870 Home Defense Gun

[malada]

I was looking on the Remington website at the 870 home defense gun and it says "this is a home defense gun and will not accept police accesories".

Does anyone know what this means? I would like to add a side saddle, heat shield, and possibly swivels and a pistol grip butt stock. It already has the mag extension.

Is this going to be possible?

Thanks

 

[Blue Line]

I looked at the website and saw the notice that you metioned - try going over to the "ask a question section" and just ask Remington to elaborate.

I did notice that it was an 870 express model with synthic stocks, it looked like a good gun. I'm partial to 870's anyway.

 

[john l]

It means that the fore end plastic is too long IF a sidesaddle is mounted.
Also, there are dimples in the magazine tube to prevent one from just sticking on a mag extension tube.

remedies: cut down the forend, smooth and round-out the edges. remove the dimples with a file or a dremel tool.

Or, just let it be what it is- it is fine that way. I think that one of the home defense models has a 7 shot capacity to begin with, but I'm not sure.

If it is for home defense, then a 5 shot capacity gun will work- I mean there are millions out there now in service.
However, if gun games like 3 gun matches are a possibility, then you might want to go for a 7 round or higher capacity.
Sling swivels are going to be available on your HD model. if it is a 5 shot capacity, then the front swivel will be on the mag. cap. if a 7 shot, then it will be on the barrel clamp.

I sure love my 870s.
john l

 

[Combat-wombat]

You mean this one?

http://www.remington.com/firearms/shotguns/870expsyn18.htm

 

[malada]

Thanks for the comments Blue Line and john l.

Yes Combat-Wombat that is the one I'm thinking about. I've considered the Marine Magnum but it looks like I could get a great setup here for much less $$.

 

[spin180]

I've got the very 870 shown in the link above; the bottom one with the magazine extension.

malada, it's a great shotgun and I highly recommend it if you can find one.

For what it's worth, you don't necessarily have to cut down the forend to attach a side-saddle carrier. There are 'shorty' four round side-saddles available that will fit without interference. I've got one on my 870 and I actually like it better than the 6-round carrier.

Additionally, mine doesn't have any magazine tube dimples at all. I can take the factory installed mag. tube extension off and put any other aftermarket one on without any problems.

I really don't understand why Remington states:

The Model 870™ Express® is intended for personal use and will not accept law enforcement accessories.

Yet the 870 pictured just inches above that statement will do just the opposite.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Malada,

If it already has the factory magazine extension, then there aren't any dimples in the magazine tube- no problem there.

There's a four- round side- saddle that will not require any modifications to the fore-end, if you want to use that version. Or you can change out the fore-end to the short style, or cut down the factory fore-end, if you want to use the six- round side-saddle.

The 870HD version with a factory mag extension will accept any and all accessories that any other 870 will accept, without modification. What that statement means is that Remington is run by horn-hairs who say utterly stupid things for undefineable reasons, and anyone with good sense will ignore things like that.

Before you start spending a bunchamoney on tacticool blingbling, buy a buncha ammo and shoot it up first. Then do that some again. And some more after that. Once the gun feels like a natural extension of your arms, _then_ start worrying about bolting on the kewl stuff. You might decide you don't need some of the junk- ummm, kewl stuff- after all.

First mod I would make is to change out that stupid horn-hair lawyer inspired sometimes self- locking safety, if your gun has one. Word is Remington has stopped producing them, I don't know that for a fact yet.

First accessory I would add would be a dependable white light source on the gun. Several good ones are available, from SureFire fore-ends to Streamlight snap-ons to various clamp- on models.

Good chioce of guns, don't let the Remington horn hairs getcha down.

BA/UU/R,

lpl/nc

 

[MrMurphy]

I had an 870 HD and it had the dimples preventing the mag extension without drilling, and the long fore-end.


I'd just get the 870 Police Magnum, as the 7shot mag is factory, it has a better parkerized finish, and the shorter fore-end.

Why buy the HD and then modify it when the PM comes that way? The cost will be the same in the end.

 

[9mmMike]

MrMurphy, if you buy the HD with the extension already on it, no (for the last time they're not PC) dimples. Stupid but true.
Mike

 

[malada]

I found the 870 express hd for $299 plus they have the $25 rebate going on right now.

Sounds like a pretty good deal to me since it already has the factory mag extenstion on it.

It will be a home defense gun so I think the finish will withstand the treatment I will give it.

 

[malada]

Thanks for the input Spin 180 and Lee Lapin, I just got home from the gun shop. Went with the 870 HD with factory mag tube extension. Feels and shoulders great! Stopped at Wally and picked up a case of shells. Think I'll go run a box through it before dark.

Be safe!

 

[KLR]

You can buy a replacement forend for 15-20 bucks too. You do need to drill out the silly dimples, though.

 

[MrMurphy]

I've yet only seen about two HDs with the factory extension, and about thirty with the five shot tube. And the HD's finish is NOT nearly as good as the PM's parkerization as I know from personal experience.

