[RavenVT100]

Hey guys.

Let me preface this by saying that I'm totally new to Shotguns. I'm planning to get an HD shotgun, and the Remington 870 is high on my list. Can anyone recommend what configuration to look into? (Pistol grip or standard) and other configuration? Thanks.

[Rupestris]

A HD shotgun should have a barrel in the 18.5" to 24" range with a simple bead sight. Standard configuration works best for most folks.

Pistol grip - only if your house is smaller than a refrigerator box. All others would be better defended with a full stock, possibly a youth stock to further reduce the OAL (depending on your size and how much you enjoy recoil - proper fit is hot topic here on THR SG's).

There are several "floater" threads, that will take you to some very good threads on TFL, on the top of the list that can help you.

Best of luck to you.

[orangeninja]

Be glad to.


A remington 870 is probably the best pick for HD...though a good Mossberg or Winchester ain't a bad choice.

go for somthing with a 18 inch to 20 inch barrel. Don't go with a pistol grip unless you are really big, really strong and you practice ALL THE TIME. A pistol grip stock would be a better choice because it'll give you the option of shouldering the weapon or using it as a pistol grip (for those really tight corners).

Personally I use #4 buck but OO buck is okay too. I don't like the overpenetrating characteristics of a slug as those can penetrate several walls. OO buck can be deadly through a wall as well, but won't travel as far. #4 buck can also be deadly, but smaller pellets will have a lot less lethal velocity.

[f4t9r]

870 is a good choice, agree barrel should be 18-22"

[Ala Dan]

We use a Remington 12 gague 870 Marine Magnum for home D'~! :D

[ruger357]

I use the 870HD with the extended magazine tube for my house.

[Dave McCracken]

Configuration? A full stock, with or without PG. Short barrel.

Buy Ammo. Use Up, Repeat. The hardware is NOT the weakest link....

[Mtnvalley]

I went with a 870 Tactical (S.H.O.T. Show pkg in OD green, 7-shot ext, Speedfeed IV pistol-grip stock, R3 recoil pad, 20' bbl) and added a Surefire forend/tac light.

[riverdog]

Mine is a Wingmaster with a 20" IC barrel and the standard wood stock.

Shoot a few rounds of Skeet and you'll develop some muscle memory. As Dave said, Buy Ammo. Use Up, Repeat, Skeet is fun and great practice.

[kahr404life]

I love the 870 its very good at what its does. For HD/SD I would prefer rifle sights and a smooth cylinder bore. The rifle sights are more precise for range and just as easy to use as a bead. I would probably put a side saddle or nylon rear stock ammo carrier (nylon cheaper) on the gun (ammo allways with gun). A sling would also be usefull if you wanted to free your hands for other task while you carry the weapon.

[WarMachine]

Not trying to change the subject too much, but how does the Winchester 1300 Defender compare against the Remington 870? The local gunshops here locally carry both of these for around the same price.

[tango3065]

Remington 870 is a great choice. My 870 has a 21" inch barrel with rem chokes and I use it for everything including hunting to hd.

[tango3065]

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29968

[Amadeus]

Yeah. What Dave McCracken said.

Remington 870 or any of its pump-action cousins in the Mossberg, Winchester stable.

Full stock. Extended mag is optional. Short barrel 18" to 24". Bead sight. Ignore the "cool, badass, tactical, combat, home defense, SWAT," gadgets and just get plenty of practice with......

...plenty of ammo. Plenty of ammo. Plenty of ammo. Plenty of ammo.

I have the 870 express model with the factory two-round magazine extension. Bought it off the rack and didn't do anything to it except clean it and add ammo.

[DougW]

If I were starting out again, I would go with one of the 870 Express shotguns, with the 24" or 26" barrel (which ever is the standard on an Express). I would also get either the Winchester or Federal Reduced Recoil OO buck load for HD, along with some high velocity #4's. The Tactical Reduced Recoil buck shot has about 60% of the felt recoil of full house OO, and are very manageable. A modified chock will give you a very good pattern out to 25 yards, and you can get a quick follow up shot if needed. A shorter barrel and a magazine extension would be the first and only additions to the shot gun, and you will have about the best you can get for the money (not knocking the Winchester or Mossburg, as they are within .1% on the scale of being as good as an 870).

[RavenVT100]

Okay, a few observations.

I've settled mostly on the 870 HD model. Very low profile, simple, and low cost. Just what I need. The first thing I noticed that was unexpected (me being from a rifle/pistol background) is the lack of anything resembling a rear sight. There was simply a bead at the front, and that was it. Can someone explain to me how one aims this thing? Why just one sight on the front?

There was a Mossberg 560A1 that I could get for a few hundred more with a ghost ring sight, but do I need that?

[Dave McCracken]

Shotguns are pointed, not aimed. The bead is adequate for the purpose at hand. Go shoot it some and see.

The eye serves as a rear sight. You must be sure to mount the shotgun consistently. If the eye is not in the same place, the shot goes awry.

GR sights are nice to have, but far from essential. Nothing is faster than a bead, and good work is done with slugs and a bead up to 50 yards or so. For shot, the bead suffices.

