Quick question about 870 markings...

[Inebriated]

Just had a quick question... I know on the left side of the receiver, the 870 Police models say "Remington 870 Police Magnum" or something to that effect, and the regular Express models say "Remington 870 Express Magnum." But I took my side saddle off to clean and take a few photos, and I noticed that mine (the 870 HD... model 25077... has the synthetic stock, extention, etc... purchased in Feb. 2011) only says "Remington 870." I don't believe there's a difference between mine and the Express, other than the furniture and mag tube. Finish feels pretty similar, IIRC, although I have noticed mine has much less play in the forend than some brand new Express models. Anyway, just wondering if there was anything different, other than the markings.
Input is appreciated.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Remington's receiver markings have changed over the years. The original Police guns were marked Wingmaster, for example. The only 'tells' were the furniture and the barrel, and of course those can easily be changed.

I haven't ever tried to sort out every one of Remington's receiver rollmarks. If your gun was bought as an HD model then it's almost certainly an Express, and if your serial number ends in M (in a 12 ga. gun) then it's a 3" magnum receiver. Beyond that, the only way to know (most of the time) what an 870 was when it left the factory is to call Remington with the serial number and ask.

 

[Inebriated]

Well I'm certain it is basically an Express. I bought it new, and I'm positive it said "Express" somewhere in the description, because I remember opting out of the Police model lol. But I was surprised when I noticed it didn't have "Express" anywhere on it, and wondered if it had any importance, other than it looks nicer to just have "Remington 870" on the side.

And interestingly, my serial number ends with "C." It's a 3" chamber, though.

 

[Isaac-1]

Does it have a plastic or a metal trigger guard? Express has plastic, Wingmasters and at least the older police models have metal, not sure about the current police model.

Ike

 

[Inebriated]

Yeah, it's plastic. Like I said, it's definitely an Express, but my interest is why it isn't listed as such anywhere on the gun. I did dig out the box, and it says Express on it, as well as the website (though it shows a different furniture set), so Remington does officially acknowledge it as such. I just think it's funny there's no mention of it on the gun. It seems like they wanted to disguise it as an in between, even though you can look at it and tell it's the same as an Express, just without the mag dimples.

 

[Isaac-1]

It would not be the first time Remington blurred the lines

 

[Virginian]

Remington has been all over the map with receiver rollmarking for a long time. I have seen a '60s 1100 with NO scrollwork, just the serial number for example. There is no hard and fast answer. Don't sweat it, you have a good solid gun.
Why is it when one of the 'B' guns uses plastic, it's "innovative", but if Remington does it they get called cheap? Bias much?

 

[Inebriated]

I love the thing... never had a hiccup, and haven't seen a single issue that you hear about with some of the Express modesl.

And when people complain about Remington using plastic parts because they don't get that it's to save cost... the gun costs $270 when on sale in some places. People don't get that for an American-made gun, of that quality, $270-$300 is nothing. Want metal? You have to pay more.. and you have the exact same functionality. I'll never understand why it matters so much to some folks.

 

[dogtown tom]

Inebriated Just had a quick question... I know on the left side of the receiver, the 870 Police models say "Remington 870 Police Magnum" or something to that effect, and the regular Express models say "Remington 870 Express Magnum." But I took my side saddle off to clean and take a few photos, and I noticed that mine (the 870 HD... model 25077... has the synthetic stock, extention, etc... purchased in Feb. 2011) only says "Remington 870." I don't believe there's a difference between mine and the Express, other than the furniture and mag tube. Finish feels pretty similar, IIRC, although I have noticed mine has much less play in the forend than some brand new Express models. Anyway, just wondering if there was anything different, other than the markings.
Input is appreciated.

Remington makes the 870 in three levels of finish: the "Wingmaster", the "Police" and the "Express" line.
The Express line may or may not be marked "870 Express", but could also be marked "870", "870 Magnum", "Marine Magnum", "Tactical", etc.

Who knows what they will slap on the side next week. Rollmarks sell....if Remington was to market a "870 Military" they couldn't keep them in stock.

 

[Inebriated]

Well if they're willing to put really anything except "Wingmaster" or "Police," I wish they had given me the option as to what I have on the side!


Appreciate the info, guys!

 

[Isaac-1]

One other thing, I have read some of the 3rd party tactical shotgun customizers base their platform on the 870 Express other's base on the 870 Police model. Perhaps Remington made the change so these customizers would not have "Express" on their final modified product.

 

[Inebriated]

I don't know. Just thinking from their perspective... Why allow the people doing the work to have a gun that doesn't say Express, without paying for it? Just seems like they would want them to use Police models instead of cater to the use of their lower priced guns. Who knows... I'm content with it. I like that it just says 870 instead of anything more.