I'm wondering if there's an aftermarket action bar lock release that has a flattened end on it so as not to dig into my finger so bad when pressing. The release is thin and knurls are like serration's .

This is the only one I have seen that was worth a hoot. It does work well.
http://www.tanksrifleshop.com/shop/inde ... iderelease
I would check with AI&P Tactical and see if he knows of any other options.
Now everyone else can come along and tell you how to use your gun so you don't need it. But, if you still WANT it, there you go.

Hmm, it says for 12 GA only. I've got the Rem. 20 GA Express and the gun must be modified / machined to fit it. Thanks though, it's the first one I've seen. If the made one with the press tang bent 90 degs. on the bottom and about 1/8th " wide it would work w/o modification.

Well I hate to sound trite, but most of us have been perfectly happy with the one they have for 65 years. Take it apart and take it to a machine shop or welding shop and see what they can do for you. I would think two beads of weld on the end and then you smooth it up and blue or coat it and you would have what you are looking for.

Not having had it apart, I wonder if anything on the end of the tang would preclude it from passing through the action/fitting?

The end of the release that you are wanting to modify does not have to pass anything. It remains sticking out the bottom of the receiver when you insert the trigger group from the bottom. Go to www.remington.com and download an owner's manual.

Can you not just sand the serrations down? Like Virginian said, the Tank's part is the only product I'm aware of to widen or thicken the action bar lock. Not to say it's a bad product, but you could buy a case of practice shells for what you would spend on that modification - and that's if you do the gunsmithing yourself. Replacing the hammer pin & cutting up the trigger plate it is not something most 870 owners will be comfortable doing on their own.

I agree, I don't want to modify/ machine any potion of the gun. I had wondered weather upon removing the action bar if it has to slide out through the thin area it protrudes through in the action body. If a small part (plastic or rubber) could be made to slide over the knurled end and widen it's contact surface, that could work as long as it didn't contact the action and wear against the action body rubbing the bluing off. I wouldn't want to make any crude modifications that don't look factory made. I had though of putting a 90 deg. bend on the end just slightly below the knurled area. It would have to be manufactured that way and not crudely bent by hand with any type of pliers etc... The question would be if the part when removed has to come up through the action body to be removed, then a permanent bend or larger end would not work unless it slides in through the lower outside and not from inside. Get my drift?

You have to have enough protruding to have enough travel for it to actuate so you are very limited.

That's right. I've never had it apart, so I'm not sure how it installs.