Tactical 870 Youth???? Can it be done?

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Gideon

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I've always wanted a tactical shotgun for HD. The other day I was looking at some 870 Express models and a few higher end tactical shotguns in 12 ga but in every case I found the stock to be too long and the reach to the pump a little long.

I have an 870 20 ga YOUTH model that I bought for hunting rabbits in really thick swamps years ago. It's almost too short for true upland game hunting but it's great for tight work. I got to thinking that this gun (or a newer one of the same model) would fit me well for a tactical HD. Not sure if they make a 12 ga youth model in the 870.

So my question is, have you guys ever heard of someone using an 870 youth, either 12 or 20 ga for building a tactical shotgun? Recoil isn't an issue and I can try putting an adjustable stock on the larger gun...

What do you think?

Thanks and God Bless
Gideon
 
Well, the Remington youth models are not available in 12 gauge. I suppose that's what would deter most people from trying. I'm not personally familiar with them though, so I'm not entirely sure what exactly is sized differently on the youth models. I'm also not sure what "tactical" accessories would or would not fit on them based on those differences. Regardless though, I don't believe a 20 gauge is right for the job. That's just my opinion of course.
 
Nothing wrong with the 20ga. The 21" youth model is great as is or with a magazine extension. If you have to be tacticool, you can get a unrifled slug barrel with sights or even wilson ghost rings.

David
 
If you have to be tacticool, you can get a unrifled slug barrel with sights or even wilson ghost rings.
Click to expand...

"Tacticool" is one thing , but when it comes to an HD shotgun the proper barrel, sights, and accessories are necessary and not just for show and tell.
 
I believe my youth 20 ga has a much shorter stock and the receiver is scaled down as well although the gun is chambered for 3" magnums.

I can see an advantage for sights or at lest a big bead like I saw on the 870 Express, plus a barrel that's just open would be a good idea.

I have to admit I'd want it all black but the color of the stock doesn't make a difference.

I'd like to be able to buy one so I don't have to ruin the youth model I have. it'll be good for my boys in a year or two.

I'll have to see if I can get an all synthetic stock model :rolleyes:

God Bless
Gideon
 
There are sources for youth stocks in a couple of different lengths for both 20 and 12ga 870's. The 20ga slug barrels are hard to find on the used market. The easy thing to go is to buy a new one from Remington. I think they are still in the new catalog.


David
 
I don't have a "tactical" shotgun. My "strategic" shotgun is a plain 870 express with a shortened wooden shock :neener:

An 870 is like an erector set; you can get all the cool doodads you want for it. Synthetic stocks come different lenths of pull.
 
Lew Horton just released an 870 20 Guage Tactical, with 18"bbl, parked finish, extended mag, and synthetic furniture.

We've got two in the shop and sold them both within 24 hrs of arrival. Hoped to have 6 more in later in the week, but Horton's is currently sold out.

This gun with a replacement youth stock might fit the bill for what you want.
 
Nightcrawler,

The Lew Horton 870 Tactical 20 ga is the built on the scaled down 870 frame.
 
You can get wood furniture and cut it down...

...or get the Hogue overmolded 12"LOP stock and use it, or you can get the 20 GA youth model, and use that. There are lots of options. If you aren't dead set on the Remington, the FN police pump guns run about $400 and have a 13" LOP stock and 7+1 capacity, good sights, and are a little lighter due to the aluminum reciever. (Don't worry, the bolt locks up on the barrel extension, which is steel) This would be my shoice for a smaller shooter, because it's parkerized, light, handy, and has the shorter LOP.
Food for thought.
 
Huh. I did not know that the 20 gauge youth model had a smaller receiver. I know the .410 bore and the 28 gauge models do. Does the 20-gauge "youth" use that receiver, or is it a mid-size between the standard 870s and the smallbores.

28 gauge might be a better gun for my 62 year old mom (recoil), but I'd have to get the barrel cut down. 26" is too dang long for a farm/house/GP gun. 18" is what I'd want.

I know I just made sm smile with that. Problem is, I've never seen 28 gauge ammo for sale anywhere. I don't even know how big it is, or how many pellets a buckshot load holds, or anything.

I don't expet my mom to use the shotgun much, if ever, but I'd like her to have one.
 
NC,

I think it's a great gift to give your mom. I buy my mom a gun every couple of years, and a shotgun was the latest. I got her a model 1100. She's little, and recoil sensitive due to arthritis. The 20Ga 1100 is a real creampuff to shoot.
 
