I ordered this set from Midway last week. Had a chance to try it out yesterday.
First, initial impressions.
It's made solidly. The recoil pad is better than you'd expect, but not great . The foreend is probably my favorite part; it's grippy, oversized, and sturdy.
I have one complaint about how they built it: the long bolt that attaches the stock to the receiver has a standard wrench/socket style head instead of a screwdriver slot. Because it's buried so far into the stock--and because you can't use the original 870 bolt, as that one is too long--you need the world's longest deep socket, a screwdriver with the correct socket head (that would've been ideal), or in my case, a dremel tool with a cutting wheel. I cut a slot into the head (got to try out my new shooting glasses for eye protection, so it all worked out), and it all went together.
The recoil pad didn't go back on as perfectly as it could've. When it arrived intact, it was even all around. after I put it back on, it was shifted down a little. I'll consider this a feature, as it adjusted the gun higher.
Now, the most important thing to know about this stock: it is short. Really short. I got it to make my girlfriend an 870 that she can shoot. Maybe she can shoot it, but it's too short for me, and I'm 5'7". I'm a newbie to shotguns, but even I could tell that my strong hand was way too close to my face.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the normal-length version to others, though, and the short one would probably be good for kids. The short one set me back $35, and that includes the pad, stock, and forearm. Cutting down my wood stock (and ruining the ancient Wingmaster) and adding a pad would've cost twice that, and there'd be no free foreend. It's a very good deal.
First, initial impressions.
It's made solidly. The recoil pad is better than you'd expect, but not great . The foreend is probably my favorite part; it's grippy, oversized, and sturdy.
I have one complaint about how they built it: the long bolt that attaches the stock to the receiver has a standard wrench/socket style head instead of a screwdriver slot. Because it's buried so far into the stock--and because you can't use the original 870 bolt, as that one is too long--you need the world's longest deep socket, a screwdriver with the correct socket head (that would've been ideal), or in my case, a dremel tool with a cutting wheel. I cut a slot into the head (got to try out my new shooting glasses for eye protection, so it all worked out), and it all went together.
The recoil pad didn't go back on as perfectly as it could've. When it arrived intact, it was even all around. after I put it back on, it was shifted down a little. I'll consider this a feature, as it adjusted the gun higher.
Now, the most important thing to know about this stock: it is short. Really short. I got it to make my girlfriend an 870 that she can shoot. Maybe she can shoot it, but it's too short for me, and I'm 5'7". I'm a newbie to shotguns, but even I could tell that my strong hand was way too close to my face.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the normal-length version to others, though, and the short one would probably be good for kids. The short one set me back $35, and that includes the pad, stock, and forearm. Cutting down my wood stock (and ruining the ancient Wingmaster) and adding a pad would've cost twice that, and there'd be no free foreend. It's a very good deal.
