870 field Gun to HD shotgun

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I'm taking my old Rem 870 and converting to my HD shotgun. so just looking
for some ideas I'm picking up a 20" police barrel this weekend i would like to add a light to it so what would be a good light & mount also thinking about adding one of those tube extension for a few extra rounds. any thing else
that would be a good upgrade on my project let me know

all suggestions welcome

 

[Scooter22]

Get a case of 00 buck and practice so you know how the gun shoots and patterns.

 

[oneounceload]

CDM Gear has the best mounts you'll find and they are made in the USA

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

CDM Gear looks good

 

[200Apples]

.

I'm taking my old Rem 870 and converting to my HD shotgun. so just looking for some ideas ...

For HD you want absolute reliability. If the 870 is... I don't know... over 20 yrs? old... you should do a Flextab conversion. Newer models have this feature factory installed. Contact AI&P Tactical for the Flextab conversion parts kit.

This allows you to clear a double feed by firmly racking the action; something that in the older 870s could jam the action and leave you with merely a club. The conversion kit consists of a new bolt (with a beveled bottom under the bolt face - and the new-design firing pin spring!) and a Flextab carrier. It is simple to install and involves removing the trigger group (two pins).

Otherwise, I like your idea. So much so, I've done two Wingmasters.



Flex-tab conversion, Supercell recoil pad, original 28" barrel swapped out for a Mossberg-made-for-870 18.5" blued, bead sight barrel. Uncle Mike's sling swivels. This one has an Andy's Leather 'Rhodesian' loop sling ready to hang on it.






Flex-tab conversion, but instead of a chrome bolt, we went with a nickel bolt. 26" Skeet barrel was swapped for a "Fred Fuller Special"; a parkerized Remington 18.5" MOD-choke, Tritium-insert rifle sights barrel and a Wilson Combat 1-shot mag extension. Limbsaver recoil pad.

 

[rcmodel]

My best advice is keep it simple.
And keep it light.

You don't need a mag extension when you already had five rounds.

It only takes one 00 buck in the chest to kill one home invader.

Light weight and fast handling will get you better results then a muzzle heavy gun holding a half box of shells!!

rc

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I'm a big fan of the KISS system so I'm just going to add a light and this wilson combat oversized safety and call it a day

 

[lemaymiami]

RC is right on the money as far as I'm concerned..... speed, movement, maneuverability - they're life itself when your pucker is puckered.... I carried an 870 on the street for many years and it was in my hands on every hot call.... Nothing but a simple bead sighted 18-20" barrel with a four round mag loaded with 2 3/4" 00buck -the only accessory I wanted and used was a sling in case I had climb a fence or go hands on.

 

[2zulu1]

Another KISS advocate, lots of practice both shoulders, the 870 can be short stroked.

 

[Steve C]

I got an extra 870 in trade, picked up a 20" barrel and added the magazine extension with front clamp 30 years ago. Go out every couple years and shoot it to make sure it still works. Never had a reason to use it for self defense. Its my least used shotgun since I have another 870 and others for hunting and targets. A self defense shotgun isn't something you need to put much money or effort into IMO except going to a shorter barrel to make it handier. In retrospect probably should have left the 24" vent rib skeet barrel that it came with, loaded it with buckshot and made due though it wouldn't have looked as cool.

 

[stevekozak]

I put an 18.5 incg open choke barrel on my old 870, put a butttock ammo holder on it with 00 buck, and called it good. It swings nice and is fast and reliable. BTW, It is over 20'yesrs old, and I have never had a problem with it double feeding or jamming. Not even once, and i have shot it a lot.

 

[tiamat]

CDM Gear has the best mounts you'll find and they are made in the USA

I'll second the CDM Gear mounts - I've put a BMT mount with a TLR-1 light on both my 870 HD and my Glenfield 778 (both with a 2-shot mag extension) and one is going on my Mossberg 590 soon too. The CDM Gear mounts are beefy and well made and are actually lighter than the factory steel barrel clamp that comes from Remington.

Recently put a XS Big Dot tritium sight on the 870 - I like it much better than the factory (dull as can be) bead sight.

