[Dave McCracken]

Thanks to Son, I THINK I've got these up.From left to right, Number 6, the TB, and Frankenstein with both barrels....

[Dave McCracken]

And...

[Dave McCracken]

And now, my oldest 870 left, the worked over Arlington, Va cruiser gun I use on deer and HD backup on the right....

[Dave McCracken]

Finally...

[sm]

:D
Very obvious to me our esteemed Moderator "walks the walk". I had that figured out a loooong time ago, these pics just re-enforces my opinion.

Gonna sit here :D-ing, behave myself and keep my thoughts to myself...well almost...Dave "we be on the same page allright".
Thanks for sharing, goodontheboy for helping.

[MaterDei]

THR Narrator - And now folks, it is time for our segment called, "Stupid question of the week". With today's stupid question is MaterDei, from Houston, TX. Well MaterDei, just what is your stupid question?

MaterDei - Hi. Well I was just wondering what those weird looking butt plates in the first photo are all about.

:)

[PJR]

They are called Morgan Pads. They permit the user to better fit the shotgun to his/her shoulder by adjusting the butt pad to change cast and drop. There are a variety of similar products on the market but I believe Morgans were the first in widespread use.

Dave, nice guns. A selection that is practical, functional and beautiful each in their own way. Having read about these guns here and on TFL it's nice to finally see them. Thanks.

Paul

[Rupestris]

Thanks Dave! Too cool.
Two more questions:
1, what is "TB"?
2, What kind of peep sights are those?

Chris

[HSMITH]

That is quite a rack of 870's Dave!!

[Badger Arms]

1, what is "TB"?IIRC, TB is dentoes the grade of the shotgun. "T" means trap and "B" is a grade of wood. "A" is standard, "B" is fancier, and "C" is the fanciest offered. When I shot trap, I had a "TB" although I remember my father might have had a "TC" gun? Have to check with him on that one. I'm not a big stickler for wood quality, so long as the fit is right.

[Fastlane]

I now need/want another 870. Thanks Dave :)

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks, folks. With 140+ reads since I posted, it seems I've gotten some attention.

Thanks, 73, from Son. now you know I'm not "All hat, no cattle"...

MaterDei, as Paul said. Those Morgans were the first widely used adjustable pad, they get the fit right for my oversized frame and long neck.

Thanks, Paul for both the help and compliment.

H, thanks. I didn't bother showing the 20 gauge YE, maybe next time.

Chris, as Badger said. The photos do not do justice, the TB's wood is Gawgeous.
BTW, the barrel on it is the new LC written about elsewhere. Frankenstein wears the old TB barrel.

FYI, the letter grades for both Trap and Skeet 870s run to F. Lots of engraving on those.

On the elder "Serious" tool is a Lyman Model 58.The S/S is reduced to 5 rounds to allow room for both.

The other has a Williams "Foolproof" peep. Both have the apertures out at the moment and one looks through the hole. The Lyman is the better, but the Williams is adequate.

IIRC, the eldest has the 2 round Remington extension, the other a Choate 3 shot.

BTW, I finally called Remington with the eldest's number. They say it was made "Around 1951". If I read the barrel marks right, it was made in Nov 50.

Fastlane,any time,heh,heh!....

[CWL]

While not possible, I would love to see the mountain of spent shells fired from those shotties...

[Gila Jorge]

Believe the Remington had standard D grades and on special order
F grades as well but no E grades if I recall properly. This refers to the 870 TB question above.

[Badger Arms]

Crazy. It's like telling me they make a BMW in a 5 or 7 series! I'll try to aspire to the 3 series first. I didn't care much for the wood on the TB. I felt like I had to treat it with Kid gloves.

[NIGHTWATCH]

Nice shooters Dave. :cool:

[Dave McCracken]

CWL, maybe not a mountain, but a hillock. The eldest has maybe 8-10K rounds all told. Nearing 11K on the TB in less than 3 years. 2-5 K each for the "Deer" 870 Cruiser vet and Frank. #6 is too new here to rack up a high count,but after I drop Son off at school #6 and I are going for a walk through some squirrel woods. More later on that. I practice BA/UU/R myself.

Jorge, I've no idea why they have no E grade. Quien sabe? No es importante, mine are shooters, not Art.

BA, I don't baby the TB much, outside of the dedicated hard case and limited range duty.Frank works for rough shooting and as you can tell, my two "Serious" 870s are well maintained but not pampered.

Thanks, Nightwatch.

A note....

Given fair market value pricing, DIY and buying used, one could build this battery for less than a decent O/U. For maybe $1K, one could have a nice field gun, a good trap/target gun, and an excellent HD tool, all of which will last far longer than we..

