870 Police

[FootSoldier]

I recently picked up a couple PD turn-in 870s and am trying to figure out if I can date the manufacture or not? Neither seems to have a barrel date code and I haven't found a place to date check the serial numbers yet. Does anyone know of one?

I'd also like to figure out when (about) Remington started using MIM bolt parts and whether I should change out the extractors on these shotguns? These two have a 'B' and 'C' letter prefix to the serial numbers and they don't seem to be very old.

Thanks for any help!

[SignessSG]

I started with this link:
http://www.rem870.com/remington-serial-number-lookup/

After determining I had a new style bolt, bolt carrier, non MIM extractor, and a flex-tab shell carrier, I narrowed my 870P to a 1997 manufacture date. Mine did have a date code on the barrel though. If nothing else, you can always write to Remington and give them the serial # off the receiver. I know of no sites to look up that one.

[Synchronizor]

"B" and "C" serial number prefixes point to the mid-to-late 1990s, maybe 2000 or 2001. If you want more specific dates, you'll need to call or email Remington and have them look up the full serial numbers in their system.

As far as I'm aware, Remington has always used machined extractors in their police and military 870s. Other parts in your shotguns may be MIM parts, but that's really nothing to worry about.

[FootSoldier]

After I posted this question, I disassembled and cleaned the second of the two I had bought. That's when I found that one of them does have a barrel date code and the other one doesn't. The one with the barrel date code took me to Feb 1997. I think these are 1996-1997ish. Close enough for me, I was just curious about that fact. Glad to hear it about the MIM parts!

I am still trying to find an opportunity to take the 870s out for a thorough function test. I bought a case of clay birds and made up a dozen #9 wire bird brackets and I am planning to burn up some ammo function testing!

Thanks again for all the help.

[SignessSG]

Almost sounds like you got yours from the same place I got mine. 20" barrel?. Date code on my barrel indicates February, 1997. Serial number on the receiver starts with "B".

I borrowed this very useful pic from Synchronizer..so credit goes to him. . Yours probably has the non MIM extractor like mine.


Here's my 870P in it's current state after a few add-ons...

[Synchronizor]

I borrowed this very useful pic from Synchronizer..so credit goes to him. . Yours probably has the non MIM extractor like mine.

I didn't take or upload that picture, I just pasted it over from the blog. If it was my work, it wouldn't be watermarked.