HTH....

[Rob96]

I have a Remington 870HD, with factory extended mag tube. I did add a side saddle to it. Other than that, it is great.

[salty]

Remington has a special run of tactical 870 mag shotguns available. They are set up with Speedfeed pistol grip stock, mag extension and 20" bbl. They are finished in an OD color on the metal and if used for HD with a laser dot would intimidate an intruder without question. About $400.

REM 870 TACT 12/20" bbl 7RD OD GREEN SPEEDFEED STOCK

Product Specifications
Manufacturer Remington
Model 870 MAG
Action Pump
Caliber 12Ga 3"
Barrel Length 20"
Finish/Color OD Green
Grips/Stock Synthetic
Type of Barrel Cylinder
Chamber 3"
Capacity 7Rd

[DeseoUnTaco]

Let me preface this by saying that I'm totally new to Shotguns. I'm planning to get an HD shotgun, and the Remington 870 is high on my list. Can anyone recommend what configuration to look into? (Pistol grip or standard) and other configuration? Thanks.
Well, in any kind of self defense forum, you'll routinely see threads about how someone got shot in the head with a 9mm and survived, how someone got hit with half a dozen 45 acp in the chest and kept on fighting, that kind of thing. Have you ever noticed that you NEVER see a story about how someone got hit in the chest with a load of buckshot and kept on fighting, or even just breathing? That's why shotguns are so great for home defense. They really work. A COM hit with a load of buck will stop an attack.

The 870 is great. It's a well-proven well-tested shotgun. It does have its problems, though. The controls are often criticized. The action release is in a funny place. It is generally thought that Mossbergs have better ergonomics. But they are all good and they all work.

As for pistol grip vs. standard, I have a standard on mine. At some point I'll get a PG and try it out. I've never tried so I don't know. It seems like it would have an advantage in a small home.

[VWTim]

I was at GI Joes's the other day, local sporting goods/outdoors store. They have a real nice 870 Police Parkerized Magnum with 18" barrel and Ghost Ring sights. It was $400, any reason to pass this? I figure a 870 is ~250 new, plus at least $100 for the Ghost Rings.

[orangeninja]

I'd offer 350...even then it's not a steal...but a fair price.

[Cactus]

I was at GI Joes's the other day, local sporting goods/outdoors store. They have a real nice 870 Police Parkerized Magnum with 18" barrel and Ghost Ring sights. It was $400, any reason to pass this? I figure a 870 is ~250 new, plus at least $100 for the Ghost Rings.

If that's a new gun then that's a decent price. You would pay around $250 for an Express HD and then another $150 for Wilson ghost ring sights. Add in that an 870 Police is better finished and smoother out of the box than an Express and you could do alot worse. Even if it's used, I don't think it's out of line if it's in excellent condition.

[chaim]

Have you ever noticed that you NEVER see a story about how someone got hit in the chest with a load of buckshot and kept on fighting, or even just breathing
Um, there is no magic sword.

A few years ago there were two brothers in Baltimore who were camped out in their warehouse because their business was targeted by criminals several nights in a row. Well, someone broke in and it took a whole mag full of 12ga from one brother's shotgun and a full mag of .45acp from the other brother's handgun before the badguy went down (he was still coming at them, with a hammer if I remember right but I don't remember for sure what his weapon was, after several shots of each).

Practice and aim regardless of caliber are the key (of course, the more powerful the better for stopping, thus 12ga is a good choice).

[pauli]

if it fits you and the controls work for you, an 870 is a great choice.

[Nicky Santoro]

Not trying to change the subject too much, but how does the Winchester 1300 Defender compare against the Remington 870? The local gunshops here locally carry both of these for around the same price.

I have both. I prefer the Defender for HD as, to me anyway, it is handier and lighter. I use the 870 for hunting.
FWIW
YMMV

[VWTim]

I'd offer 350...even then it's not a steal...but a fair price.

All they sell is new guns, they're a chain type sporting goods store. So they can't really haggle either. I'm just gonna wait for a sale, and in the meantime, as my FFL what he can get me one for.

[Cosmoline]

Here's my customized Mossberg 500. It's working great for home defense.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/Gussick/magnussmall.jpg

[Nematocyst]

Did somebody say '870'?

Good advice here (which is all you will ever find in this forum). Stay simple to start. (You can always evolve yours to Cosmoline's configuration at a later time. {Geez, Cosmo; looks like you're ready to shoot the mother alien with Sigourney Weaver. :eek: })

Mines going to be {as soon as the promised check arrives} an 870P with synthetic furniture, bead, standard mag.

I like the idea of those reduced recoil loads for BA/UU/R practice. For HD, I plan to load with #1 buck.

Sling? Light? Butt cuff? We'll see. Maybe later.

But first, I just want to know it stock, and will chant the THR/SG mantra: BA/UU/R. BA/UU/R. BA/UU/R.

"Excuse me, have i arrived in SG Nirvana yet? I seem to have taken an odd turn at Salem?"

Nem