Remington 870 modifications... Which?

[LongWayToFall 0]

Ok, so I was thinking of getting a short barrel and some sort of pistol grip stock for the 870 that will soon be in my possession. What are you guys sporting? Judging by how many recommended the 870 to me in my bird hunting thread, there has gotta be some sweet pump guns sitting in DZ.com safes.

[lost_n_confuzd 0]

Quote

Ok, so I was thinking of getting a short barrel and some sort of pistol grip stock for the 870 that will soon be in my possession. What are you guys sporting? Judging by how many recommended the 870 to me in my bird hunting thread, there has gotta be some sweet pump guns sitting in DZ.com safes.

Will it be used for bird hunting?

[LongWayToFall 0]

Yes currently it has a 28 inch barrel and 4+1 magazine. I want to get an additional barrel and stock, and maybe a mag extension, and use it as my primary home defense weapon. It will primarily be used as a bird gun, however.

[lost_n_confuzd 0]

I suppose that would be ok. However I'm not so sure about bird hunting with a short barrel and pistol grip on an 870

[LongWayToFall 0]

Don't worry, I am keeping the 28" for field days. Although an 18" with no choke has got to have a wide spread.

[diablopilot 2]

For HD, short barrel, keep a stock on it, add a shell carrier, ghost ring sights, and a tactical light. If you want to spend a bit more, a Vang Comp barrel looks like a good option.

For a bird gun, buy a second long barrel 870, they are cheap enough at Big 5, or splurge and by a Benelli.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

For a bird gun, buy a second long barrel 870

That's very sound advice. You can keep a HD shotgun that is setup for bird hunting, but its going to be tough getting that long barrel pulled around in tight spaces.

There are a number of companies that do custom work on the 870 for tactical and HD setting, but if you want to go pistol grip, you might want to keep some stock (even if its shortened). If you've ever shot a pistol grip only shotgun, you'll understand.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[tkhayes 348]

Ducks geese, etc, you need a long barrel and full choke. pistol grip is a waster of time.

Grouse, pheasant, rabbits etc, depends on the terrain. Still mostly a full choke, but a shorter barrel if you are huffing through denser woods, you need to swing the barrel.

But still a pistol grip? I though that was for slugs and riot control, not hunting.

[councilman24 37]

You can swap stuff on these shotguns pretty fast.

I put a pistol grip on my Mossberg, shot it 2 or 3 time and promptly took it off.

I get a smooth bore slug barrel for the home defense assembly. Had a rifled slug barrel but that good for riot control, when you want to hit people in a 120 degree radius with shot.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[warpedskydiver 0]

you cannot hit that many people with one blast from a shotgun.

At 30 feet the spread from a no choke bbl may only be 4-6"depending on the shot type.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot20.htm

Heck at 20 yards the spread is only 10"

[steve1 5]

I think the short barrel, you are talking about, is improved cylinder. That way you can shoot slugs out of it too. I've read that you should have an improved cylinder choke, if you want to shoot slugs and not damage your barrel. Let me know if I am wrong on this. I have shot slugs through a full choke barrel and it seemed to work okay....without any noticeable damage.

For close range work, an improved cylinder should be fine for buckshot too. Your pattern should be tight enough.

Keep your long barrel for pheasants and ducks. I have choke tubes for both barrels that I use on my 870. I usually use full choke for pheasants and ducks, (on the longer barrel).

I've never used the pistol grips that are available. I don't think I'd want them.

I have a short twenty inch barrel for my 870. It has front and rear sights on it. I've killed turkeys out to almost 50 yards with it. I use an extra full choke for turkey hunting. Even though it is short and handy, it will reach way out there....

[councilman24 37]

Not when you shoot shot through a rifled barrel. That spinning load goes all over.

Everywhere BUT the patterning paper.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[steve1 5]

I was wondering....Can you shoot buckshot through a rifled barrel without damage....

This brings up another thought. I've heard you can't shoot steel shot through some of the older smooth barrels.

I had an old Winchester shotgun and was told you can't shoot steel shot through those old barrels. Can anyone give some info. on that?

Things are just getting too complicated these days....

