Remington +2 mag extension. $ 20
I added a Wilson mag spring and follower. $15
I added a 6 rd. sidesaddle. $30
I added a simple nylon sling. $7
Matte gray guncoat finish $35
Total $516
Complete confidence in my weapon PRICELESS
Last edited:
Dfariswheel
New member
"police gun shell stops"?
heavier lifter spring"?"
Heavier lifter spring...Yes, police shell stops...No.
While you can add a bunch of Police grade parts to an Express it's still not going to really equal the Police, mostly due to the rougher exterior, and the rougher interior with burrs left after machining.
Strength and durability wise, the Express is just as tough and long lasting since it uses the same forged and milled steel receiver and heavy-duty internals parts.
Here's what Remington themselves say about the differences between the Express and the Police guns:
REMINGTON ARMS COMPANY, LE DIVISION
Important differences between Remington 870 Police and 870 Express shotguns
The 870 Express has been an important part of Remington’s offering to the sporting market.
It was designed to meet a price point in the commercial market while still providing classic 870 functionality.
All of Remington’s 870’s have interchangeable parts, even if they have cosmetic differences.
It is also important to note that many manufacturers use the 870 Express platform for their Police / Combat models. Without exception, every manufacturer who utilizes our 870 platform serves to upgrade their system to a more efficient, street worthy platform.
While the 870 Express is still an 870, the best pump shotgun on the market, there are some very important cosmetic and functional differences between it and the 870 Police.
To our customers in Law Enforcement, Military, Corrections, and Security, whose lives depend upon the unfailing performance of Remington shotguns, the Police modifications are of paramount importance. Synopses of the variances are provided below.
• 870 Police shotguns go thru a special 23 station check list – ranging from visual inspection, functional testing, test firing, and final inspection.
• All Police shotguns are assembled in a “special build area” at the plant in Ilion, NY. This section is secured and serves only to build LE and Military shotguns, with the same factory personnel working at that assignment each shift.
• All parts that enter the “special build area” are visually inspected by hand to ensure top quality and functionality.
• Due to heavy recoil in buck and slug loads, all 870 Police guns have a longer magazine spring which ensures positive feed and function.
• A heavier sear spring is used to generate a reliable, positive trigger pull between 5 and 8 lbs.
• A heavier carrier dog spring is used to ensure when the carrier elevates the shell, it will be held there until the bolt can push it into the chamber. This ensures positive feeding when using heavier payload rounds.
• Police shotguns do not have an ISS (Integrated Safety System) which is a locking mechanism on the safety of commercial shotguns. This type of locking mechanism can cause delay to an officer who needs the weapon but does not have the appropriate key. LE shotguns have the standard, proven, cross bolt safety.
• The fore-end on the Express model is longer and not compatible with many police shotgun vehicle racks.
• The Police shotguns utilize the heavy duty SPEEDFEED Stocks and Fore-ends.
• The Express model will not allow for the addition of an extension tube without physical modification to the tube and barrel, which can nullify the warranty.
• The Express model has a BEAD BLAST BLUE finish while the Police models utilize either High Luster bluing or Parkerization.
• The Express model utilizes a synthetic trigger housing while the Police models use a compressed metal housing.
• The Police shotgun barrel is locked down with a “ball detent” system in conjunction with the magazine cap vs. a lesser grade “synthetic magazine spring retainer” lock down as used on the Express system.
• The receivers used in Police guns are “vibra honed” to smooth out rough finishes and remove burrs before parkerization or bluing.
• Police shotguns use machined ejectors and extractors, as opposed to powdered metal cast which are utilized on the Express models.
heavier lifter spring"?"
Heavier lifter spring...Yes, police shell stops...No.
While you can add a bunch of Police grade parts to an Express it's still not going to really equal the Police, mostly due to the rougher exterior, and the rougher interior with burrs left after machining.
Strength and durability wise, the Express is just as tough and long lasting since it uses the same forged and milled steel receiver and heavy-duty internals parts.
