What did I buy? Did I get taken?

[unterseeboot]

tkopp, I guess I would have to see a standard sized safety for comparison, but I find it hard to believe that Wilson Combat would specifically list a "Jumbo-head safety" as an included feature for the Border Patrol shotgun if it was not actually on there, regardless of the Knoxx stock. In looking at it more closely I can see that if the right side safety head was any larger it would extend beyond the edge of the trigger guard. The safety head on the right side (to disengage the safety) is definitely larger than the one on the left side. Are they the same size on both sides for non-customized Remingon 870's?

http://www.wilsoncombat.com/s_borderpatrol.asp

 

[C-grunt]

You didnt get taken. You payed a premium for a nice shotgun that you wanted. Yes a cheaper shotgun can serve your purpose, but its not as nice as the Wilson.

Same thing goes with cars. Some people think spending 30 grand on a BMW is ridiculous when a 15k Hyundai with get you to and from work the same.

 

[hub]

No problem unterseeboot, I like doing some research and was wondering what kind of changes, upgrades, and gunsmithing Wilson made to the 870's too.

How does that knoxx stock feel I've never shouldered one before? The recoil reduction sounds nice for shooting turkey loads and slugs but I've never even considered one because it looks like the cheek weld on the tube would just not feel right too me. Same for the ghost rings. Never used any but to me they just look too high to get a proper weld. Anyway, just kind of curious of how they felt.

 

[C-grunt]

No problem unterseeboot, I like doing some research and was wondering what kind of changes, upgrades, and gunsmithing Wilson made to the 870's too.

How does that knoxx stock feel I've never shouldered one before? The recoil reduction sounds nice for shooting turkey loads and slugs but I've never even considered one because it looks like the cheek weld on the tube would just not feel right too me. Same for the ghost rings. Never used any but to me they just look too high to get a proper weld. Anyway, just kind of curious of how they felt.

I had an 870 with one on it and I didnt care for it much because of the feel and cheek weld. My best friend swears by them though for the reduction of recoil.

 

[hub]

Does it look like this unterseeboot? That's the jumbo head safety.

 

[hub]

C-grunt wonder if a modular cheek pad would have helped? Looks a lot more comfortable than the tube. Description says the standard pad is for bead sights, or optional low is for ghost ring sights, and high is for optics.
http://www.blackhawk.com/product/PowerPak-Modular-Cheek-Piece,212,165.htm

 

[snooperman]

Very nice home defense gun

I do not have a knoxx stock but have fired several guns that have them. The recoil is much milder and provide a faster follow-up shot. You have a top notch gun. Wilson guns are so smooth and are really worth the money . You can not duplicate the quality of work yourself. The finish on that gun is the best in the business.

 

[Virginian]

I think you got World-Class taken. You got taken so bad, you ought to get a bye for the rest of this life. You got taken so bad you gan brag about it at cocktail hours. Everyone has tales, but you will have the topper.

You do have my sympathy. We live and hopefully learn.

 

[tkopp]

Actually, I think you may be right Hub. I didn't take into account that unlike just about every other jumbo safety out there, the Wilson Combat model is exceptionally flat and has the same pattern as the stock safety on the top. The same as a Remington part, really, just a little wider.

The pistol grip Knoxx stock allows the receiver to slide back on a rail above the pistol grip to reduce felt recoil, and has a second stiffer spring in the stock tube. The upper part of the pistol grip actually runs over the safety during recoil. This generally precludes anything but stock safeties on the weapon.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

You've got an oversized safety there. Factory ones are the same diameter all the way through.

 

[CoRoMo]

Of course, some of us Sporting Clays shooters would spend our last $2600 on an over-under, but wouldn't spend that on any semi-auto with a rifled barrel if we won the Powerball.

LOL!!! That needs to be a sig line!! Great!!

 

[PandaBearBG]

That dealer should of at least thrown in a case or two of buckshot.

 

[unterseeboot]

Yes Hub, that is definitely the safety that I have that you show in your photo. And the right side of it is much larger than the left side. At least I know I did get that little extra. Regarding the Knoxx stock, yes it does seem to take a good chunk of the kick out of the recoil. And the ghost rings, that is totally a personal choice but when I raise up the gun and peer through the ghost ring, the forward sight just sort of naturally locks itself into the middle of the visual ghost ring and from there it is pretty hard to be off target by very much. I really love the ghost ring sights and it helps to have the luminous front sight in low light to center into the ring. And even if I am a little off target, with that gun so what? I suppose if I was trying to drop that big bear from a hundred yards with a slug then precise aim would matter, but unless the bear was directly threatening me I would just let it go anyway. The only thing I will shoot automatically on my property are the rattlesnakes because they will get my dogs. The bull snakes are left alone. The rattlers will NOT like to see this new Wilson Combat 870 coming their way.

 

[lions]

And the ghost rings, that is totally a personal choice but when I raise up the gun and peer through the ghost ring, the forward sight just sort of naturally locks itself into the middle of the visual ghost ring and from there it is pretty hard to be off target by very much.

That is one of the biggest advantages to a ghost ring sight. Your eye does this naturally and automatically. I really like those sights and it sounds like you do too.

 

[tkopp]

I've only used non-illuminated ghost rings, and wouldn't use that configuration for home defense. Ghost rings are a great compromise between close-range speed (post anywhere on the target is a hit) and long-range accuracy (eye naturally centers the post for good groups). My complaint is that, at least with my m1 carbine, the ghost ring makes my sight picture dark. Not a problem during the day time, but with indoor lighting (a couple 75w light bulbs) or no lighting (ambient night time) seeing anything past the blurred ring and solid post is a trick.

I imagine with a fiber optic or tritium post the ghost ring could act like an occlusion dot with both eyes open, or it might provide enough contrast between the ring and the front sight to make the sight picture come together. Any thoughts on the ghost ring with an illuminated front sight? How's it work for you? And what type of illumination do you have?

 

[unterseeboot]

tkopp, I would like to give you an informed opinion on how well the sighting works with this gun, but it is brand new to me and I just haven't had a chance yet to take it up to my property to see what I can do with it. All I have done with the gun so far is fire five slugs through it at the indoor range where I bought it in Utah a week ago. I can't shoot it where I am now, but I plan to take it up to my property in the middle of nowhere next weekend to try various types of ammo in different light conditions. It has a tritium front post that I think is going to work well for me in low light, but we will see. Those dang rattlers seem to love to come out at night up there and wait for me on the trail, right when I need to climb the mountain to use my cell phone. I suspect the rattlers are up there now, meeting together with intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic, regarding my property with envious eyes, while slowly and surely drawing their plans against me. I will be ready.