[councilman24 37]

I'm not up on the steel. Think it matters what the choke is.

But I've shot number 4 through the rifled slug barrel. That's where you get 120 degree coverage. I think that load starts rotating and flings itself everywhere once out the barrel. Figured it would but had to try while I was looking for a smooth bore.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[LouDiamond 1]

Quote

Ok, so I was thinking of getting a short barrel and some sort of pistol grip stock for the 870 that will soon be in my possession. What are you guys sporting? Judging by how many recommended the 870 to me in my bird hunting thread, there has gotta be some sweet pump guns sitting in DZ.com safes.

The way I see it, you have 2 options:

1. Buy 2 870's and set them up for each application. You can get 870's pretty cheap if you look around. When I say pretty cheap I am talking in the under $200 range. I picked up 2 used 870s from Gander Mountain and each was less than $180.00 and Gander Mt is known to be high on their prices.

2. Buy an 870 and an extra barrel. Chances are you can find a good bird gun with a barrel that accepts chokes right off the shelf at most stores. Buy the Remington 18" short barrel for a couple hundred or look for a used one on guntrader.com along with a magazine extender and side saddle and light mount.


Now I have used a pistol grip buttstocked weapon for most of my adult life and can shoot a shotgun at birds with one no problems. However, I would recommend you stay with a normal butt stock, especially if you go with one gun and multiple barrels.

Home defense options:

You can buy simple brackets that allow you to attach a small flashlight, like a sure fire defender, that are rear activated to a magazine extension. Both can be added/removed fairly quickly. If you choose to leave the mag extension on and hunt birds with it be sure you use a plug (wooden dowel) in it so that you only have the correct amount of shells in your gun if you get questioned by a game warden. The opposite end of the spectrum is to buy the Surefire fore end light. It costs more but its the ideal choice if you choose to run a HD only shotgun.

You can add a side saddle shell holder if you want, another easy install/addition but I recommend you go with the Mesa tactical side saddle as all the other plastic ones out there are junk and will break or not hold your shells securely over time.

In either case, I'd recommend you add a Vang Comp oversized safety to your shotgun, it makes a world of difference, cost only a few bucks and anyone can do it.


A good resource to learn more than you'd every want to know about shotguns is shotgunworld.com

Here are a few links to pictures of guns set up as I have described to give you an idea of what I am talking about.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/cpg1410/albums/userpics/web-DSC07984.jpg

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/cpg1410/albums/userpics/web-870P-1212-BR-80.jpg

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/cpg1410/albums/userpics/web-DSC07845.jpg

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/cpg1410/albums/userpics/web-DSC07840.jpg

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/cpg1410/albums/userpics/webDSC07786.jpg

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[TomAiello 26]

Quote

For HD, short barrel, keep a stock on it, add a shell carrier, ghost ring sights, and a tactical light. If you want to spend a bit more, a Vang Comp barrel looks like a good option.

+1 on the Vang Comp. Also, if your budget allows, look into an Enidine shot stock. Allows you to mount a standard AR stock (the Magpul CTR is popular) and greatly reduces felt recoil for much faster follow up.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[TomAiello 26]

Quote

I though that was for slugs and riot control, not hunting.

Don't people hunt with slugs?

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[LongWayToFall 0]

Wow lots of info!
Ok, so you guys know what I am working with, this is the gun I bought:

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model_870/model_870_express.asp

I want to buy parts that I can easily remove for when I go hunting, but put back on when it is back at the house. This will likely be:
Short barrel
Pistol grip stock (maybe?)
Side saddle looks sweet
A flashlight bracket, I have a light that will work perfectly, it has a push button switch on the rear.
Mag extension (possibly)

I will check out the oversized safety, and I can simply leave it on while hunting as well which is nice.

The express version I bought, is the cheapest one they make, and I found that the police models have some nice features that increase reliability, such as a machined rather than cast extractor. The brownelles website has a few extractors, but they don't specify which is which, and that is annoying!

Those pictures contain some sweet looking shotguns! Thanks for the advice.

[warpedskydiver 0]

Quote

I was wondering....Can you shoot buckshot through a rifled barrel without damage....

