A long day with 870s

[PapaG]

Last night, the final night of league, son 1, midway through the 16s, says, "what's this?". Wood was cracking around the receiver of my late brother's TC. I put it away, gave him my backup and we finished. BTW, we took third overall in Division 1 where we feared we'd be crushed. Today, I broke down three 870s and got my TB ready to ship back for hopefully a rebuild/replacement of a cracked receiver, put gorilla glue and strap clamp on bro's gun (evidently when he was on chemo he had done some work and put it back together w/o the shim, and spent two hours fitting another forend asembly to my other backup gun . Hell, I don't know which one I'm shooting....main gun going back to Rem, first backup to son 1, bro's gun in clamps and final backup in the case. Head spinning. Kept my original TB full choke barrel, though, so I'll be o.k.

 

[Armored farmer]

Hey, its good to keep three identical trapguns.
One going for repairs
One coming from repairs
One shooting.
If you dont agree, you should shoot more.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Good luck!

 

[entropy]

It's even better to be able to do the repairs yourself. Saves bringing them into the shop.

 

[PapaG]

Hey, its good to keep three identical trapguns.
One going for repairs
One coming from repairs
One shooting.
If you dont agree, you should shoot more.

Sounds like an Ayoob article on Model 29s from years ago in Handgunner magazine.

 

[PapaG]

In the forty-three years I have been shooting my TB I have had to replace, in order, the trigger group, a firing pin, the receiver, the forend iron, and the forend. Frankengun. Last year one of the guys asked how old it was. "Which part"? Was my response.
BTW, forend irons aren't all drop instead. Two hours yesterday filing, blueing, filing, and stoning.

 

[Armored farmer]

Sounds like an Ayoob article on Model 29s from ears ago in Handgunner magazine.

...actually it was one of my dads aquaintances from back in the sixties. He was known for shooting mod 21 winchesters.

In the forty-three years I have been shooting my TB I have had to replace, in order, the trigger group, a firing pin, the receiver, the forend iron, and the forend. Frankengun. Last year one of the guys asked how old it was. "Which part"? Was my response.
BTW, forend irons aren't all drop instead. Two hours yesterday filing, blueing, filing, and stoning.

I still think that the old 870 is pretty durable for a repeater, but the do break down. I cant keep my forend tight.
I have broken a firing pin spring in a shootoff at the illinois State trapshoot (of all places).
Sons 870 decided to not lock up the block on Rios(also at the illinois state shoot).
We looked like three hickerbillies this year at the ISTA when we came dragging in two guns, between 100s, to the gunsmith's tent. We had a 4E that was going off when he closed it, and a 870 that wouldnt lock up. Luckily we had brought two spares.
Son 1 is a lefty, and he had to shoot my 1100 sporting clays gun, but he broke his first 50x50 with it.
Son 3 had another 4E to shoot. (My dad's)

 

[PapaG]

My wife, last night after I washed up from the hours of fitting parts, asked if I wanted one of those fancy unsingles or high rib o/us like most of the guys in my division shoot. I told her that first, I have a ball outscoring their five to twenty thousand dollar guns with Frankengun and second, I doubt I have enough years to regrow my old body around a new gun. She said, "you do come off the line with a big grin most of the time". My overall average in two leagues is usually in the top five.

 

[Armored farmer]

My wife, last night after I washed up from the hours of fitting parts, asked if I wanted one of those fancy unsingles or high rib o/us like most of the guys in my division shoot. I told her that first, I have a ball outscoring their five to twenty thousand dollar guns with Frankengun and second, I doubt I have enough years to regrow my old body around a new gun. She said, "you do come off the line with a big grin most of the time". My overall average in two leagues is usually in the top five.

I would like to have a nice ljutic with goid wood......but i havent shot much at all in tge last 12 years. Took my boys to ISTA at Brittany this year and i broke 196x200.(97&99) im not gping to spend the resources on a ljutic. I would rather spend it on targets and fees for the boys.

