Picked up an LEO trade-in 870 today

[Adventurer_96]

A local shop had an 870 on the shelf with Trijicon Scattergun Tech ghost ring sights, ATI AR-type stock w/5-shell side saddle, sling, 6-shell receiver side-saddle, mag extension, Surefire 3-rail forend, and drilled & tapped Picatinny rail for $480.

As we were removing the side-saddle to check the S/N during the sale, I saw it's got a rollmark on the side of UTAH HIGHWAY PATROL and it's a Wingmaster.

I threw some Knight's Armaments rail covers on the rails and it handles beautifully. I was thinking of throwing a forward pistol grip on just because I can, but I don't know if that breaks some obscure gun law.

Overall, I feel a bit mall-ninja-ish with it, but it's extremely handy and I can't wait to shoot it. I figured it's easier to remove the stuff I might not want (Surefire, ATI stock) versus get a slick one and add to it.

Not bad for my first pump shotgun.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Sounds like a ready to go HD shotgun. Not everyone likes a foregrip, try and see if you do. It sounds similar to mine. That is a good price, the Surefire forend was $200 alone.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Good first shotgun. A couple things....

The next major expenditure should be for ammo.

I've never seen anyone handle a forward PG as well as the standard style forearm.

All you need to add to your shotgun is wear marks.

 

[Adventurer_96]

There are a few wear marks.

Good thing I've got that shotshell loader in the garage. Granted, I only loaded trap loads on it back in the day but it's better than nothing. I've got a couple of 1100's and one was going to be my HD gun, but I think it's going to become a 3-gun & hunting gun since I have a spare barrel. The trap gun has a skeet barrel as well.

I'll try out the PG, it looks interesting.

If I can get pics, I'll throw them up. I'm happy with the price, in retrospect it is pretty good when adding up the individual pieces.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Wear marks are good only if YOU put them there.

That applies to both shotguns and reloaders.

 

[DFW1911]

I outfitted an 870 as you are describing but quickly converted it back to the traditional stock and forearm. I went with Hogue products and it's been sensational.

The reason was I didn't care for how it recoiled - it simply put too much force onto the web of my hand.

In traditional configuration recoil is pretty much a non issue.

Congrats on picking it up, you'll have a lot of fun with it.

Take care,
DFW1911

 

[Adventurer_96]

Wear marks are good only if YOU put them there.

That applies to both shotguns and reloaders.

Aha, I get you. That makes sense. Too bad, though. Few of my weapons get out nowadays as we've got kids in the house and free time is at a premium. But, point taken. I can't wait to take this out.

I just found out recently that my boss-to-be is a big shotgunner and is planning on getting me back into trap and starting me on sporting clays. Another reason to dust off the reloading gear.

 

[Adventurer_96]

I outfitted an 870 as you are describing but quickly converted it back to the traditional stock and forearm. I went with Hogue products and it's been sensational.

The reason was I didn't care for how it recoiled - it simply put too much force onto the web of my hand.

In traditional configuration recoil is pretty much a non issue.

Congrats on picking it up, you'll have a lot of fun with it.

Take care,
DFW1911

Good info. I'm anxious to take it to the range to see what it will feel like. Of course, my only shotgun experiences to compare to really are 1100s and the odd heavy trap gun.

I'm not a fan of the ATI so far. I'm guessing it will go on the chopping block. I do like the rail front end though with the rail guards on it, although I think a thinner forend would be easier to manipulate.

 

[macp]

A gun store once had Smith and Wesson shotguns for sale, once owned by the California Highway Patrol; it sounds trivial but I didn't by one because the 'CHP' had been overstamped to read 'OHP'. Kind of wish I had...

 

[Moonclip]

I never knew CHP used the S&W shotguns, interesting. I recently passed an ex CHP 870 at $250, had a little too much wear at price.

It was probably overstamped "OHB" not OHP. S&W model 68 revolvers were also overstamped OHB sometimes when surplused off.