upgrading my 870

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justin22885

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im wanting to upgrade my 870, currently its a stock 870 express with 28 inch vent ribbed barrel and a single, tiny, silver colored bead front sight

what id like to do is have a rifle that could suit me well for both home defense and bird hunting (turkey, duck, pheasant) so i will keep the 28" barrel as is and get a separate 18 inch barrel when used for home defense

im undecided if i want to put a magazine tube extension on there.. seems pointless for home defense and hunting has to be limited to a certain capacity anyway.. so what would be the point besides possibly jamming the spring on the surfaces inside the tube or damaging my magazine if it takes a hit.. so i probably wont use a tube extension

i want a vertical pistol grip with an adjustable stock, something i can put an aftermarket recoil pad and/or cheek rest on if i choose to have one.. im also trying to decide if i want the ability to fold it.. id like to so i can make it more compact for storage and for home defense, but be able to fold it out and lock it for hunting.. so does anyone know of a stock adapter that allows me to use an AR15 grip and AR-15 folding buffer tube?

the other big upgrade im looking to make are the sights, that tiny little silver bead just isnt suitable for hunting.. im going to go with a top rail that replaces the takedown pins for a temporary top rail i can try out a red dot sight with to see how i like it and if i do then my plan is to probably drill and tap the top for a more permanent mount

as for sights.. should i go with a rear sight?.. either mounted on the barrel or install a scattergun ghost ring sight on top the receiver?.. would the rail get in the way of either of these? or should i just focus on improving the front sight and leave it at that?... i want to at least remove the bead and put in a tritium or fiber optic front sight for bird hunting, but i havent used it for hunting yet so im not sure how much more accurate i can be with the ghost ring

anyway.. any ideas or suggestions?
 
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As you become more proficient in mounting your shotgun whether at birds, clays or to stop a criminally-violent attack, you'll do it without deliberately aiming. With practice, the gun comes to your eye (not the other way around); you're on the very top of the receiver and it's time to pull the trigger.

So unless you've a rifle-sighted slug barrel (either a smoothbore for common, rifled slugs or a rifled-bore for sabot slugs) where you are already in position to actually "aim", such as when hunting, there's not much aiming going on when using a shotgun.

My suggestion to you after you get your 18 (18.5") "HD" barrel is to get to the range and start throwing some buck and some slug at paper. This will also show how the barrel and load you're using will pattern at various distances. Be aware, too, that buck and slugs are available in a range of velocities; each load will pattern differently, depending.

You'll also probably have a really fun time. Good luck!
 
im wanting to upgrade my 870, currently its a stock 870 express with 28 inch vent ribbed barrel and a single, tiny, silver colored bead front sight
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Ok, right now that is set up as a pretty well optimized budget bird hunting gun. Good for turkey, duck, or pheasant with appropriate chokes and loads. Don't change a thing, except to have the stock shimmed to fit you (or learn to do it yourself) so you hit where you look.

what id like to do is have a rifle that could suit me well for both home defense and bird hunting (turkey, duck, pheasant) so i will keep the 28" barrel as is and get a separate 18 inch barrel when used for home defense
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A rifle? A shotgun, I assume you mean. I don't see any mention of long-range deer hunting so a rifled barrel is not in the mix.

im undecided if i want to put a magazine tube extension on there.. seems pointless for home defense and hunting has to be limited to a certain capacity anyway.. so what would be the point besides possibly jamming the spring on the surfaces inside the tube or damaging my magazine if it takes a hit.. so i probably wont use a tube extension
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A magazine extension would only be useful for home defense, in that you could have more than the 4+1 shells on board without stopping to reload. Plenty of folks would consider themselves well-enough defended with 5 rounds of buckshot, so if having a couple more in the gun gives you peace of mind, go for the extension. Otherwise, pass. When hunting your local game laws will dictate whether you have to plug the tube to hold fewer rounds than that.

