870 newbie

[GateKeeper]

I heard the term "... it's a factory made second ... not a top quality 870."

Is there a difference in how 870 are made and sent to different stores?

[Synchronizor]

There are different grades of 870s, but most of the differences have to do with the finish or other cosmetic things. Expresses are the budget guns with rougher, lighter-duty finishes and cheaper - but perfectly functional - polymer or laminate stocks. Wingmasters are the more traditional high-end, higher-priced guns with pretty bluing and high-quality, well-finished hardwood. Police 870s are built for law enforcement and military use, and have very durable, but more utilitarian finishes and furniture. Mechanically, all 870s are essentially the same inside, they're just dressed for different environments and price points.

As for stores though, Remington does not make low-end, inferior versions of any 870s for specific sellers. An Express #25077 model from Wal-Mart is exactly the same as a #25077 at Cabelas or Bass Pro. The same goes for any Wingmaster or Police, though you don't usually find those higher-end guns in places like Wal-Mart. There have been some special edition 870s made for different organizations over the years, but those are promotional limited runs, not the corner-cutting stuff other gunmakers have done.

You will see some budget 870 clones that are lower-end guns for lower prices, but those are copies manufactured by different companies, not Remington products.

[GateKeeper]

it said the shell ejector is a softer metal. Is that true? I don't believe it, but today, one never knows.

[Synchronizor]

Remington's current parts documentation lists seven different ejectors; one for super magnum (3.5") 12ga guns, one for standard (3") 12ga, one for left-hand 12ga, and one each for the 16ga, 20ga, 28ga, and .410 bore. There are no special Police/Wingmaster/Express versions of the ejector, all 870s with the same chambering and ejection direction use the exact same part, even special-purpose 870s like the Marine Magnum and XCS. The same goes for the ejector spring, at least for guns that have them. Small-frame 870s (20ga, 28ga, & .410) don't use ejector springs.

[ponycarman]

Do you mean the extractor? I believe on the express models it is a mim part and on the police/wingmaster models it is a milled part. I have yet to have issues with the mim one in my express.