 

[readyfire]

I just bought the one in the pic on the bottom,It holds six rounds and the finish is real nice.I had a 6 shell sidesaddle from my old 590 ,i just drilled mounting holes and mounted it to the stock.It doesnt get in your way and its easy to swing,looks pretty good too!Inever did like the butt cuffs they always worked loose,this one aint goin nowhere.I miss the sights i had on the 590 but this one is a bit easier to handle.

 

[Sawdust]

Good pick, malada.

I have that exact model (5077) and it works flawlessly.

I've put a few hundred rounds of buck and about a hundred slugs through it; hits POA great.

I cut an inch off of the stock to reduce LOP and put on a simple sling with swivels (needed it for a tactical shotgun class).

I don't have a sidesaddle, but I'm chewing on it to hold slugs; have a Surefire forend on order (got a good deal via the Surefire group buy, otherwise I wouldn't have done it).

Have fun...

Sawdust

 

[USMCsilver]

I don't know why on earth the website would say that. I bought the same gun, and now it looks like this:

 

[malada]

That is awesome USMCsilver! That is exactly what I would like to end up with. What brand of accessories did you use?

Thanks.

 

[readyfire]

Malada it looks like hes using wilson trak lok sights,and a surefire forend light set up,i dont know about the sidesaddle or the sling.

 

[USMCsilver]

Remington Home Defense 870
Speedfeed IV-s stock
Surefire fore-end
Wilson Trac-Loc sights
CQB solutions rear shell holder (superior to that elastic POS band)
Wilson 6-shot sidesaddle (it is marked "TacStar" on the side)
Wilson Big Head safety
GG&G front and rear side sling adaptors

 

[albanian]

I bought a Rem 870 HD with the short tube and I like it. I haven't seen the need to do much to it, just put on a sling and buttstock shell holder. It holds 5-6rds in a slip on elastic sock. I cut a small hole on the bottom and put the sling stud through it to keep it from ever slipping down the stock and it works great without messing up the balance. I shoot skeet with it and it is fast into action because it doesn't have all that extra crap hanging off it in every direction. It is my serious shotgun, I am making a Moss 500 into a tactical type play toy but it is just for fun, if I really need a shotgun, I would go to the simple 870 with normal stock.

Pistol grip buttstocks, pistolgrips and folders are not as fast as a plain old stock. Sights are not as fast as a bead and groove.

 

[malada]

Thanks USMCsilver!

albanian, this is my fun toy. I have other shotguns for hunting, sporting clays, and skeet.

 

[USMCsilver]

Malada, you are welcome.

This is my "fun shotgun", too. I have 7 others for skeet, trap, clays, ducks, dove, & quail.

 

[BerettaNut92]

USMC Silver that is an awesome setup!!!!

 

[USMCsilver]

Thanks Skunk. Now if I could just find some carbon fiber...

 

[L-2]

Sorry people, my response got verbose...
I like your ideas of the pistol grip stock, the side-saddle, but the sling swivels...

SLING SWIVELS. While I agree with having a sling of some sort, look at the latest slings on the market [here's one source, below].
http://www.spectergear.com/
Many of the tactical slings don't require sling swivels, at all, but may require some type of adapter plate, which may/may not come with the sling.

Buying ammo and using it up and repeating. I've got to say, this saying annoys me, but I actually agree with it. It annoys me because it's a bit vague and really doesn't address why somebody might change his personal opinion as to whether an accessory or modification is no longer wanted or needed. I don't agree with shooting a lot without the add-on accessories; shoot with your desired accessories ON the gun.

Buy the pistol grip stock [I like the Speedfeed brand, and settled on the short one, the IV-S, after buying the longer one with the spare rounds stored in the stock...a potential waste of $65! The long one went to a brother as a gift.].
Buy the Tac-Star side-saddle [I bought the 6-rounder first then settled on the 4-rounder, a potential waste of ~$20. The 6er went to the same brother as a gift.]
I lucked out with a Wilderness 3-point sling and kept it, but did buy several other slings over the years, which, luckily, I was able to use.

Now buy 100 1oz. slugs and 100 '00' buck. Practice, not just blowing away ammo, but loading from the side-saddle; perhaps taking a class. Try different brands of ammo, if you want, but get comfortable with whatever you choose and get used to it so you know its point(s) of impact and patterns, at various distances.

I.e., loading from a side-saddle is different from reaching into a box placed on a table. Do you put the rounds up or down? While I like pistol grip stocks, maybe I appreciate more as I've but many 100's/1000's? rounds down range with a regular stock. Now more specifically, how's manipulating the safety using the pistol grip vs. the straight stock? How's your hand fit using the pistol grip? The sling! How do those things even work? Do your eyeglasses, pens, pencils, cell phones, jewelry, ear protection, hats, etc. get in the way? How about switching from right to left hand? Standing, kneeling, prone, moving, climbing?

Shooting is practicing a skill; training can help so you're not practicing a bad habit. You need to buy some of those accessories AND shoot with them to determine how those parts will work or not work for you. I don't recommend shooting a lot without those accessories, but with those accessories on the weapon. However, if the accessory ends up not working for you, get rid of it.

PS: consider NOT buying the heat-shield. I just don't see anyone needing one.