Police Shotgun (870P)

[JayFramer]

I love the Remington 870 Police shotgun. It is an all time classic that has served faithfully in squad cars for years. My favorite model is the plain jain no frills version with stock 4+1 magazine tube, bead sight, and black polymer furniture. Here is mine:

These classic guns are still used to this day in many departments around the US. Here are some recent police body camera pictures from the past year showing this exact model in use:

I just love the looks of a "everything you need and nothing you don't" police shotgun! Who else agrees?

Jay

 

[white cloud]

I do. I like Mossberg 590s and 870s. I know a retired policeman from around down here. We were talking shotguns. He told me that he had seen a lot of snafus and screw ups with guns, cars, flashlights, radios and what have you. His perfect fighting shotgun was a police 870 with a bead sight, standard magazine, no sling, no light, no ammo carrier and a plastic stock. Didn't want an AR or a Glock either. A Model 10 worked fine for him.

 

[dubshooter]

I agree. But I have an affinity for the wood stocks

 

[StakeOut]

In my day in the NYPD we had Ithica Model 37 and Stevens side by side.

With the Ithica one could hold the trigger back and pump to to fire all 5 rounds without squeezing the trigger again due to the lack of a disconnector.

 

[03clyde]

I have the 14" tax stamp version.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Mine is surplus from the Akron Ohio PD, and has a wood stock. I put a small Sure Fire flashlight and a nylon 5 round cuff on it. I have it loaded for in town use, 1 1/8 oz. #7.5's at 1325fps. When I lived in the country it was loaded with #4 buck, and kept a Mossberg loaded with small stuff for critter control!

Ivan

 

[pharmer]

I'm a fan of the 870 although I bought an "Express" version awhile ago and when I drifted out the pins, found the fire control parts were plastic. Sold it. I am not a fan of plastic guts. Joe

 

[colt_saa]

While I prefer the Ithica Model 37 as a fighting shotgun for their lack of a disconnector, the Model 870 is a GREATgun.

This one belonged to one of the previous Commanders of the Florida Highway Patrol. He carried it in his Patrol car until retirement. It came to me upon his passing.

I have often toyed with the idea of shortening the barrel to the end of the magazine tube for use as an Entry gun. However, I already have a pair of the 870WPs and one of the Mossberg 590 shorties as well.

For the WP role, I prefer the Mossberg because it does not need to have the elevator changed in order to run the shorter shot gun shells. The 870WPs came with different elevators so that the 1 3/4" Remington shells would not double feed. This stops you from using a full size shell when that is all that is at hand.

It is kind of cool to have 6-7 or more rounds in a 12" Thunderstick

 

[AJ]

I too, like the 870. Mine however, is an M870 Mk 1 that I made up from an 870 Express and the parts I picked up at a gun show in southern Calif. many years ago. Would not get rid of it for anything. This shotgun has had nothing but OO Buck and slug through it to the tune of several thousand rounds. Still works as advertised. Great gun.

 

[Faulkner]

I prefer the 590 for duty, but the 870 is my go to hunting shotgun.

 

[JH1951]

Agree.
My true preference is still the 1897, but I'm old-fashioned!

 

[AJ]

I prefer the 590 for duty, but the 870 is my go to hunting shotgun.

Have used both the 590 and the M8790 Mk1 on active duty. I prefer the M870 Mk1.

 

[SC_Mike]

Love the 870P. Have two, one I put a longer barrel on and take it to the field/woods. It became my $200 turkey gun.

Just picked up a pistol grip 870 Express, my first Express and shot it for the first time just yesterday. Jury is still out...

But like Faulkner I keep a 590 with light for HD.

 

[sheepdawg]

Don't forget the Model 12. Built when they never even thought about putting plastic parts on it.

 

[white cloud]

Don't forget the Model 12. Built when they never even thought about putting plastic parts on it.

I guess I like shotguns a bit. I have my grandfather's Model 12. It is still a nice shooting and nice looking gun. I used it as my only hunting shotgun for many years. I hate to think how many rounds have been fired through this gun. I have an Ithaca M37 also. These both are sporting shotguns. I planted a dove field on the farm this year so if all goes well I will get to use these some for that.

My fighting shotguns are both 590s. I am old and live a quiet life but if the poop ever hits the fan I hope I have one of these two handy.

 

[KSDeputy]

I bought a new model 870 last year. Trying to decide whether to buy a model 870 tac 14.

 

[ggibson511960]

Plastic or Aluminum

Has anybody ever had trouble with the aluminum or plastic trigger housing? I have a few 870's and have heard all the preferences and prejudices about aluminum and plastic. Brownell's at one time sold a steel trigger housing. I cannot imagine wearing either out, but if there is a weakness somebody in the population of millions of these guns will find it. I can imagine a policeman using one as a club and bending an aluminum trigger guard to the point of jamming a trigger, but it's hard to imagine a cross pin wallowing out a hole to the point of malfunction. Maybe it has happened????

 

[Protected One]

I love the Remington 870 Police shotgun. It is an all time classic that has served faithfully in squad cars for years. My favorite model is the plain jain no frills version with stock 4+1 magazine tube, bead sight, and black polymer furniture. Here is mine:

These classic guns are still used to this day in many departments around the US. Here are some recent police body camera pictures from the past year showing this exact model in use:

I just love the looks of a "everything you need and nothing you don't" police shotgun! Who else agrees?

Jay

I'm a fan of the 870, but I bought a Harrington & Richardson "clone" that looks exactly like the 870 picture here.
The only difference is that the H&R is slightly heavier.

 

[Rock185]

Excellent shotguns that function reliably, no matter what. The department I worked for issued 870s. It's been several years since I last attended a Remington armorers school, but at that time, the police model had some parts that were more robust than the economy Express versions. When I became an armorer, I was even more impressed with the 870s. All our weapons came through the Armory once a year. They were usually powder fouled, dry, with rust,etc. But they always worked.

BTW, had a Mossberg 590 too. Also an excellent pump shotgun IMHO.

 

[Old Corp]

I lived with a M870P 18" with mag extension in my patrol car for many years.
In retirement, I keep an 870 Marine Magnum close at hand, a near-twin in electroless nickel. It was fun to justify it, since I'm surrounded by saltwater.