[eclipticrider]

I was finally able, after 2 years, to squirrel away enough cash to get the 870 I pick it up thursday!! I had bought a H&R topper 12 ga about 2 years ago for HD and cut the barrel down to 18.5 " I have to say it was a great budget gun for HD. I took it to the range a few times (they only allow slugs) and even after cutting the barrel it shot perfectly!

I purchased my 870 today at my local gun show for $420 total.
The guy I was talking with said that this is the new model 870, so I asked whats new about it (it looked about the same as the ones I had looked at a year ago) apparently it how has a 7 round mag and a recoil suppressor built in... the 7 round mag was obvious but is there any truth about the suppressor?

Also I would like to put a flash light on it, I have a bolt on flash light holder (with the picitinny spelling) on my H&R topper that is similar to this EBAY (http://cgi.ebay.com/5-SLOT-TRI-RAIL-SHOTGUN-BARREL-MOUNT-FLASHLIGHT-LASER_W0QQitemZ300301268022QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item300301268022&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1240|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:1|293:2|294:50) would this work on the 870 as well or will it obstruct or not fit the gun? I don't want to get crazy and modify the gun too much, just add a light to it...

thanks for all the help, I haven't posted in a while but I go though and read every now and then.

GC

[Deer Hunter]

Recoil suppressor? Sounds like snake-oil to me.

Is that 870 a wingmaster? A picture would be good.

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Its just a gussied up Rem-choke tube---the cool thing about that gun is you can get different chokes and go hunting or shoot clays with it too.

I've been looking hard at that gun for those reasons myself.

[Fred Fuller]

Some versions now come with a Knoxx stock, though I've never heard them referred to as a 'recoil suppressor' before... . Of he was referring to a ported extended choke tube, I'd have to call that claim an exaggeration at best.

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model_870/model_870_express_tactical.asp

lpl

[eclipticrider]

well the guy I was talking to knew his stuff, he works at a local shop here in Tampa FL that I go to often. Great shop got to be friends with a few of the employees there... Didn't know this guy personally just seen him around. He might have been dumbing it down for a laymen... I'm no expert but I'm no laymen either... I'm more of a common sense kinda guy.

So, regardless of what snake oil he was trying to sell me, I knew I wanted this gun to begin with... I'm just very curious now of what the differences between the newer and older models are...

@Lee Lapin I read though that link and it explains a lot but it isn't specific...

also a bump for my other question about a light mount for this HD SG... any "budget" suggestions?

[Noebb]

I have shot mine with a "ported extended choke tube" AKA "tacticool rem choke". It does reduce the felt recoil. My reason for getting the tactical rem choke is the ability to change the choke on an 18" barrel and, it looks cool IMO.

I also hear the tactical choke will do wonders if you loose the keys to your front door.

Maybe he was talking about the supper cell recoil pad? Remington is very proud of those.


Check out the surfire shotgun lights. (www.surefire.com) I hear they are the best, and also the most expensive. Almost as much as the 870. :(

[eclipticrider]

@Noebb Yeah I would love to get a surefire setup... but I'm on strict budget right now... $400 on a SG is no joke... I have a very good 200 Lumen led torch I'm using on my H&R topper right now that I would switch to my 870 (when I pick it up) if possible!!

Also I have a Hi Viz optic sight on the end of my H&R topper that I love, my house is VERY dark even in the day... so a front sight thats easy to see is a must... I think I might try to put white finger nail polish on the stock bead... but have seen the xs sights that epoxy right onto the stock bead... that peaked my interest!! But cause of budget I may just replace the bead with an optic "hi viz" like if I can find one.

I'm so excited... like a school girl LOL, I can't wait to pick up my 870 on thurs!!!! I can't shoot it but... I'll have it... next payday I'm gonna take my girlfriend to the range and blow off several rounds!!! (can't afford to do it this week)...

also I am now wondering about gun defense courses in florida (preferably close to tampa) specifically for home defense since I don't have a CSL (concealed weapons licenses) just something basic, I'm not going to be raiding an insurgent's domain... lol

and yet another question, I haven't been on here for about 3-5 months, and it seems like there are very few posts... like some have been removed?? or I could just be thinking about another forum??... but I could swear that there was more posts here...?

thanks again all

[Howaido]

Congrats. There appears to be a swelling of 870 hate recently. It is probably due to all the happy 870 owners flapping a bit too much about how much they like the gun.

