So i dont mean to brag

But I scored a heck of a deal today even in the middle of the pandemic. I walked into the pawn shop I frequent. The manager called out you need to buy that 75 dollar shotgun. I just got a 870 express 20 gauge for a whopping total of 82.09 after tax. It was listed at 249 for a while and she wanted it gone.
I need to figure out a way to cut about an inch and half off it so my wife can shoulder it easier. Ive heard pumpers were super hard to come by right now. Some days I win.

 

Great price score!
BUT, what do you know about stock fitting? There's a whole lot more than just cutting off a little bit; there's DAC. DAH.toe in or out, pitch, cast on or off, grip radius, balance, etc............

 

that is exactly why I'm not going to just go all willy nilly at hacking it off.

 

I’d look in to purchasing a youth stock.

 

E-bay has several youth stocks listed now.

 

Wow, I shot an 870 in 20 gauge for 30 years. I don't know what any of those terms even mean, but I killed a truck load of doves, pheasants, grouse, ducks, geese, squirrels, and rabbits. Of course I shot it just as it came from the factory so maybe all those things change if one cuts the stock back an inch or two.

Upon reflection, I do recall reading that all those things are taken into consideration if a person is ordering a one-off custom side by side from an English maker and paying more than my house cost.

 

I’m eye balling a synthetic youth jr compact stock set that has a 12 -13 inch lop adjustment through spacers. Also looking for a spare barrel so i can cut it down and have her a home defense tool. But also change the barrel back to the 28 inch for hunting.

 

they want 200 bucks for a used barrel on ebay this is crazy!

 

More than just English Best Gun purchasers pay close attention to stock fit. All serious clays competitors do. And many hunters do also.

I do not remember the formula but the amount of stock LOP reduction or increase is not proportional to arm length.

 

My wife is like 4'10" and she can barely get a grip on it. it looks like she is wrestling it not holding it. I don't care about experts. Ive taught about 6 kids to shoot food. I don't know too much about clays. But I know if you aren't comfortable you aren't confident. and the ability to go from rested to shooting is part of the function.

 

I don’t believe any of us disagree with that sentiment.

 

Youth-sized stock?

 

Yeah im looking for one so I can keep the original full length wood as is

 

Wanna double your money?

 

And good for you that your gun fits YOU. Women tend to need things fitted better; they tend to have longer necks so drop is important; they tend to have shorter fingers, so grip radius is important, they tens to have thinner faces so comb thickness is important; depending on their boob size, cast may need to be greater, etc. etc............

 

No argument from me. I have no sources or statistics to back up my assumption that millions of gun owners have taken a shotgun out of the factory box and adapted to fit the gun rather than modifying the gun to fit them. Not the best solution of course, and as others have pointed out, competitive shooters or those with knowledge and resources (money) can have a firearm built or modified to fit them. They probably shoot those guns much better than I shoot a box stock 870.

 

Put a bid on this one..
https://www.ebay.com/p/2255453241

 

I added it to my watch list it has three days left. Thanks for the heads up. that and some synthetic stocks are being eyeballed. Im actually leaning closer to just getting a spare barrel and cutting off the older wingmaster stock that's currently on it. thinking I may try to keep costs at a minimum. But I don't want to cut the barrel off id rather have a long and short.

 

Sorry, I just can't see hacking a great gun like an 870 like that... I have several. It's been how long already that you didn't have one? I'd have a little more patience, save up, buy a smaller stock, save up, buy a "less than perfect" barrel, or maybe even another "parts gun", and THEN start cutting up the cheaper spare stuff! Maybe something someone neglected and is rusted or something. And hold onto the good parts to put on when you'd like to hunt with it. But to possibly take a nice gun, hack it up on both ends, and possibly ruining it where you'd have to start over or use a gun that "just never feels or shoots right" is a sin. What about a pistol grip stock to fit it? There's so many options other than rushing in to cut it up. (which you only get to do once...you can't add back). Maybe just take a minute, breathe, and think this out.

 

Boss I'm only talking about making it work for my wife better. If you read the thread progression you'd see I'm pretty much wobbling that direction. Also im 20 years a machinist, Precision fabricator and welder. I don't hack anything. if I cut it. its clean flat and true. Im not kletus with a hack saw and a rattle can. I already mentioned im looking at a synthetic stock and a spare barrel. Im trying to make this a twofer with no permanent trauma.