Synthetic stock- want to add some weight..

[45Badger]

Just picked up an older 870 police trade in. I already have a "social work" 870, so wanted to use this as a dedicated deer gun. I bought a Ramline synthetic stock set (in way cool camo) and put it on the gun.

All is fine, but I think it's a bit light. Being a recoil wuss, I'd like to add a bit of weight to the gun. There is plenty of room in stock, but I have no idea what to use to add weight, be quiet, and stay balanced.

Anybody been down this path? Thanks in advance for the ideas!:)

[Lee Lapin]

Best thing IMHO is to add 'useful' weight in the form of more ammo capacity to the gun. That would be a magazine extension of up to three round capacity (that size fits flush with 20" barrel, longer than that gets into reliability issues too much) and a SideSaddle. Carrying 12 or 14 rounds in/on the gun will add a good deal of weight, and you would likely carry the ammo on your belt/in your pocket anyway so you aren't adding to your load, just redistributing it where it will do some good soaking up recoil.

NOTE that this added weight will also significantly change the handling characteristics of the gun as well, making it more ponderous to get moving and slower to stop swinging. If you want a fleet fast handling shotgun for quick shots at moving targets, this won't be the best gun for the job. On the stand with calculated shots at stationary targets, OK. But bouncing bucks out of cover like coveys of quail- different deal. Keeping the gun balanced to suit you is a good idea, muzzle heavy will tend to make it swing better, somewhat butt heavy will make it feel easier to point.


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For balance, to add weight to the buttstock, there might be separate small voids in the stock that can be filled with shot. If not you'll need:

-Loose birdshot

-PVC pipe of a diameter to nestle into the bottom of the stock, of an appropriate length to hold the necessary amount of shot. Likely won't take a lot...

-Two PVC caps of the appropriate size

-PVC glue

-Silicone adhesive

Glue cap on one end of pipe, fill with shot, add a bit of silicone and glue on the other cap. Let PVC glue set (takes maybe 5 minutes). Apply a bed of silicone adhesive to inside of stock. Nest shot-filled PVC pipe into adhesive and let it set up (takes a bit longer than the PVC glue), Reinstall recoil pad.
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Experiment with it and see what suits you...

lpl/nc

[Coltdriver]

You can mix up a combination of bb's or lead shot and epoxy. I'm not sure how the stock attaches to the shotgun so if you need access through the butt plate this may not be a workable idea.

You could also take a piece of blue insulating foam, cut it to form a plug, fit it as far into the stock as you want then line the plug/stock with clear plastic wrap and then pour in the bb/epoxy mix. Cap it with another plug and secure it with the butt plate. That would be removeable if you do it right:D

In Colorado you are restricted to three rounds total so adding ammo capacity for a hunting shotgun may not be workable.

[USMC Tanker]

Another option other than the side saddle is a buttstock shell holder (6 rounds). I put one on my 870 P Max because I wanted the extra ammo weight further back on the buttstock rather than on the reciever itself. With it further back, it helps counter-weight the SureFire forend a bit. No complaints...GOOD GEAR.

www.spectergear.com