You just acquired a friend for life.

[jaholder1971]

I have several 870's and love them.

However, a buddy of mine bought a 870HD and found the firing pin was frozen in the bolt. It appears that enough powder coating got into the works to seize it up but good. Remington said turnaround was 6 months for repair so the FFL offered to pay a local 'smith to fix it.

I know the gunsmith. He later told me this wasn't the first 870 he'd had to fix but he' never seen that problem when they blued their shotguns.

Would I buy an 870HD? Yes, but it'd get a couple once-overs before I left the store with it.

[Hungry Seagull]

I'll flap some more but those guns can be the cat's meow.

[AKElroy]

Congrats. There appears to be a swelling of 870 hate recently. It is probably due to all the happy 870 owners flapping a bit too much about how much they like the gun.

I hate the 870.:D

[AKElroy]

However, a buddy of mine bought a 870HD and found the firing pin was frozen in the bolt. It appears that enough powder coating got into the works to seize it up but good. Remington said turnaround was 6 months for repair so the FFL offered to pay a local 'smith to fix it.

Nice. I rest my case.

[Fred Fuller]

http://www.streamlight-flashlights.com/69901.html

This magazine extension rail mount has worked well for me on several different guns. I like rail-mounted weaponlights, especially the newer LED types like the Streamlight TLR-1. The rail-mounted lights are easy to remove for daytime practice and switch easily from firearm to firearm.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/streamlight-tlr1-weapon-mounted-flashlight.html

lpl

[AKElroy]

especially the newer LED types like the Streamlight TLR-1.

Just got my TLR-2 for my XDm from Midway last week. Bought it after reading Clint Smith's promo, and I cannot believe how bright this little guy is. Very pleased.:D

[Fred Fuller]

Too often, the problem with using conventional flashlights mounted on shotguns is that recoil batters the internal mechanism and batteries to the point they cease functioning. At least LED lights have pretty much solved the problem of recoil causing the filaments in incandescent bulbs to break. But unless a given light is specifically designed as a weapon light and has its internals adequately protected by springs etc., all too often they just can't live very long on a shotgun.

Doesn't mean you shouldn't experiment if you want, of course...

lpl

[eclipticrider]

thanks for the help all. I can't wait to pick it up tomorrow. Now I'm not sure what to do with my h&r topped 12 ga... LOL it's always something.

Thanks again

[eclipticrider]

Got my 870 yesterday, damn beautiful gun! Action runs smooth and fires nice, I can't wait to get out and find someplace I can unload some rounds!

on a side note, the light mount I had on my H&R fit perfectly on the mag tube extension. I know the light I have mounted in it isn't the best (ultrafire) but for the purpose of lighting my house (which is very dark) it gets it done. I'll save up my pennies now for a surefire set up.

one last question now, I live in central Florida... not many places to go out and shoot. The gun shop/range I go to only allows the use of slugs, I have about 4 dozen bird shot rounds that are about 5 years old I would like to expend... does anyone know where I can go or how to find some place to shoot shot shell.

thanks again

[OregonJohnny]

So do you know for sure that it's a 7-round magazine, and not 7-round capacity? I know Remington has a model they call the "870 Express Synthetic 7-Round" but it means 6 in the mag and 1 in the chamber, just like my 870 Marine Magnum. If Remington found a way to add another round in the magazine tube without lengthening it, I want one!

Just looked it up, and it looks like those new "Tactical" model 870s do in fact have 7-shot magazine tubes, for an 8-round capacity! I like.

[eclipticrider]

Actually it's 7 round capacity, 6 in mag 1 in chamber. the way they word it is miss leading though. Wonderfull gun though, the stock of the gun is a little longer then expected, I fired the last version of the gun and it felt perfect... After I get the chance to run it a few times I'll see how I feel... I may look into to getting an adjustable stock... I didn't want to have to mod it but if I can't manuver with it and mount to my shoulder properly and efficently... I remember some one talking about an awesome adjustable stock that had a recoil suspension or something, would that work on this?