 

[PabloJ]

I'm taking my old Rem 870 and converting to my HD shotgun. so just looking
for some ideas I'm picking up a 20" police barrel this weekend i would like to add a light to it so what would be a good light & mount also thinking about adding one of those tube extension for a few extra rounds. any thing else
that would be a good upgrade on my project let me know

all suggestions welcome

All you need is reasonable length barrel and combat light. I have just one shotgun for everything (big hame hunting, turkey hunting, wildfowling,.......HD)......

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The gun has fixed free-loated 24" smoothbore barrel and magazine holds only 4 cartridges.

 

[stoky]

...

 

[stoky]

 

[javjacob]

I agree with RC also. I have a Mossberg 500. I bought a 20" barrel, a 590A1 metal safety switch from Brownells but with a lip to make it easier to switch on and off and a 590A1 metal trigger guard assembly. Pretty much just a shorter barrel and replaced all the plastic parts with metal parts.

5 or 6 rounds of 00Buck is plenty. If you cant stop them with 5 or 6 rounds of 00buck I don't know what to tell you. For a long time the gold standard for home defense was simply a double barrel 12gauge shotgun.

People watch too many movies.

If the military doesn't use it... there is a reason for it. Keep it simple.

 

[PabloJ]

Load of choice is Winchester Super X #1 BK at 1250fps. Lets keep it simple.

 

[Sunray]

Forget the flash light and just put the 20" barrel on. Mag extension is optional. So is the bayonet lug attachment.
Be advised that a factory, rifle sighted, slug barrel is a heavy SOB.

 

[sappyg]

90's production (?) 870 express bought used over 15 years ago. Replaced the barrel with an 18.5" Mossberg barrel. Added mag extension and magpul stock set. I actually like the forend but I could do without the but stock. Having just run a box of Suprema 00 through it today I've become skeptical of the mag extension usefulness but more rounds at the ready is never a bad thing.

 

[sappyg]

This one handles different than the first one for sure. Another older 870 express bought used. Cut the factory barrel to 19" and epoxied a high viz rib sight to it. Cut about 1/2" from the factory stock and added a slip on recoil pad. It's not pretty but functions like a champ. Of the two this one is my favorite... And the cheapest.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I wold like to thank you all for your suggestions I kept it simple but i did add this
http://www.brownells.com/shotgun-pa...um-green-12-ga--sku080000175-73728-44579.aspx and this http://www.brownells.com/shotgun-pa.../big-speed-safety-sku100000569-1599-5975.aspx and this http://www.brownells.com/shotgun-pa...-87-shotgun-magazine-extension-prod13101.aspx
did i need to add the upgrades probably not but it was fun

 

[PapaG]

Doing the same with a new Express I got cheap in a trade. Found that with the new magazine spring plug, the one that is plastic, there is a lump in the tube that prevents using an extension magazine. Actually balances better without it and five in the mag, five in a stock sleeve and six in a sidesaddle are more than enough. Not sure I like the sidesaddle but will play a little before I keep it on or take it off.
Have to really clean and polish those Expresses to get Wingmaster smoothness.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Doing the same with a new Express I got cheap in a trade. Found that with the new magazine spring plug, the one that is plastic, there is a lump in the tube that prevents using an extension magazine. Actually balances better without it and five in the mag, five in a stock sleeve and six in a sidesaddle are more than enough. Not sure I like the sidesaddle but will play a little before I keep it on or take it off.
Have to really clean and polish those Expresses to get Wingmaster smoothness.


I had the lump in my magazine tube too I used a 1/4 drill bit and drilled them out it was no big deal

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I would get a mag extension from Nordic Components.

Shotguns are not fast (and require dexterity) to reload.
More on board rounds the better. I would not go more than 8, though. I run a tube that heavy/long in multigun and I do not think it is slow or overly heavy.

+1 on whoever said get some buckshot and know how it patterns. Understand what choke you have (if you choose to have one) and know what it does at different distances.

 

[oneounceload]

More rounds up front equals muzzle-heavy and unwieldy gun and slow to move. Just ask a trap shooter who uses a very heavy gun with a long barrel - not fast but smooth to the target - but then they aren't in a life and death scenario.