[Bluegrasser]

I've been obsessing over 870P's lately--as I do with all my purchases--and I can't seem to find my preferred configuration. I want a basic 18-incher, parkerized, wood furniture, and Ghost Rings. Does anyone know if Remington's LE catalog contains every configuration available to civilians? If this config is not available, what's the easiest way to get there? Buy the synthetic stock version and change stocks? Buy the wood version and have someone add ghost rings? By a 2nd 18" barrel with GR on the front and install the rear on the receiver myself? Thanks for any help.

[Fred Fuller]

Looks as if your best bet is to get a 4449 and change the synthetic furniture to wood, if you want to keep other changes to a minimum.

http://www.remingtonle.com/shotguns/870synthetic.htm

Good luck with it,

lpl/nc

[Bluegrasser]

Thanks, Lee. I know it's sort of a silly question with an easy answer, but from reading all about the 870P I just get the sense that getting parts will be as hard as getting the shotgun itself so I wanted the easiest road to shotgun Nirvana as possible. :)

[flip180]

You can get a set of used wood 870 furniture for 25.00-50.00 off of the internet. You can get your sights here http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=109166. I have a set but haven't installed them yet. They are the same exact sights as the ones on the Wilson Combat shotguns. They even say "Scattergun Tech" on the side but cost like 60.00 less.

Flip.

[steveracer]

I got the loss blue Police Magnum with wood furniture and had ghost rings added later. Nice combo, BTW: fine looking and very handy.

[Bluegrasser]

For you guys that have added the sights later, how do you get the front sight on? I thought you had to buy the gun with it there or buy a whole new barrel with it on there? I have to assume it's not screwed on like the rear sight?

Sorry for the questions, but I don't know squat about long guns.

[Fred Fuller]

Front sights can be silver soldered onto barrels by any competent gunsmith. Problem is that after the work is done, the barrel will need to be refinished. So if you want to add GRs (ghost rings) to an existing gun, save that step for last because the gun (or at least the barrel) will need to be refinished. I wouldn't hesitate to pick up an LE trade-in and set it up the way I wanted, or for that matter a good used Wingmaster would serve just as well. There's nothing wrong with getting an 870P if you want one, but there is an awful lot of pure hype abut the 'differences' between this 870 and that one. If you want to pay a premium price for a 110% item, no problem- but you can get 100% for a good bit less money by buying a good used Wingmaster or older Express for a base gun to build your ideal shotgun on.

By the same token rear sights can be added by a smith as well. All it takes is drilling and tapping a couple of holes in the right places on the receiver top and you're good to go.

I like MMC's shotgun ghost rings best, they aren't cheap but they work. ( http://www.mmcsight.com/shotgun.htm ) I'd stay away from tritium in the rear sight, it works in the front sight OK.

Only thing about GRs is that it limits the gun more to defensive or big game hunting, though if you're a good generap purpose shotgunner you can wingshoot etc. with it as well. But I prefer them on a defensive gun.

hth,

lpl/nc