Thanks again

[eclipticrider]

bump, any opinions on the knoxx stock? I still haven't gotten out to fire the gun yet (damn city living) and I won't make a decision until I get some rounds though it... Just want to see what people here think about the stock,

Thanks

[eclipticrider]

*edit* double post

[augustino]

Conragts on your recent purchase of the 870. Persoanlly I'm a 1300 Winchester kind of guy but I don't hate any one brand more or less than another. I've heard some talk of feeding issues and frozen firing pins before on the 870 but with as many as there are in circulation you're bound to hear this type of talk. The more there are around that higher then chances of problems.
I don't agree with the claims of an all steel chamber being better than the 1300s aluminum one. With the 4 bolt lock up system in the 1300 exactly like that used in the M16 military line, virtually no pressure is exerted on this section of the gun. Besides aluminum is used elsewhere as in planes and other stress heavy applications and it works great, making for a light, responsive extremely fast action shotgun.
As for placing a light on any gun I don't like that personally. It gives the bad guy somewhere definite to aim. It's implied that when a light is installed the shooter is searching for, seeking to illuminate his target. Well if that target is in the dark and sees the flashlight, he KNOWS exactly what - where to aim for.

So hunker down, let your eyes adjust for a second or two and don't bother spending the cash on the light. Besides the recoil is sure to wreak havoc on the "guts" of the light.

[Sir Aardvark]

I have the Knoxx Spec-Ops Recoil-Reducing Stock on my wife's shotgun and it really does reduce recoil!

I, myself, do not find the Knoxx stock to be too comfortable to use - I find it hard to get a good cheek-weld on the collapsible stock. I realize that Knoxx sells an adaptor-type thingy that provides a cheekpad and spare battery holder, but the whole point of my wife's shotgun is to have it as lightweight as possible - it is pretty much bare-bones - and adding more junk to it defeats the purpose (P.S.: Shotguns with a lot of junk added to them are heavy!)
Also, since I have pretty much cut my teeth using "regular-type" shotgun stocks, this is the type I prefer - my own shotgun has a Speedfeed II stock installed on it.

I like the following light set-up because it is fairly cheap and has an LED bulb:

TLR Series REM 870 Tactical Rail Mount - 69906:

http://www.streamlight-flashlights.com/69906.html

Along with the TLR-1 Gun Weapon Mounted C4 LED Tactical Light:

http://www.streamlight-flashlights.com/69110-tlr-1-streamlight-flashlights-com.html

Surefire sells a good light set-up, but, it is very expensive and I have heard of complaints where you can get a preety good "hand-slap" if you don't hold the foreend correctly.

[eclipticrider]

Reply to augustino
I can see both sides of the "light vs no light" debate. but for me it's a must, my home is very dark, even during the day. at night forget it, and I live with 4 people, my girlfriend in the back room with me, and 2 room mates that live at the front of the house... I'd rather be sure to identify my target then to make a mistake that I can't take back... plus (I'll try to put this as non racially as I can) my one room mate is black (we've been best friends for years)... he's even harder to ID in the dark (please no one take offense to that) ... and the light would only be for a real situation, I take it off for practice.

as for the "frozen firing pin problem" I shot a blank shell I had laying around it fired perfectly.

I had used my friends 870 a few years ago, it wasn't the synthetic it had wood furniture... and it fit me perfectly. But holding mine in position and running mock drills though my house, it seems a little long on the stock side, like I'm over reaching with my week hand. I'm wondering if the knoxx stock is a viable solution, if that really is the problem... cause I may just get used to it after running a few boxes of ammo...

Reply to Sir Aardvark
Yeah I've read though almost every post here for HD shotguns, and started going though the tactical thread... I totally understand about adding junk. I would prefer to keep it as simple as possible. Which is why I will only add the light, possibly the knoxx stock and only because it's adjustable, I'm not a big/tall guy... just 5'9"... It is important to me that I'm comfortable with my gun... I'll find that out when I get to run some rounds though it

thanks again

[augustino]

I can see your point eclipticrider and as I always say go with what you're comfortable with and stick with that which serves your needs best. In life rarely do we have absolutes as in one person's absolutely right and another absolutely wrong.
In the final analysis it's shades of gray. So if it fit's wear it brother.

But one thing I think we do agree on is that hitting who you didn't intend to hit, is about as bad as it gets. This I've heard from a guy named Cheney as well as officers that mistakenly hit an innocent. So do WHATEVER will keep you from hitting someone that should not get hit.

Good communicating with you and take it easy brother!

[ScareyH22A]

I like my light on a picatinny rail on the weak hand side. I can press the momentary switch with my weak hand thumb so no need for a extended switch. Also, it lights up the front bead sight so I don't need night sights.