Think about it(G)...

[Rupestris]

Thanks for the info on the sights Dave. I've been trying to make up my mind on what type of sights I want to put on my 870. So far I'm sold on the TruGlo fiber optic sights as the primary use for the 26" bbl is turkey. I'll be picking up a 20" for HD and I'll stick with a bead. My house isn't that big.
I had just never seen peep sights mounted on a 870. Very cool.

[TrapperReady]

Very nice, Dave!

Although I've gone the other way and have a wide variety of different makes and actions, it's nice to see what you can do with a single platform.

Do you have a favorite?

[Dave McCracken]

You're very welcome, Chris. More modern sights are available, but my stuff is a bit behind the times. No prob, I LIKE being atavistic.

Some turkey fanatics I know well like the FOs for that. I've done good work with the Raybar front sight on an Ithaca, IMO just the ticket for low light, short time frame scenarios.

Remember, a two dollar bottle of Testor's Bright Yellow enamel works to accentuate a bead sight in low light.

TR, thanks. I scratched my head over your query and came to the Satori that they ALL are my favorite.

[TrapperReady]

Dave - Good answer! (although that is a funny way to spell Citori ;))

BTW, I just looked over a well-worn Ithaca 37 (Deerslayer) with a peep-sight arrangement like you've got on your 870s. I think it was a Williams model, and I must say that I was sorely tempted...

As an aside, it looks like I may be getting out for a little "mixed bag" hunting tomorrow. There's the possibility of pheasant, grouse and maybe some rabbits. Of course, there's the possibility of walking around all day and not getting a shot at anything... but that's OK too. :) I think I'll be toting that A-5 I got a few weeks ago. If I get a chance to shoot (at) something with it, I'll let you know.

[Dave McCracken]

Satori- Flash of Insight

Citori-darn good shotgun but no Superposed.

Suntori- ersatz Whiskey from Nippon.

Deerslayers make great slug guns, among other things.

"Hiking with weapons" is fun too, but good luck anyway. Awaiting after action report on A-5.

[Okiecruffler]

I had always pictured Frank as a nasty old thing with a hunchback and missing teeth. That's one handsome, respectable looking shotgun.

[Dave McCracken]

John, you're too kind. That M/C stock might qualify as a hump back. And the multitoned and textured finish on the receiver takes love to think it pretty.

Pretty is as pretty does. With the new LC barrel, it serves better than the TB for skeet, which is a little ponderous with all those recoil reducers.

Last time I used it for trap was last week. K-guns to the left of me, Berettas to the right. I had no probs finding it in the rack, and it had little prob finding the clays.

And the poor,mismatched,abused and Bastardized thing WORKS! Getting goodnslick on the pump also.

[Lennyjoe]

Just a couple of mine.

Mossberg 835 12 guage
Sloans SG & sons Pride of Spain 10 guage double barrel
(Dads old gun. Will never get rid of it)
Winchester 1400 26" barrel and a 24" smooth bore barrel with rifle sightshttp://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid87/p6fc03b9df6c5b600587c95673122cbfb/fa9554af.jpg

[HSMITH]

Last time I used it for trap was last week. K-guns to the left of me, Berettas to the right. I had no probs finding it in the rack, and it had little prob finding the clays.

You just have to LOVE beating the guys with the big $$$$ in their equipment, and doing it with a raggedy ugly gun is even better!!!!!!!

The Krylon Extra Shabby Marsh pattern 870 in this pic is the one I like to bring out on the snob squad, usually completing the ugliness with a sling made from an old golfbag strap covered in burrs from hunting seasons past and some skateboard tape on the forend that is half falling off. Top your shell bag off with some masking tape covered shells (whether they need the tape or not:D) and wear some safety glasses that are obviously past prime. You can hear the discussion as you approach dropping shells and fumbling around in your pockets and mumbling to yourself. Usually don't have to ask to shoot last on the first station either......

Then you CLEAN THEIR CLOCKS!!!!!!!!! Love it!!!!!! :what: :neener: :neener:

http://www.thehighroad.org./attachment.php?s=&postid=598709

[Dave McCracken]

Lennyjoe, take Dad's gun out sometimes and shoot it. I'm sure he'd like that.

H, I love it! I don't go for the masking tape, but since my range clothes tend to look like I just stepped off the tractor and/or Harley, maybe I can get by without.

