10 things you would do to improve an 870

Take a 2 or 4 day class with it as is. From there your friend will start to understand what is and isn't needed or helpful. The more stuff you change, the more likely it won't run properly. For a class he will likely need a sling. For holding shells in a class, I prefer the simple field vests with big pockets on it. Other than that, I wouldn't spend any money till after the class. Usually after a class, I notice a desire for a weapon mounted light as well as a shorter lop somewhere between 13 and 12". Again, I wouldn't make those changes till after a class.

The simplest way to fix an 870 is take anything useful of of it. Then put the stuff on a Mossberg 500.

Really all you need to do is put an age appropriate bead on the 870 so you can see the bead in low light and shoot the hell out of it. When you have shot the gun enough to make the magazine tube look like it's been polished you will likely be very good with the 870.

A sling and a side saddle are all the accessories that do more than make the gun look cool. If I am going bird hunting I remove everything but the bead. I can easily carry two boxes of shells in my game bag.

Deer_Freak The simplest way to fix an 870 is take anything useful of of it. Then put the stuff on a Mossberg 500.

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Nonsense.
870>500

I have an 870 that started out life as a 28" vr wingmaster over thirty years ago I only did eight things to it. Replaced the barrel with a factory 20" rifle sighted smoothbore barrel, added a factory mag extension with clamp, speedfeed traditional style stock, original surefire forend light, and a heavy duty spring cap from John Mason.

Then I shot the piss out of it. The only large shot shells around here for years were full power 00 buck, Brenneke and Forster style slugs . Even in a 23/4 shell they would get your attention. It will still cloverleaf Brenneke sliugs at 100yds. Patterns BB,#4, and 00 buck well.

It has been used by 9 different people for academy qualification, been to an unknown number of call outs. Ridden in the trunk of many cars, planes, boats and choppers. I parkerized it sometime along the way. I have only had to replace the main mag spring and the stock mag springs twice.

No polishing just cleaning and wear came to this gun. I now have accumulated several other 870s, model 12 and 97 WInchesters, Ithica 37 pump guns plus other auto, lever, O/U, and SxS shotguns.

I have modified "improved" added to and taken away all kinds of barrels and add ons. The only other thing I never got around to doing was mount sling swivels. I always just used paracord or bungeecord.

My two go to guns for serious encounters my original 870 just as I put it together and a legacy sports HD O/U.

You cannot beat an 870 for reliability, toughness and parts availability.

That my story and I'm sticking to it.

1. Evil tactical pistol grip
2. Evil tactical heat shield
3. Evil tactical flash guard
4. Evil tactical high capacity magazine extension
5. Evil tactical high capacity side saddle
6. Evil tactical light
7. Evil tactical night sights
8. Evil tactical lanyard in case you drop it
9. Evil tactical 6 position stock
10. Toyota hood ornament

If Remington put old field grade Model 31 forend on 870 Wingmaster with Light Contour barrel it would be perfect small game pump gun. As is it's still the best pump gun ever made. I held one next to late 50s Model 12 16ga of equal barrel length and despite being 12ga it came very close in handling to the venerable 16ga model 12. That is outstanding.

#1: Get a rifled slug barrel
#2: get a nice long skeet/duck hunting barrel.
#3: Get a clay launcher.
#4: Ammo
#5: Ammo
#6: Ammo
#7: Ammo
#8: Ammo
#9: Ammo
#10: Some clays.

Replace it with a Mossberg 500 is about the only thing that comes to mind.

Actually, just do away with the crossbolt and put a tang safety on it. Make the shell elevator fold out of the way in battery would finish the job for me. All other problems with ergos I could live with on it.

1. Make sure that the fit is correct. Unless it's purely for slugs or SD/HD, good fit helps immensely.

2. If he's going to shoot clays or actual small game, get a 26-28" barrel.

3. Ammo, ammo, ammo and practice, practice, practice as everyone else has said.

I don't own an 870 so I can't comment on specifics of the gun.

And I second the Toyota hood ornament. Improves a great many things. Except toyotas.

Matt

I would purchase three more so I have an even ten.

I would purchase three more so I have an even ten.

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I find myself in the same quandary. Brother Dave is smiling

MCgunner ....just do away with the crossbolt and put a tang safety on it....

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Why on earth would anyone do that?
The tang safety is the less ergonomic of the two. (ever try to manipulate a tang safety when using a pistol grip?)

The tang safety is the less ergonomic of the two. (ever try to manipulate a tang safety when using a pistol grip?)

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Pistol grips are for pistols, absolutely worthless on a shotgun.

