870 action release move?

[MrTuffPaws]

Just wondering if there were any mods out there that moved the 870's action release tab from in front of the trigger guard to behind it like the mossberg.

[Lee Lapin]

Never heard of one, but as my wizard says: "Any project is feasible if properly funded."

Can't help but ask, why would you want it moved anyway?

lpl/nc

[anapex]

I think I've heard of one, I think it's called the "Buy a Winchester, Mossberg, or Browning" mod. :evil: Other then that no I've never heard of one for a Remington. I'd imagine it'd cost more then it would be worth.

[BusMaster007]

Get another brand is the right answer.
The reason I LIKED the 870 from the beginning is because it was a natural motion for me to make it work.
If it doesn't feel right to you, another brand may be the only choice.
Good Luck.

[MrTuffPaws]

Why would I want it moved? Well, I have to move my right hand from position to work the slide. If I could move it to behind the trigger guard, then I would not have to move my hand.

[Dave McCracken]

IMO, you're seeking a hardware solution to a software problem. Hitting the slide release takes but an instant. If breaking your grip bugs you that much after learning to do it quickly, maybe another make is your best answer.

HTH....

[Lee Lapin]

I haven't ever asked the folks at Remington, but I suspect the action release was put up there to get it out of the way so it wouldn't be inadvertently pressed in the normal handling of the gun. Using the action release is in fact pretty much an 'administrative' function, for use when there is no stress, pressure or hurry involved in getting the gun into or out of action.

Let's see, how many ways to carry an 870?

1) Magazine loaded, chamber loaded, hammer cocked, bolt forward, safety on. No need to hit the action release here, just push the safety and BOOM. Oh, you're through with the gun and need to empty it? Yup, gotta hit the action release the first time to clear the chamber. But getting the ammo out of the gun at the end of the session is admin, not an emergency. No need to worry about having to break your firing grip on the gun for that.

2) Magazine loaded, chamber empty, hammer cocked, bolt forward, safety on. OK, if you insisted on doing it that way then you could break your strong hand firing grip, reach forward for the action release and trip it, then pump a shell into the chamber, shoulder the gun, push off the safety and shoot. But if you were in a really tight spot and getting a round off fast was your desire, wouldn't it be simpler and maybe faster to just get on target, hit the safety, pull the trigger, run the slide to chamber a round and shoot? The gun will thus already be in firing position when the shell is chambered, safety off, there's no fumbling for controls or breaking the strong hand firing grip, and the warning time difference to the prospective target between going 'clack-clack' and adjusting grip on the gun or 'snick-click-clack-clack' with the gun mounted in firing position is not long enough to worry about.

3) Magazine empty, chamber empty, hammer cocked, bolt forward, safety on. Again, you could load the magazine, then hit the action release and run a shell into the chamber. That is, if you were going to walk out to your deer/dove stand, or whatever. But if you are caught in an emergency with your pants down and a totally empty gun, what then? The fastest way to get the gun in action could be to load the magazine with one round, come up to firing position, hit the safety and drop the hammer, then run the slide to chamber the round in the magazine. Thereafter it might be faster to combat load individual rounds through the ejection port, if you had practiced that move in advance and had ammo easily available- as in a SideSaddle.

4) Magazine loaded, chamber empty, hammer down, bolt forward, safety on. Run the slide, snap off the safety, boom. You will want to be really careful about making sure that chamber is empty before you drop the hammer on it. The magazine loads easier with the hammer cocked and the bolt locked forward. My routine is to visually check and press check the chamber with a partially open bolt (yep, gotta reach for the action release), close the bolt, load the magazine, visually check and press check the chamber as before (DO NOT rack the bolt all the way open here). Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, then drop the hammer. Once it's done, around here the gun usually stays loaded that way for weeks/months until the shells are rotated out of the magazine to avoid compression. Doing that every day (as in at shift changes for LEOs) requires a LOT of attention from a lot of people, I don't think I could recommend that style of 'cruiser ready' on a general basis. The process requires complete undistracted attention to detail to avoid blowing a large ragged hole in something you didn't intend to. Blowing large ragged holes in things at unexpected times tends to focus the attention wonderfully, but unfortunately it is too late at that point. Best to focus first... .


There are more options of course, but I'm not going into all of them because the rest are pretty much some variation on the above. If you are worried about using the gun in emergency situations, you owe it to yourself to work out your own simple manual of arms, or take one or some of the classes available on defensive shotgunning. Keep in mind that the KISS principle applies, there simply is no set, one-size-fits-all, best way to manipulate the gun- you should find what works for you and then PRACTICE IT until it is instinctive.

But don't let your head get all wrapped around what you perceive as a shortcoming or problem with the design of the gun. The hardware is fine as is, it is better IMHO to have the action release in a place that is somewhat out of the way than in a place where the natural firing grip can easily release it unintentionally- and maybe keep the gun from firing when you need it to.

As Dave M said- software, not hardware.

Stay safe,

lpl/nc

[Andrew Wyatt]

Using the action release is in fact pretty much an 'administrative' function, for use when there is no stress, pressure or hurry involved in getting the gun into or out of action.


It gets used in a select slug drill.

[rockstar.esq]

I understand your reasoning... however one of the reasons I am so fond of Remington products is that generally speaking, it's easier to do what ever you need to do with the gun in a safe manner than not. Here's my explaination. The 870's slide release is easiest to access with the barrel pointed up and your right hand outside of the trigger guard. The Mossberg etc. group is easier (for me) to access with the barrel pointed straight out in front of me at about hip level. Secondly my middle finger can press the slide release easier than any other. For some, this would tempt you to put your index on the trigger and your middle on the slide release. Personally, I don't like the awkward/potentially unsafe situation where a guy has a finger on the trigger as he's checking a chamber, etc. especially with the gun pointed vaguely forward. All of the shotguns mentioned can be operated safely. I just find that when it's harder to be unsafe most people will be safe.