Bill Jeans of Morrigan Consulting, former Cheif Instructor at Gunsite, guy that put together Gunsite's original shotgun program, writer of shotgun police standards for a couple of states long time SWAT guy and plain old LEO and Combat Marine recomended in a class of his I took trying a youth stock on your HD or special use shotgun. He has one on his primary HD shotgun and his last SWAT team used them.

Also get thee some sort of sights front and back.

Can't afford Ghost rings? Mid barrel notch and front post and bead work better than less. A two bead system works better than a single bead system. A single bead does work better than no sight but all of the above work better for actually aiming a shotgun.

Now one of the traditional shotgun shooters will chime in that with a properly fitted gun, a good stance and lots of practice you do not even actually need a bead. Absolutely true for bird and arial target shooting with clouds of small shot forty yards away. Think you are gong to be able to assume a good stance in a HD situation? You ain't shooting skeet or trap nor doves with your HD shotgun. Get as much help aiming it as you can that does not require batteries.

-Bob Hollingsworth
 
Funny that We & Remington are All Thinking Alike...

I've been asked by a friend who shot my "tactical" HD 12 ga. Remington 870 to put together something for him in 20 ga. He's not a life-long shooter, not a very large guy & shares his home with his slim wife & two teenage daughters. The 20ga. 870 should be ideal for any household member who grabs it to use for home/personal defense. I've found a lightly used Remington Youth 870 with short (factory) wood stock and 22" (I think) plain (no rib) Rem-choke barrel for $225. With the additional mounting of a quality flashlight, installation of a Limb-Saver recoil pad and a set of ghost-ring (night?) sights... it seems the best answer to his request. For a small yard, urban (nice neighborhood) setting the 20 gauge has PLENTY of power and (with practice) both he & his girls should be well-prepared to deal with a home invasion threat, etc.

And, just so y'all know, the 870 12 ga. receiver is substantially larger than the 20 gauge. I know because I have both & the stocks will NOT swap.
 
And, just so y'all know, the 870 12 ga. receiver is substantially larger than the 20 gauge. I know because I have both & the stocks will NOT swap.
Click to expand...

There are many older 20ga 870's built on the larger reciever. Be certain of what you are getting if you are buying used.

David
 
Right You Are.

Yep, thanks! I've shot both styles enough times I think I could tell without looking just by shouldering it. This is a 20 ga. Express so it's the smaller receiver.
 
Two problems keep rearing their ugly heads as far as defensive 20 ga. pumpguns are concerned, in my admittedly limited experience. #1, the 20 ga. guns are lighter in weight than similar 12 ga. guns. And #2, the selection of serious-use defensive ammunition for the 20 ga. is MUCH more limited- there is no widespread offering of reduced recoil 20 ga. buckshot and slugs.

Thos two combine to produce greatly enhanced felt recoil for 20 ga. pumps. My wife got one of the 21" 20 ga. 870 Express Youth guns years ago. It still sits in the safe- way in the back of the safe- because it kicks worse than a heavier 12 ga. shooting low recoil loads. I am not willing to shoot birdshot for defensive use, and don't reload- so the 20 ga. Express is a safe queen.

Note this is not the case for a 20 ga. 1100- the gas gun is a lot more manageable in the recoil department. But a light 20 ga. pump shooting full house slugs and buckshot is gonna hurt the shooter more times than not.

lpl/nc
 
My HD shotgun is a 870 20ga youth. It is stock, save for the 7+1 tube extension. I would really like to get some new sights for it though. Ribbed barrel with bead is not my favorite.
 
For those that might possibly interested. . . . Knoxx now has the SpecOps in the size to fit the 20 ga Remington receiver.

I bought the 870 Express Youth for my 10 yr old son and cut down a 'beater' stock, because the factory LOP was still too long.

With the factory recoil pad ground down to fit the abbreviated LOP stock, it beat the snot out of him, using Win AA loads!


I've waited a long time for Knoxx to offer the SpecOps for the 20 ga.

I ordered it this past Monday.

It WORKS on the 12 ga. There is no reason for it to not work on the 20.
 
I'm going to agree with Lee here. By the time you downsize and lighten the gun and fire the most readily available defensive ammunition you are about where you are with a properly set up 12 gauge and low recoil buck.

I have gone the 12 gauge route with my 9 year old son. I have an 870 Express with one of the Hogue super short stocks on it and an 18" rifle sighted barrel. It has no extension on it as it is heavy enough as is and for the practicing he does 5 rounds is plenty. 99% of the time he shoots birdshot through it- promo/el cheapo bulk pack 8's. Every once in awhile I will load him a mag of Reduced Recoil buck. He is fine with it.
 
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