i want a vertical pistol grip with an adjustable stock, something i can put an aftermarket recoil pad and/or cheek rest on if i choose to have one.. im also trying to decide if i want the ability to fold it.. id like to so i can make it more compact for storage and for home defense, but be able to fold it out and lock it for hunting..
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Well, any sort of wing-shooting will be hampered by using an AR-15 type stock arrangement. If you want to hit what you're aiming at on the wing (pheasants, ducks, quail, etc.) you need a fairly traditional style stock that is specifically fit to you. Shotguns used for game on the move aren't aimed, they're pointed and when they fit you correctly, where you look is where your shot goes. Here is one of many tutorials about that subject: http://www.shotgunlife.com/shotguns/guns/shotgun-fit-what-youre-missing.html

Defensive or "tactical" shotgun shooting is different and has a lot more to do with carbine shooting than wingshooting game animals. There you can probably get away with a collapsible (or maybe folding) stock. (Though the good tactical multi-gun shooters all seem to use traditional stocks on their shotguns, not "tacticool" AR-15 style ones.) They are generally sold to folks who don't know much (or anything) about shotgunning. That doesn't mean they CAN'T be used by someone who shoots well. It is just more rare.

The recommendation on that is that you should learn to shoot a shotgun very well, and THEN decide if you can live with an AR-15 style collapsible stock. Not buy one first and then decide years later that you've wasted a lot of time and money fighting with it while missing a lot of shots.

so does anyone know of a stock adapter that allows me to use an AR15 grip and AR-15 folding buffer tube?
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Sure! Mesa tactical probably makes the best.

the other big upgrade im looking to make are the sights, that tiny little silver bead just isnt suitable for hunting.
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:) That would be news to many generations of hunters, I'm sure! :D

Again, I'd recommend learning to shoot and THEN deciding what you simply must have for sighting your gun. The bead isn't like the front sight of your rifle or pistol. It isn't a focal point. Just a fuzzy glimmer in your view as you focus on the moving target and work out whatever lead you need to apply.

im going to go with a top rail that replaces the takedown pins for a temporary top rail i can try out a red dot sight with to see how i like it and if i do then my plan is to probably drill and tap the top for a more permanent mount
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This is one of those evolving areas of shooting technology, the use of red dot optics on shotguns. Most wisdom says clays and game are moving too quickly for a dot to be of much use, but there are companies trying to expand that and develop specialty optics that can work well that way. Here's a write-up on one: http://www.shootingtimes.com/optics/optics_st_improveoptic_200811/

as for sights.. should i go with a rear sight?.. either mounted on the barrel or install a scattergun ghost ring sight on top the receiver?
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No point at all for wingshooting game. No real point for home defense, either -- the distances just aren't long enough to make that worth while. If you were deer hunting with slugs at distances over 75 yards or so, sure a full set of rifle type sights are a good idea. But that's totally different from wingshooting or home defense work.

(I'll admit, including turkey hunting in this is somewhat of a different question. Some extremely tight turkey chokes and really great ammo make long-range turkey shots possible, and the aim does need to be quite precise as you're keeping your shot spread very tight and aiming for a small target. Turkey hunters usually either use whatever their wingshooting gun is, or have a dedicated turkey gun set up for heavy magnum loads, super tight chokes, and specific sights suitable for that.)

i want to at least remove the bead and put in a tritium or fiber optic front sight for bird hunting, but i havent used it for hunting yet
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:) That last part is your key. Get some instruction and learn to shoot a shotgun well, the way a shotgun is intended to work. THEN decide if you really need some higher-visibility front sight. (Bet you don't.)

so im not sure how much more accurate i can be with the ghost ring
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For hunting? Not more accurate at all.
 
the other big upgrade im looking to make are the sights, that tiny little silver bead just isnt suitable for hunting.
Click to expand...

