My Remington 870 Police

[WJR]

I am building up the used Remington 870 Police that I bought a month or so ago for home defense. I have now added synthetic stocks, mag extension, and a Surefire 618FA.

Now I am about to purchase a 6 shot side saddle (is any one of these any better than another or should I just get a Tac-Star for around $ 22). I also am working on a deal to buy a used 18" Police Barrel (my Remington came with a 20" barrel that I am keeping for use on another 870 I have). I am going to buy an Uncle Mike's regular nylon sling to have, but not keep on the shotgun. I am also probably going to buy an oversized safety from Wilson along with some of the bright green mag followers.

The final touch is the addition of ghost rings. I have read a lot about these, but would like a new round of everyone's opinions, please.

I am trying to decide the following: What kind of ghost ring? Do I want wings around the front post or not? Do I need tritium in the front post and the rear, just the front, or not at all?

Thank you in advance for any input you can give me.

WJR

 

[Rat-30]

Ghost Rings

On my HD 870 I use the SGT track-lock, with tritium in the front only, no wings on front. Works well for me, I'll put them on others...

Have an 11-87 with factory express sights, no tritium - but will soon on front only. The factory express sights are good for me, almost 'too' simple, and return the shotgun to 'bird-use' with a change in barrels only. I like both...

On another 870 that I just can't put down, have a rem-choked vent-rib 18" barrel, with a tritium front bead I put on that I love, also...

I really could go with any of these in a pinch, as long as the front is tritium, and I have a light for target id, I'm happy.

Hope that helps, without muddying the waters too much.

All the best,

EDITED TO ADD:

Absolutely go with the jumbo head safety from Scattergun/Wilsons... I prefer them over factory and Vang Jumbo-Head-type without reservation.

 

[WJR]

Thank you Rat-30.

You have seconded the tritium in the front only. I appreciate your affirmation.

I am waiting on a bonus check and I hope that once I receive it I will be able to finish this one out.

WJR

 

[9mmMike]

I have two 870 barrels with AO (now called Express Sites, I think) Big Dots on them. One is tritium front and the other is tritium front & rear.
I like the dual tritium better. In low light, it is really quick to align. It really just verifies that I'm lined up OK as my mount and cheek-weld are fairly consistant but it is just a little bit of extra comfort to see that tritium dot on top of the vertical line.
Good luck with your project,
Mike

 

[WJR]

Thanks Mike. More food for thought. I will have to think about it some more. Still probably a few weeks away on the ole bonus.

WJR

 

[riverdog]

My 870 has the Trijicon night sights (Brownells) which were made as direct replacements for the Remington rifle sights on their slug barrel. They went on easy and only effect the barrel, rather than modifying the receiver.

 

[Bix]

Mike,

What is your assessment of the AO sights? I've heard that they can be difficult to use at longer ranges. Do you do any long distance slug work?

Riverdog - same question to you. How do you like your Trijicons?

thanks.

 

[Fed168]

I would go with tritium on the front and rear sights. My preference is to use the rifle sights, main reason is that there are no modifications to the gun. I can switch barrels and go hunting. I shoot in competition with slugs, and from what I have seen the rifle sights beat out the ghost rings all day long. For the precision shot, that seems to be the way to go.

I kept the factory rear and replaced the front with a fiber optic. Works pretty good.

On side saddles, one word of caution. Make sure that the pins are the same diameter of the holes in the receiver. I worked on an 870 that was so equipped, and the gun was having feeding issues. The pins were ever so much smalller than the diameter of the holes, which caused the shell latch to move out of alignment. Couldn't even get the trigger group pins in until it was fixed. A 6 round side saddle should work fine, the 4 four round version is good, too.

 

[riverdog]

I like the Trijicons, Mostly because they were a direct replacement for the original rifle sights. I use these on my HD 870, so I have no idea how they do with slugs, but it gives me a lot more confidence on where the muzzle is pointed.

 

[9mmMike]

Bix,
I like the AO's very much. They are a direct replacement for the factory sites so even I could install them.
I don't shoot much precision-distance stuff but I can put the slugs on a paper place at about 30 yards with no problem. The AO's Big Dots do have a "big dot" so it will obscure a small target at distance.
The set that I have with radioactive front and rear are very bright.
The older glowing-front only is dimmer but still bright enough. I probably would not have noticed that it was dimmer if the other set was not so bright.
Mike

 

[WJR]

Decisions, decisions. Thanks for the further input.

I probably will get Trijicons for the 20" barrel (I had not previously noticed that they were direct replacements). I do like the AO Sights as well. However, I really want to get ghost rings for this particlular shotgun. I am leaning toward the MMC sights.

WJR