Sunday I shot with some nice folks, including a moderately fresh newbie who was shooting the only shotgun he had ever owned,a 682E. We swapped guns for a few shots. HE HAD NEVER SHOT A PUMPGUN! We crushed the targets, and then I mentioned I had less than $400 in the TB. He looked a hair sick,so I took pity and praised his Beretta.Nice guy, just a victim of the High Dollar Gun Syndrome. Good thing I didn't have Frank along for him to try.

[Lennyjoe]

I have taken it out a few times and put some rounds thru it.

Have been told that the steel used in the barrels might not like steel shot so I dont know if I would use it duck/goose hunting. Pop's used it back when lead was still legal for them birds.

I will have to ask him if he ever put steel thru it.

[romulus]

And all these years, since TFL, I had images of the now legendary McC Frahnkensteen as some abominably ugly shottie...if only my 870s had half that wood and finish...

[PJR]

Nice guy, just a victim of the High Dollar Gun Syndrome.
Ahem, I resemble that remark. :D

Paul

[Dave McCracken]

Lennyjoe, not only are there Bismuth loads for the 10, but IIRC, Gamebore has some of the older 2 7/8" shells like those of yesteryear. These should be low kick, high fun factor. And, MEC can set up a 600 JR for the shorter hulls. How would you like to step in the booth for sporting clays with your Pop's gun loaded with say, 1 1/4 oz of 8s?

Leave steel for the more modern stuff.

Romulus, it looked far worse with the old stock and the Express barrel.

Paul, no offense intended. And, you're very aware one doesn't NEED a K gun to shoot well.

Most of the high dollar stuff I've tried, I've liked. Some I still covet.

[LeonCarr]

Nice guns Dave :). Just plain hard to beat an 870.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

[Gunsnrovers]

Dave,

Where did the forearm on Frankenstein come from? It looks nice and slim.

[Brian Williams]

Thanks for the pics, I also thought that Frank was going to be UGLY, instead it is pretty ugly

[anapex]

Nice to see the rest of Dave's 870s that normally don't make it to the trap range . As Dave said earlier, pictures don't do justice for how nice the wood on the TB looks. Definitely a thing of beauty.

[theCZ]

I went over to the skeet range on sunday to practice up, and my last round was shot with a couple of gentlemen shooting pumps. I shot with my old win. 1200 last fall in the league as I was just learning, but now use my 1100. Great guys, and both shot pretty well. One guy was having problems remembering to pump for the 2nd shot, so we had to give him a hard time for that. I can definately say from my experience that after a little practice, you shouldn't even notice pumping for the followup shot.

[Fred Fuller]

Isn't it great when the whole litter is pick of the litter? Nice collection, Dave-
hope you live long enough to wear 'em ALL out!

lpl/nc

[Dave McCracken]

Leon, glad you like them. It IS hard to beat an 870.

Gunz, that was the original forearm for my first 870, the 1950 model given me by my father. When I worked it into a "Serious" tool, I changed the wood to get a pad on it.

That 870 was the baseline model, no checkering, no pad, kind of a Shaker Chair approach to things.

I'd like to get some more of those slim forends, they run an oz or so lighter and I like that they put my hand a bit closer to the bore.

Brian, you're welcome. Frank looks good to me but love is blind...

CZ, it doesn't take long to groove the pump in.

Lee, thanks. I'd settle for living long enough to wear one out.But....

The TB has maybe 15K through it since I became its custodian. Best guess my oldest has around 10K, Frank 5K the backup HD 5K and Number 6 is closing in on the leaders with maybeso 4-5K so far. Wearing out isn't even close. They are just getting nice and smooth.....

[9mmMike]

Well I am a little late getting here but I am glad I checked in!
Those are very cool Dave. I am itchin' to get out and bust some soon as time has been too precious of late.
Maybe this weekend..........
I am still determined to learn to use that plain-barreled '55 but I just love my 20" gun that I've shot so much. It just mounts so naturally and........must.....be......strong.......short barrels are NOT for clays......repeat. LOL.
Anyhoo, I still want to make the trip down. I just need to get a few more rounds through to loooong gun before I bring it.
Thanks for sharing those pics. Now I can visualize 'em when you post.
Mike

[Bob F.]

Dave, nice stuff all, including the beloved "Frankie"! Finally got an 870 HD, have less than 150 rds thru it. Changed jobs so I'll have more time and the weather's breaking; looking forward to BA/UU/R. Love the Hornady TAP 00!
Gotta learn to post pics (got "Poppy's" 36" SXS).

Stay safe.
Bob

[Dave McCracken]

Let me know when, Mike. Do use your 55, that's what it was meant to do.

Glad you like them Bob. I hope you get out with yours soon and try to wear it out.....