If you are looking at your bead while clay shooting or hunting birds, you are going to miss. Look at your intended TARGET NOT the bead

i want to at least remove the bead and put in a tritium or fiber optic front sight for bird hunting
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No, you don't - see above
 
Thank Sam. He both answered your questions and saved you some money if you decide to follow his advice!
 
to be a little bit clear on some of the things i want to do.. lately i've been having issues with my hand and wrist, i dont know whats wrong with it but i'll be seeing doctors about it soon, basically my wrist bones seem to grind and it makes the standard shotgun stock a tad uncomfortable to use.. (i'm 29, so i doubt its arthritis or anything like that.) but for now its possible the magpul shotgun stock which has a steeper comb may be suitable, but a big reason why i wanted the vertical grip is for comfort in having this issue

i thought it would be nice if i could get a stock i could fold for storage because i like to store it someplace thats out of the way but easily accessible if i need it.. but still have the option of a solid enough stock for hunting and i know some of the side folding hinges can be very sturdy and i have no issues with that folding stock NOT being collapsible which would be unnecessary so long as i can tune the LOP by tuning the length of the stock via shims, extended recoil pads, etc

for the front sight, i really dont see the bead all that well or clearly, may just be my eyesight (my eyeglasses are over 5 years old), but i just think it would be nice to have something a bit easier to see.. i do agree rear sights are kind of useless for something that fires shot and i seriously doubt i will ever put a rifled barrel on it since i can legally hunt big game here with rifle (i did accidently say rifle in my first post when i meant to say shotgun) so i think i'll just remove the old bead and put on a more visible front sight, probably a simple tritium tube or fiber optic front

i wont use a magazine tube.. its useless for hunting and if i cant hit someone point black with a shotgun in 5 shots, then i have issues, so i find it useless for home defense.. so no tube
 
870's are cheap enough that you can have one set up for "tactical" purposes, and a second one set of for more "traditional" purposes.

It starts getting weird and cumbersome when you have to start switching-out magazine springs, and mag-extensions, and sights and stocks.

Have both for less than a grand.
Then if you decide one you just don't need, sell it as a single item, and get most of your money back.

Or go all Lego on the one you have.

Does yours have the "dimples" in the mag tube that they put there to antagonize us?
 
it wont really be weird switching out mag extensions, sights, and stocks if im not using a mag extension, going with barrel mounted sights tailored to the purpose of the barrel, and one stock for all purposes
 
what do you guys think about an AR stock adapter, side folding buffer tube adapter, buffer tube on that with a fixed AR stock.. or maybe even an ACE style receiver block with the side folding hinge.. maybe put a pepper laminate wood stock and forearm on the shotgun with the side folding hinge.. would look unique and give me the option to side fold, stock could be tuned to the length i need either by shortening the stock or adding a thicker recoil pad

im trying to find a side folding adapter that allows me to use any stock or grip i want.. but all the side folding adapters im finding have a fixed grip and im not sure the stock can be swapped out.. so i may have to get the AR15 stock and grip adapter and then add a separate folding buffer tube adapter to that

also, if i get another shotgun, i'll still upgrade this one for home defense because the only way i'll get another shotgun is if i decide to get a double barrel over/under which i am considering for bird hunting.. capacity here is 2+1 on shotguns, sure i lose 1 extra shot but a double barrel has its obvious benefits of faster followup shots and quicker reloads and being able to hold my left arm closer in which i find so much more comfortable after i've gotten myself used to shooting the AUG bullpup when i had one

ive also noticed this thing seems to be prone to corrosion.. im going to refinish it.. part of me wants to polish and rust blue it for a very quality finish.. but matte duracoat would probably be more practical
 
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well, i cleaned off the small amount of surface corrosion i found on it, seems like the finish on this thing has to be cleaned regularly.. not very fond of that.. and it doesnt leave much for peace of mind knowing some could possibly form and fester underneath the ejector and magazine stop which are a PITA to remove.. is there a tool i can use to get these out so i can do a COMPLETE refinish?
 
Don't try and fix something that's not broke.

