870s: Which for the Range, Which for HD?

[marklbucla]

Let's say I've got two similarly equipped 870s:

1. 870 Express HD - Well broken in, Really light smooth action, Mag Extension, 18" Barrel, Bead Sight.
2. 870 Police - Like New, 20" Barrel, Mag Extension, Bead Sight.

Which one would you leave for HD, which one for the weekly range trip?

[RCR29]

I like the police models better than the express, but I would not use an untested firearm for self defense. Why not just take both to the range and use the one you like best for home defense.

[Stachie]

HD: Get a tactical, or build your own!!!:D

[Lee Lapin]

They are both 870s- no need to baby 'em, nthing to 'save' with either. Shoot both of them, a lot. When you get upwards of 200,000 rounds on each of them then you can start worrying about 'saving something for HD.'

lpl/nc

[marklbucla]

It's not so much the guns, I just don't want to shoot one of them with the Surefire forend on it. I also don't want to switch out the forend every time I want to take it to the range.

[Lee Lapin]

Surefire makes a 'practice plug' (A11 housing plug to be precise) for their fore-ends with lights. Take off light/batteries, screw in practice plug, practice. Then replace light and test.

http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/pgrfnbr/443/sesent/00
"For extensive practice or training, SureFire offers a screw-in plug to replace the lamp module in the dedicated forend. No point in subjecting the light to more pounding than necessary."

For picture see http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/carfnbr/303/sesent/00 . Like everything Surefire it's pricey, but you only need one... . I used one religiously before I shfted to rail-mounted lights- now I just take off the whole light.

hth,

lpl/nc

[Dave McCracken]

IMO, it doesn't matter. Either will do for either purpose. You may want to get a longer barrel for the clay games or another 870.

See how it starts?.....

[farscott]

My 870P has a noticeably "harder" trigger pull than my other 870s. As I understand it, this is a designed-in feature of the 870P. For clay games and field use , I would not and do not use my 870P. I use one of my Wingmasters with a suitable barrel for clay games and hunting.

In any event, I would be sure to get some practice time with each and every 870 I was going to consider using for HD.

[ArmedBear]

Neither, or both.

870s are good well into the six figures, meaning hundreds of thousands of rounds. You probably wouldn't be able to wear the thing out doing HD practice, unless you have a threshold of boredom that exceeds mine by orders of magnitude, or you shoot such heavy loads that your shoulder will fall off.

I'll second the suggestion of a barrel for clay games.

[Orr89rocz]

definately shoot them often. i do like the fact that the one is broken in and well used...makes the action smoother

my 870 Supermag i bought brand new and fired probly over 200 rounds in it so far, hard to say tho, and it jams every once in awhile. Costly in the field during hunting and could be VERY COSTLY in a home defense situation when u need a second shot quickly.

get one that shoots smoothly