This brings up another thought. I've heard you can't shoot steel shot through some of the older smooth barrels.

I had an old Winchester shotgun and was told you can't shoot steel shot through those old barrels. Can anyone give some info. on that?

Things are just getting too complicated these days....

do not do it!

[warpedskydiver 0]

If he gets the Mesa buy better quality allen head screws and locktite it on

[LouDiamond 1]

Quote

Wow lots of info!
Ok, so you guys know what I am working with, this is the gun I bought:

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model_870/model_870_express.asp

I want to buy parts that I can easily remove for when I go hunting, but put back on when it is back at the house. This will likely be:
Short barrel
Pistol grip stock (maybe?)
Side saddle looks sweet
A flashlight bracket, I have a light that will work perfectly, it has a push button switch on the rear.
Mag extension (possibly)

I will check out the oversized safety, and I can simply leave it on while hunting as well which is nice.

The express version I bought, is the cheapest one they make, and I found that the police models have some nice features that increase reliability, such as a machined rather than cast extractor. The brownelles website has a few extractors, but they don't specify which is which, and that is annoying!

Those pictures contain some sweet looking shotguns! Thanks for the advice.

Thanks, all the guns pictured are mine. I have a Endine stock (as pictured above) and while it does work, it is a bit pricey. I also have a Vang Comp 18" barrel on one of the guns pictured(as well as his mag extension/breacher) and it does make a difference for those longer shots. The other combo compensator/breacher pictured is made by King Armory and is 18" overall. It produces patterns just as good as the VC barrel and I'm very happy with it. They are less than a VC barrel if the VC is too pricey for you.

One of the guns pictured above is a Police model and while there is a difference, I found that an older 870 express/magnum has just as smooth an action as a police model once you've put some rounds through it. You can also polish your express yourself to make its action smoother. You can switch out the dog carrier to the one used in the police model but unless you plan on shooting a crazy amount of rounds in a short period of time, you probably won't need to make the upgrades found on the police model IMO.


Again, 18" barrel best bet is to look on gunbroker.com unless you run across one in a bargain bin barrel or at a gun show. You can go with a pistol grip stock but the reason I say stick with a standard stock is the fact you will be hunting birds with it and LOP is important and most pistol grip stocks have a shorter LOP to accommodate for people wearing body armor and or vests. While its ideal for a HD gun, it can/could cause issues for you when tracking a bird in flight and or sighting.

Side saddle and mag extension: buy quality, stay away from the plastic ones. The Remington mag extension is OK at best but there are better made aftermarket metal ones out there. If you do go this route you may also want to look into adding a stronger spring and a hi visibility follower (usually sold as a kit by VC, etc) so that you get enough tension against the shells in the magazine.

Oversized safety: Just do it. Its like a $12.00 upgrade and its one of those features that IMO should be standard from the factory it makes so much sense.

One thing to keep in mind when adding a side saddle is the type of fore end that came with your express. If it is one of the black synthetic ones that comes stock as found on the Remington page, you will have to change it out to allow for the side saddle to be mounted. As it comes from the factory, that fore end, when cycled back, partially covers the receiver where a side saddle mounts. You can go with the bare bones Remington one(as pictured above) or with the Houge texturized rubber coated one which I recommend(also pictured above). If you buy a pistol grip conversion kit chances are it will come with the correct fore end to allow for a side saddle to be mounted.


The 870 is like the AK-47 of shotguns. Its easy to work on, clean and break down in a matter of seconds once you know how. There is a shit load of aftermarket stuff out there for the 870 and IMO, most of it is shit so stick with the quality stuff and avoid the plastic crap or items that look like the quality products.

One other thing I will throw out there that most people don't consider when looking for a HD shotgun is what is known as a stage coach shotgun. Its the old fashioned double barreled shotgun but it is short as shit from end to end, 18" from tip to butt stock and they are legal and can be found for about $100 and up in some gun stores. Nothing sexy about them or options for a light or any other "tacticool" gadgets but for working in a house, they are ideal as they are wicked short and easy to maneuver.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING