Finally got the 870 and fitted the accessories

[chrismetallica1]

Yes Mesa do a 4 shell saddle for the Right side of the receiver. It comes with a set of longer Chicago screws to allow you to use another side saddle on the left of the receiver. I just ordered the right 4 shell and the left 6 shell. Drifted the original trigger pins and replaced with the Chicago pins job done

[chrismetallica1]

Tried and tested. Works well but I wasn't too impressed with the plastic trigger group in the express model. Just ordered the metal Police trigger version. I will fit that and an over sized SJ hardware safety I have when it arrives

[EdwardE]

chrismetallica1, I had doubts about the polymer trigger group on the Express. My thoughts were "Plastic... what gives?" That was until I saw a video comparing the impact durability between a ploymer assembly and one made of metal. While the tested trigger groups were not Remington assemblies, I believe the concept and end result is the same. I now have zero doubts about the damage resistance exhibited by the polymer. I've tried to find this video to post a link but I haven't re-located it yet. Synchronizor posted a comment for this video on Youtube and maybe he'd be willing to post the link. I'll keep searching. I'll also stick with the ploymer group!

[chrismetallica1]

Cheers for the info. Plastic has always made me dubious though. I wasn't impressed with Ruger changed to the plastic trigger groups but everyone seems to be doing now. I might fit one of the Timney Kits to the 870 and see what that's like. just been looking for a good review on them

[Synchronizor]

Funny you bring up the 10/22, because that's the subject of the video EdwardE was referring to. The video is from an old Gunblast.com article. You can find the whole piece here, and below are some images of the 10/22 trigger guards that were drop-tested.


The thing you have to remember is that the older aluminum trigger plates for both the 10/22 and the 870 weren't machined out of solid aluminum billet (which would have been horribly expensive for a part that complex), they were made from compressed and sintered aluminum powder. It could be debated that powdered aluminum has a higher strength than polymer, but strength alone isn't enough. Polymer has the ability to flex and absorb impact without breaking, while powdered aluminum cannot deform very far before it simply shatters. The key mechanical property here is a combination of both strength and ductility, known as toughness.

Now, while I do think the polymer is a more impact-resistant material, the aluminum 870 trigger plates aren't bad parts. Remington certainly knows how to get the most out of powder metallurgy techniques, and the older-style trigger plates have not proven themselves a liability over decades of police and military service. I believe that it's just as important for a user to be able to trust a firearm or part as it is for the item to actually be trustworthy. If the only benefit to "upgrades" like aluminum trigger plates, non-MIM extractors, and extra-heavy springs is that the user won't have doubts when they pull the trigger, that's reason enough in my book.

[Automag]

Very well put Synchro! I agree completely.
Chris, glad to see you got your Rem 870! Looks pretty damn sweet! I did'nt think i'd like the two sided sidesaddle setup, but it seems like a winner to me, nice job. Love the Magpul furniture and color fill job; i think i like the smiley face the best too. That would sure be a sight looking at that from "the wrong end of the barrel"-LOL. Good job, gotta love the 870! All ya need now is a +5 mag extension-or does England prohibit that? That would give you a 19+1 capacity-unreal.

[chrismetallica1]

Automag, Mag extensions are not prohibited if you register the shotgun as section 1 on a firearms permit. All guns that are registered as section 2 are prohibited to 2+1 with a crimp in the mag tube. I put an extension on my 590 so its 10+1.

Just started work on the hew safety

[Automag]

Chris, Nice job on the safety. I sure wish i had your "artistic flare". The UK's Gun laws confuse me, and seem like they would be hard (for me) to live with. But the law is the law. Real nice looking 870 man.

[chrismetallica1]

Hopefully it will be a better trigger pull with the Police trigger and a Timney upgrade kit in. Need to order a non MIM extractor as well while im doing the upgrades. After that only the receiver, barrel and bolt will be original parts. The wife was winding me up about it as she told me I should have just bought an old barrelled action and built it off that. She is right but I'm not telling her that

[Automag]

Sounds good! Real nice setup! Yeah, when it comes to your wife being right...shhhhhhh LMAO