 

[PapaG]

I do have one "high dollar" trap gun. 1964 Superposed Lightning. Cost me four times what my TB originally did. $172 in 1975 for the TB.

 

[entropy]

The Ljutic Space gun is my holy grail Trap gun. A Mono-gun would be second. But for the near future, I will be shooting my 870 Tactical Magnum, though with a Bill Davis stock and a high rib. Maybe a BT-99 or CXT in a couple years.

 

[PapaG]

Found the last original TB part, the mag follower. Now ready to pack it up and hope Remington feels that a new receiver would be appropriate for my old trap buddy.

 

[roo_ster]

I told her that first, I have a ball outscoring their five to twenty thousand dollar guns with Frankengun

Frankengun.

Heh, both my 12ga Rem 870s are Frankenguns I've built up from police riot gun donors (one Wingmaster, one Police Magnum). Rem 870s are like legos that go "boom." Build them up to suit your needs. Wouldn't mind another one. They're kinda like Lays tater chips.

Right now son needs an upland hunting gun that fits his adolescent frame:
* Old Rem 870 12ga Wingmaster 2 3/4" receiver/trigger group/mag tube off a police gun
* Choate synthetic stock with shims to fit and limbsaver pad with 12.5" LOP
* OEM synthetic forend
* Used 30" plain bbl full choke bbl.
* Sling & swivels.

Lighter than any of those vent rib guns to tote in the field and fits him like a glove. Minimal recoil with Herters low recoil 7 1/2 target loads. As he grows, more shims. When he is full grown and gets his own place, maybe I spring for that pretty glossy Remington wood like my 1100 came with.

My other 870 is in use by the missus as a home defense shotgun, configured to suit/fit HER.

 

[expat_alaska]

My Dad was a huge fan of #7-1/2 lead shot back in the day. I can attest that it killed a lot of pheasants using a Win Model 12 16 gauge full choke gun.

Jim

 

[George P]

Found the last original TB part, the mag follower. Now ready to pack it up and hope Remington feels that a new receiver would be appropriate for my old trap buddy.

If the receiver is cracked, it is usually not salvageable. You don't have any good gunsmiths in your area? Most makers, at this time, are really busy fixing guns.

 

[PapaG]

I'm hoping, with reservations, that I will get a new receiver. I only have 43 years and probably over a quarter million rounds through it.
What could a gunsmith do? I have replaced virtually every serviceable part at one time or another.

 

[entropy]

Heh, both my 12ga Rem 870s are Frankenguns I've built up from police riot gun donors

Mine's a Tactical Magnum; SpeedFeed III stock (note AA Handicap TrAAcker round; handy for Annie Oakleys) , 28" Express barrel. Shot a 22 avg. with it this year, after a 30 year hiatus from trap. Can't wait to see what I do next year; I will either modify it for trap, or buy a dedicated trap gun, depending on finances available.

 

[PapaG]

Original 1975 TB left for a trip to Remington to see what could be done about the cracked receiver. We shall see.

 

[PapaG]

Remington says they will replace receiver, correct a few minor things and ship back for cost of receiver plus shipping. I said to do it. Also, parts are discounted 25% and no labor.

 

[PapaG]

Remington tracking system says it is repaired and packed. Ill have it in time for club championship shoot.

 

[PapaG]

Email today from Remington says "Shipped". I'm getting excited. I can get three or four sessions in before the club championship. Got my original barrel cleaned, my Timney ready to put in and a flat of Gun Club 7 1/2s ready to go.

 

[entropy]

 

[PapaG]

Dang! Was out picking up my Euro skull mount from last deer season and missed the UPS man with my TB. Gotta stick closer to home tomorrow.
Thanks, E. Anticipation....

 

[PapaG]

It is home. Will shoot the trap half of combo league with it tonight, change barrels and shoot skeet half. Results later.

 

[PapaG]

16 yard trap on a cool, breezy day, with my new/old TB I shot 24/25. Changed to 26" skeeters barrel and broke 23/25. Back in the saddle again. Now for a new recoil pad. The original is hard as a rock. Happy boy. Now the parts span 43 years.