Why doesn't Remington change..

[SamDBL]

Well, after a week with the 870p, I can say I think that the placement of the safety and action lock lever are totally fine. The only criticism that I would have is that I think the tongue on the loading port is a pain compared to the flush one on the Mossberg. Mine has a teeny bit of play in it and tends to catch on the action bar once in awhile. Other than that I can't think of one thing I'd change on it.

[DavidFagan]

I always felt the 870 was smoother then the 500, but what the strongest argument for a preference came when I took them apart. The 870 is just a much cleaner simple design, embarrassingly I even had to take a quick look at a instruction manual for the 500.

[Claydust]

the safety position on the 870? That and the switch placement seem to be the two recurring criticisms I hear in reviews when people compare them to Mossbergs. The fact that you have to take your trigger finger out of position to do the safety and switch.

Safety position is a personal choice, people differ in their habits, experience and thinking so there will always be differing opinions on safety positioning.

Personally, I prefer the rear crossbolt on an 870, 1100, Browning A5 or Ithaca M37.

I do not like giving up my grip on the stock, by using my thumb to push a tang safety off. I can maintain my grip on the stock, put my index finger through the trigger guard, I push the safety with the part of my finger closest to the palm and pull the trigger in one motion.

Some people can't do this, or don't want to do it and so they prefer something else, like a tang safety or a front ceossbolt safety. I wouldn't say they are wrong, just different from me.

I manipulate the rear crossbolt safety, second nature, without looking at the gun fast enough to catch a grouse and it burst from cover.

I feel so comfortable doing this that I prefer my 870 20g Wingmaster to my Citori for upland game.

That and the plastic trigger guard... but that seems really misinformed to me.

The plastic trigger guard is on the 870 Express, the Wingmaster and Classic Traps have anodized aluminum trigger guards.

A lot of shooters, especially in my age group (50+) do not like plastic, it is a traditionalist thing, I'm still not thrilled about aluminum but 33 years use and 75,000+ rounds through an 870TB have prooven the aluminum does hold up.

The Mossberg has a plastic trigger guard except for the 590A1.

As far as .22RF rifles go, the newer Browning T Bolt, an expensive .22, has a plastic triggerguard.

So does the Beretta 391 autoloader which is a higher priced autoloader. People on "the other forums" forgive Beretta for this and it rarely gets a mention On those same forums, they are quick to bring up the plastic guard on the 870 Express.

[Claydust]

People with other brands work overtime to run down Remingtons.

A favorite pass time on another forum we frequent

[SamDBL]

The plastic trigger guard is on the 870 Express, the Wingmaster and Classic Traps have anodized aluminum trigger guards.

I have the 870 Police Magnum, which is supposed to be one of the 'cadillacs'. I had already read at some point they switched from aluminum, and the current models have plastic guards on the 870p (which isn't an express). Mine is a new one. The guard definitely feels plastic. However, where the hole is drilled for the safetey button, it does look silver like some sort of metal. Very confusing. However, I'm not at all concerned with it. The trigger guard being plastic or aluminum is not something that bugs me in the least. I'm sure it's plenty durable, whatever it is.

[Claydust]

I'm not at all concerned with it. The trigger guard being plastic or aluminum is not something that bugs me in the least. I'm sure it's plenty durable, whatever it is.

Forums are not the ideal communication media so take this with that in mind but the impression I get is you wish to argue about the plastic vs aluminum thing.

The silver around the safety opening is where they bored the hole through the aluminum for the safety, the silver but is bare aluminum. Anodized aluminum can look glossy black, like plastic.

[SamDBL]

I actually don't want to argue but I keep getting goaded into it.

I've read from several sources that the current Police Magnums now use plastic trigger guards. It's possible that this information is incorrect (I didn't see an official Remington statement concerning it). It's also possible that my gun, which was bought new, was made before the supposed changeover (that possibly didn't happen). What I do know is that I can usually tell if something is plastic or metal by tapping/touching it. It sounds and feels to be made out of the exact same material as the stock. It's dull and textured. But if it's common place to coat them in something, then it would make more sense that I can't tell. Maybe when I do a take down I can tell better. Although with the material showing through at the safety I suppose it's a closed case. I'd like to know which it is. But it really doesn't matter to me other than a talking point.

[Claydust]

I've read from several sources that the current Police Magnums now use plastic trigger guards. It's possible that this information is incorrect (I didn't see an official Remington statement concerning it).

If it was written on an internet forum, I would really question it. I read a lot of missinformation on Remingtons, as well as other guns on forums.

It is not just guns; I ride a Yamaha FJR1300 Sport Tourer. If you read posts on FJR1300 forums, the is NO brand of tire suitable for the FJR1300 , at least according to the posters. Of course, they don't mention if they check and maintain their tire pressures frequently, ride them real "squirrely" etc.

I recently wrote to the Remington online Help Center on the subject of trigger guards, they came back to say it was the Express with the plastic guard. The respondant may have been incorrect, or it could have changed in the past couple months, I don't know.

If you are not aware of this, anodizing is a process that coats the aluminum with an oxide that will take a color dye. If the oxide coating is smooth and is dyed black can produce a smooth, glossy finish on aluminum which does look like plastic.