870 Express Failures?

[Dave Berryhill]

I'm curious if anyone has experienced failures of the parts found on a Remington 870 Express that aren't used on the Police model (plastic trigger housing, MIM extractor, plastic magazine cap retainer, etc.). I'm especially interested in the plastic trigger housing (trigger plate).

If you have, I'd appreciate info on the failure and the age or number of rounds fired before the failure occurred.

Thanks!

[TOrrock]

I've seen an Express crack the trigger guard when it fell over onto concrete.

[mike_556]

I hate to say it because I cannot remember the EXACT part name but part of the extraction/ejection mech inside of the frame failed

[ZRH]

Chamber was rough from the factory. Wouldn't extract. Then the ejector mechanism didn't like to eject and you would end up having to slam the buttstock against a tree to get it to cycle.

[AI&P Tactical]

All the parts in the Polymer trigger plate assembly except one are the exact same parts in the cast aluminum assembly. The only part different is the carreir dog follower spring and the difference is minute.

If that Polymer trigger plate cracked then the cast metal would have shattered as the Ploymer is way more durable.

On my web site www.aiptactical.com on the red link "Build your weapon" I talk about how much more durable and better the polymer trigger housing is and there is a link to a Ruger Drop test that proves the polymer is more durable. They drop a 4 lb plate on a cast metal and it shatters, they drop the same plate on the polymer and it stops dead with no damage. Watch that video and you will be convinced.

I have about 30 factory new Police trigger plate assemblies in my shop right now but I would not use them on my personal 870's as I use the Polymer due to them being more durable. The only cast metal trigger plate assembly I have in a personal Remington shotgun is in my 11-87P and I will change that to polymer one day if I remmember to order one. The cast metal ones are $99 for the 11-87P but the polymer ones are $112. Just keep forgeting to order.

There is no extraction parts inside the receiver so I think the guy is talking about the ejector. The same ejector is used on every 12ga 870 so if one broke, which is the only way it can fail it would have been the same on a Wingmaster, Police or any model.

I have never seen a MIM extractor fail or even become dull. I know of no incident where one has ever failed.

The Spring retainer can not fail as it simply holds the spring in while you change barrels so there is no scenerio where this part can fail.

[Dave Berryhill]

...If that Polymer trigger plate cracked then the cast metal would have shattered as the Ploymer is way more durable....

My experience has been similar but I don't have nearly as much time with the polymer trigger plate as I have had with the metal plate used on the Police Model.

Templar - in your example, do you think that one of the metal trigger plates would have survived better or do you think it would have been bent or broken too?

[AI&P Tactical]

A look at the Ruger Video will prove that if the polymer broke the cast metal would have shattered.

Another benifit is not a big deal but when it comes times to refinish an 870 those metal trigger plate housing have to be stripped and painted to cover any scratches. They polymer one does not and a scratch in one of those does not even show up. A scratch in the cast metal is a nice shinny scratch.

[bmyk]

I have a cast aluminum trigger guard on my 870P, I wish I could trade it out as it is beat to hell. I appears to be worn away on the bottom, I guess from years riding around in a rack....otherwise the shotgun is in perfect shape.

The polymer trigger guard on my 870 Express is tough as coffin nails, it is actually why I bought a Glock....really.

[warpigM-4]

AI&P I clicked your site and damn you are already in My Favs I have been reading stuff on your site for a whileGlad you are here!!

[Buckshot TX]

The Express 870s I see for warranty work are almost exclusively for breech bolt battering & rough chambers. Once both conditions are sorted out, they're GTG. I've seen a few broken MIM extractors, soo I'd swap in the tool steel version for a defensive gun. I've never seen a broken 870 trigger guard & I've seen a lot of abused Expresses. It could happen, but its way down the list of probablities. The finish sucks, but you can do a lot worse for a scattergun.
Wish you were still on this end of the state, Dave. It'd be nice to touch base again.