Here's what Remington themselves say about the differences between the Express and the Police guns:
REMINGTON ARMS COMPANY, LE DIVISION
Important differences between Remington 870 Police and 870 Express shotguns
The 870 Express has been an important part of Remington’s offering to the sporting market.
It was designed to meet a price point in the commercial market while still providing classic 870 functionality.
All of Remington’s 870’s have interchangeable parts, even if they have cosmetic differences.
It is also important to note that many manufacturers use the 870 Express platform for their Police / Combat models. Without exception, every manufacturer who utilizes our 870 platform serves to upgrade their system to a more efficient, street worthy platform.
While the 870 Express is still an 870, the best pump shotgun on the market, there are some very important cosmetic and functional differences between it and the 870 Police.
To our customers in Law Enforcement, Military, Corrections, and Security, whose lives depend upon the unfailing performance of Remington shotguns, the Police modifications are of paramount importance. Synopses of the variances are provided below.
• 870 Police shotguns go thru a special 23 station check list – ranging from visual inspection, functional testing, test firing, and final inspection.
• All Police shotguns are assembled in a “special build area” at the plant in Ilion, NY. This section is secured and serves only to build LE and Military shotguns, with the same factory personnel working at that assignment each shift.
• All parts that enter the “special build area” are visually inspected by hand to ensure top quality and functionality.
• Due to heavy recoil in buck and slug loads, all 870 Police guns have a longer magazine spring which ensures positive feed and function.
• A heavier sear spring is used to generate a reliable, positive trigger pull between 5 and 8 lbs.
• A heavier carrier dog spring is used to ensure when the carrier elevates the shell, it will be held there until the bolt can push it into the chamber. This ensures positive feeding when using heavier payload rounds.
• Police shotguns do not have an ISS (Integrated Safety System) which is a locking mechanism on the safety of commercial shotguns. This type of locking mechanism can cause delay to an officer who needs the weapon but does not have the appropriate key. LE shotguns have the standard, proven, cross bolt safety.
• The fore-end on the Express model is longer and not compatible with many police shotgun vehicle racks.
• The Police shotguns utilize the heavy duty SPEEDFEED Stocks and Fore-ends.
• The Express model will not allow for the addition of an extension tube without physical modification to the tube and barrel, which can nullify the warranty.
• The Express model has a BEAD BLAST BLUE finish while the Police models utilize either High Luster bluing or Parkerization.
• The Express model utilizes a synthetic trigger housing while the Police models use a compressed metal housing.
• The Police shotgun barrel is locked down with a “ball detent” system in conjunction with the magazine cap vs. a lesser grade “synthetic magazine spring retainer” lock down as used on the Express system.
• The receivers used in Police guns are “vibra honed” to smooth out rough finishes and remove burrs before parkerization or bluing.
• Police shotguns use machined ejectors and extractors, as opposed to powdered metal cast which are utilized on the Express models.
IIRC, Kuhnhausen's book does refer to a newer design shell stop but I believe they were universal across the whole line.
Looking at the BOM, I am wondering whether it wouldn't have been easier to buy a new 870P from the start? Last time I checked they were in the $400s street price.
Looking at the BOM, I am wondering whether it wouldn't have been easier to buy a new 870P from the start? Last time I checked they were in the $400s street price.
Black_Talon
New member
And the standard 870P's still are right around that price.
Just buy a 870 P to begin with.... you will save the bother and have a more re-sellable gun than a tricked out express and if you feal bad about the price you can always take comfort in the fact you paid 1/2 to 1/3 of a wilson /scatter gun --- many of wich i have seen come through with the crappy plastic trigger housing --- warped logic I know but it works for me.
you can change the clothes and the hair, but not the heart and soul...
find yourself a nice used Police model, the more miles the better... and if you want a project, find one thats been abused/niglected and restore her...
The history, and soul is built into the police model. If you hold an old one, you will know what i mean..
IB
find yourself a nice used Police model, the more miles the better... and if you want a project, find one thats been abused/niglected and restore her...
The history, and soul is built into the police model. If you hold an old one, you will know what i mean..
IB