[stratus]

After years of owning pistols, I finally decided to procure some real firepower. I almost got the 870 Tactical, and I probably should have, because I want to replace this super-uncomfortable folding stock with a Knoxx stock. But I have already "bonded" with this gun (as the bruise on my right chest/shoulder area indicates) so I have no problem doing it piecemeal... Anyway, here are a couple of pics.

http://www.photodiscord.com/discord/albums/stuff-and-things/DSCN0778_001.sized.jpg
http://www.photodiscord.com/discord/albums/stuff-and-things/DSCN0777_001.sized.jpg

[Dave McCracken]

Nice shotgun, and you mentioned you've shot it which puts you above most of the folks posting pics of black shotguns here.

A coupla things....

Like any newbie to Shotgunland, start off slow. Use the lightest loads you can find and shoot them often. Clays, starlings or such are great targets.

Buy no gizmos for now. None. Just buy ammo and use it up. Repeat. When the figurative pile of empties passes your ankles, then contemplate what thy shotgun needs.

Work on your form. Dry mounts at home WITH A GUN KNOWN TO BE EMPTY build the muscles needed and groove in the moves.

May the next pic you post here show......

Perforated targets.

Wear marks on your fine shotgun.

And a big grin on you.

HTH....

[rantingredneck]

If you want a good, plain synthetic stock for that gun for not a huge cash investment try here: http://www.e-gunparts.com/DisplayAd.asp?chrProductSKU=984070&chrSuperSKU=&MC=

With that you can shoot comfortably and build proper shotgun form, then decide whether you want the knoxx or not.

I had/have that exact same shotgun. I replaced the stock with a speedfeed and sold the folder. You're right, ouch.

Although it was handy on a recent vacation to toss in the duffle bag folded.

[rantingredneck]

Or if you're dead set on keeping the folder, you can make it more useable by removing the screw on butler creek recoil pad and adding a limbsaver slip on pad (20 bucks at walmart). It will cover your shells a bit unless you want to trim it back some. Makes recoil a bit more manageable on the shoulder, but I was getting cheek burn too from that stock. Didn't fit me right at all.

[Striker]

Hey RR,

Tell us how you really feel about those used Speedfeed stock sets! :D:D:D

(Just funning you a bit) :p

[rantingredneck]

Guess I've recommended them a few times huh :)

[md7]

congrats on the new purchase! i have really enjoyed the 870 HD that i got around christmas. the pile of empties is getting bout knee high for me with no plans of stopping. enjoy it and shoot the heck out of it.

a note of warning- as you shoot your new 870, you will somewhere in the break in process want to buy more 870's.

[rantingredneck]

He's /\ right :uhoh:

they have a way of multiplying in the safe.

[stratus]

Thanks for the tips guys. I am going to consider that Speedfeed. Less cash for something that works, is good. :)

Meanwhile, I will show you my main gripe with the butler creek folder (besides the significant bruise on my shoulder which is gone by now).

Here is where my thumb seems to inevitably contact the rough metal of the underside of the stock when I dry fire or range fire the gun:

http://www.photodiscord.com/discord/albums/stuff-and-things/uncomfy.jpg

Didn't really detect it at the store. It took a while of frequent handling before it got annoying; here's my thumb knuckle two days after I put 40 shells through it:
http://www.photodiscord.com/discord/albums/stuff-and-things/ouch.jpg

I thought about putting some electrical tape on the offending spot to fix this, but also, there are the other problems with the stock that people have already mentioned. It's certainly unworthy of the 870 platform, and it will be replaced asap.

[rantingredneck]

Some 600 grit sandpaper should clear that up.



On the stock, not your thumb :p.

[stratus]

I may do that in the meantime. But once I am shooting with a different stock, I'll be shooting AT this one. :p

[rantingredneck]

I wouldn't do that. I got 45 bucks out of mine in a FTF sale. Local soldier who carries an 870 for breaching. Wanted something that he could fold up. He's happy with it, I'm happy with the 45 bucks. :)

[stratus]

Heh, sorry, I should have specified that I was joking...

[rantingredneck]

I kinda figured you were :)

[Snarlingiron]

I have essentially the same gun. I put the Knoxx stock on and I will say that it takes some getting used to. My advice is pretty much the same as the others here, put the standard stock on it, with a limbsaver, and shoot away. Get down the basics. Try a Knoxx before you buy. It absolutely does absorb recoil in a major way, but it is also a somewhat peculiar critter. There is a significant amount of motion between the action and the stock (that is where the recoil goes), and that is disconcerting to many folks. My buddy absolutely hates it. On the other hand he does not have anywhere neer the triggger time with it that I do. When I first started shooting with the Knoxx, I had the stock adjusted too short, and the bell was striking my cheek. First time out I looked like someone had sucker punched me. After figuring out that I need to lengthen the stock, it went a bit better. Now after around 1500 rounds with the Knoxx, I have learned the peculiarities of the beast and really like it. The point I am trying to make is that it is not just a bolt on replacement for a regular stock that soaks up recoil. For every gimme there is at least one gotcha. You will have to learn to deal with the gotchas on the Knoxx for it to be really useful.

[stratus]

Snarling, thanks very much, extremely good advice. I am going to go with the speedfeed stock recommended by RR.

[IDriveB5]

because I want to replace this super-uncomfortable folding stock
I also once considered the knoxx and Speedfeed stocks. At the advice of some experienced folks (see post #2), I put wood furniture on my 870 and sold the plastic. Glad I did, much more comfortable to hold, and to look at. I think that the wood resonated a little less than the lighter weight plastics too.

[stratus]

Well, what to do after all the input... again, I appreciate everyone's advice. I liked the idea of a stock capable of holding extra shells, and I picked up on the fact that it's probably better to shoot a traditional stock, so instead of the Speedfeed II, I got the Speedfeed I:

http://www.photodiscord.com/discord/albums/stuff-and-things/DSCN0820.sized.jpg

I did the install myself. Hopefully, the screw in the stock is tight enough to hold up during fire; I didn't want to overtighten it. (input?)

Also, the new stock didn't include anything for the rear end of a strap, so I just screwed in the one that came off the Butler Creek abomination.

I will let you guys know how it works out!

[QUICK_DRAW_McGRAW]

looks better now i think, more like a shotgun and not a show peice.

[HisDivineShadow]

Looks much better now yes. And I've heard you should not overtighten the stock screw, atleast not on wooden stocks.