The 870 is a fine gun just as it is, all the bolt on stuff just lines someone else's pocket's with your money. Money that should be spent on shells and range time!
 
jaguar, ive already mentioned the need for a vertical grip though due to a wrist injury.. not really wasting money if it adds more comfort.. there is something im concerned about though and thats with the size of this 28 inch barrel making the shotgun a tad front heavy, enough that itll tire my off hand if i shoot for long periods.. concerned that if i add a synthetic stock itll remove some of the rearward weight and make it even more front heavy.. you know?

im thinking what i might do for a stock is get the AR15 stock/grip adapter, find a pistol grip thats most comfortable and then at this point im strongly considering using a fixed pepper laminate style stock and forearm to add a pistol grip, but still keep a nice wood look to it and i really like the way pepper or black/gray laminate looks so it would be cool if i could bring that look to an 870 while still being able to get the vertical grip
 
one of the stock makers makes a pepper laminate fixed stock for the AR15.. with an AR15 stock and grip adapter i could use that and whichever grip i found most comfortable
 
well, after i do that.. i'll check the balance and maybe add weights into the stock to get the POB where i like it, this extra long barrel on this thing has a lot of over swing and its fine for hunting, but something i do like to spend a day shooting clays so reducing some of the fatigue in the left arm would be good too..anyone ever heard of anyone doing that?.. i figure i could just drill out a couple pockets in the stock under the buttpad and fill it with lead weights as far back as i can to adjust the POB with as little added weight as possible
 
justin22885 said:
seems like the finish on this thing has to be cleaned regularly.. not very fond of that
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If it's an 870 Express, then all you need to do is rub some petroleum jelly into the parkerizing and wipe it off. Park isn't really a protective finish in and of itself, but a porous surface coating that will retain a protectant once applied.

As to everything else, you appear to be vastly overthinking this. As others have suggested, learn to shoot the gun as it came stock - or mostly so - and then see where the potential areas of improvement are. Right now you're not looking for an upgrade; you're just hoping that throwing money at bolt-ons will make up for poor technique.

In the words of Dave McCracken: "BA/UU/R." Buy ammo, use up, repeat. This is the path to enlightenment.
 
You really will not like the way an AR grip works while trying to shoot moving targets whether clay or feathered.
If your wrist is that bad, then perhaps you should be addressing that before you do more damage.
Arthritis, nerve damage, etc., can only get worse with repeated punishment
 
i think its quite boring to leave something so stock.. modifications, personalizing, and i enjoy working on guns so.. yeah, leaving it stock is simply not an option
 
I shoot clays just fine with the a pistol grip stock on my 870. I change my barrel out from 18.5 to 28 and back as needed. By no means am I the best shot at skeet, I average 15-20 out of 25. For HD I put the HI Viz Spark on the 18.5 barrel which is really bright.
 
i think thats what i'll do then, AR15 stock adapter, pistol grip i find most comfortable, then possibly an 870 pepper laminate forearm with an ar15 pepper laminate fixed stock.. that should give a very unique looking shotgun that would have some nice aesthetics as well as a bit more comfort and not be entirely plastic

im also thinking i may add some more weight to the rear of the stock to bring the point of balance more rearward to make it balance a little better and reduce some of the fatigue on the off hand from a long day of shooting

sights i should just do this per barrel so i can have sights that best fit the intended purpose of the barrel so i will just remove the bead and probably put on a tritium tube

i do want to give a red dot a try on a shotgun, simple side saddle style mount would work for this and if i want to use them more often i'll drill and tap the top of the receiver

__

any other good upgrades or add ons i should consider?.. maybe add an oversized safety, sling mounts, etc?, i wouldnt mind having a sling but at this point i have no means for attaching one

i actually bought the standard model 870 express because i wanted something as basic as i could get, so i could personalize it to my liking myself as opposed to buying something already done
 
you might try the remington sure shot stock and forearm i have a shoulder injury that prevents me from raising my elbow far when shooting throws my aim way off +1 on a fiber front bead it helps to put a orange blur on top of the target and slap the trigger . the forearm also extends back to the edge of the receiver so you can hold closer up with your weak hand . as for rails well weaver makes a rail with a rear sight combined with a red fiber optic they are good for turkey hunting and deer hunting where placement is key.
everyone is right you need to practice practice practice until you hit consistanly. . Good luck to you :)
 
does anyone know exactly which parts were made from MIM?.. i know the extractor is on mine, but what else?
 
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