I shoot lefty. The Mossberg works much better for me. I have tang safeties on my doubles, too. I have a Winchester autoloader for which I had a left hand crossbolt safety installed, but at least the safety is IN FRONT of the trigger guard on that gun and out of the way when shooting if left with a right handed configuration. Remington loves to put the safety to the rear of the trigger guard. I've inadvertently clicked the safety on several times on my 597 magnum, irritating. My fingers ain't THAT fat, either.

Regards to fit, number one with me. It also reduces felt recoil to properly shim/fit the gun. Helps it point naturally, important on those low, fast teal or close in doves and, of course, flushing birds. It's easy to fit a pump with shims. Mossberg knows this and even offers a shim kit, but I shimmed both of mine with coke bottle plastic, works like a champ. I have a new to me 535 with 3.5" chamber. I've got to pattern it to see if it's going to pattern good enough to suit me with steel T shot. It'll have to go some to get the 90+ percent patterns I get out of my 10 gauge H&R, though. Yeah, I can see myself trying to shoot geese with 3.5" steel T shot and a friggin' pistol grip.

My home defense shotgun is a Remington.........Spartan 20 gauge coach gun. Of course, it's only branded "Remington". It's the only Remington shotgun I've ever owned with a tang safety. It's also my go to dove getter. It's very short WITH a full butt stock and shoots where I look.

I could live with a 870 as a home defense gun, just remove or disable the safety and keep it unloaded. Maybe I could super glue the safety off. That way, when I chucked a round into it, and shouldered it, I wouldn't turn the safety on as I reached for the trigger. Of course, I only shoot lefty due to an eye dominance problem. If I had a pistol grip on it and shot it like the rifleman did his 92 from the hip, hell, I could live with that safety, couldn't HIT anything, but I could live with the safety and just hope the noise and muzzle flash scared him off. I'd rather use my 20, though, quick and I'm quite deadly with it. Humans are a lot slower and bigger than doves and 3 buck is pretty evil.

MCgunner .....Pistol grips are for pistols, absolutely worthless on a shotgun.

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Only if you are a Fudd.

While I think PGO's are worthless, a shoulder stock with pistol grip is faaaaar from worthless.....ask any cop that uses one.

Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes PERMANENT. Practicing bad habits will make them permanent. The best thing to do first is to learn good habits. Then practice.

I've been at this a long time now, both before I ever got a chance to seek professional training and after, and am firmly convinced that spending the money on a good instructor early in a shooter's career will save both time and money in the long run, AND produce a much more accomplished shooter a lot faster. If a shooter has good safety habits, muzzle discipline, trigger finger discipline etc. down pat, and knows the basics of running the gun, they're ready to take a basic level class with any instructor in the country. There are always plenty of reasons not to seek training - think about the reasons to seek training instead.

See if I've gotten to your state at http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=396584 - there may be 'gun skool' closer than you think. Or ask around locally - there are any number of folks who can teach basic shotgun competently, without seeking out a nationally known trainer.

#1 28-30" vent rib barrel...
#2-10 ammo.

Only if you are a Fudd.

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Yes, I am. Well, I don't know many clays shooters that use a PG stock, either. It inhibits proper swing. Only hunters I have known that use a PG stock is a few turkey hunters. Turkeys are shot static, not moving. If I hunted turkeys again and had the option (legal in Texas), I'd use my .22 magnum.

I've got little use for tacticool. Ain't no ninjas or zombies out here in the woods, lots of dove, lots of deer and hogs, no ninjas or zombies. I live 20 miles from the self proclaimed "goose hunting capital of the world" and not far from my favorite duck marsh. Anyway, I can kill a man with a normal shotgun, don't need no pistol grips or other such BS. Sights just slow me down. A rib focuses my eye, don't even need the bead on the barrel, personally. Having a shotgun that FITS is way more important than any sighting system except for guys needing to use slugs (shotguns make poor rifles, but some states mandate them).

I'd say to anyone with a pump shotgun for home defense, no matter the model or manufacturer, just put a short barrel on the thing and be happy. Hand guards, rails, flashlights, all just get in my way and mess up the balance of the gun. A flashlight is about all I'd consider adding to the OP's friend's 870 and in HIS case, I'd get a longer barrel with choke tubes to hunt with or if he doesn't hunt, to practice clays with at a clays range. Shooting moving targets will sharpen your skills and your confidence with the gun. Shooting paper with a shotgun is a waste of ammo unless you're training on a SWAT team or something. I ain't no internet warrior, just a Fudd. But, I know my weapons.

AI+P Tactical's website has some very good information on what works on an 870 and what is just bling. This man knows what he's talking about when it comes to shotguns.