Reduce length of stock on shotgun?

[Shmackey]

Sorry, but I don't know much about shotguns at all.

If I get a box-stock Remington 870, can I get someone to fit it to my 5'6" stature? I would think you could carefully remove some length from the stock.

 

[HSMITH]

If it is a wood stock just lay it in the radial arm saw and whack off a little. Tape around the wood where you are going to cut real well so it does not chip out. Cut a little at a time until it fits. Fit the pad back to it by grinding it down close with a sander, then final fit by hand with a sanding block. Leave the tape on for the sanding operations so you don't scratch it up.

 

[Shmackey]

Now I have an excuse to get a radial. Better news than I expected!

("No, dear, the table saw just wouldn't do it.")

 

[CleverNickname]

,

 

[Jim K]

When using the saw, use a fine blade and make sure to rest the gun on something so the cut will be straight across the stock (as viewed from the top). Remove the original buttplate first so you don't cut into the screws (scrreeeeeecccchhh!!!), then make the cut parallel to the same line. If you want, you can then fit a recoil pad or put the original buttplate back on.

To do that, screw the pad or plate to the butt, wrap masking tape around the stock just ahead of the buttplate/pad and use a belt sander to trim the pad or plate down following the stock lines. The masking tape will prevent a small mistake from being a big one. At the toe (bottom of the stock) be sure to cut the plate or pad in line with the stock line the way the original was.

Jim