What should I do?

Which would you do

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C-grunt

C-grunt

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Jun 12, 2005
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Phoenix Az
Hey guys, what would you do in this situation?

Two days ago I bought a very lightly used built up Remington 870 Express Magnum from a buddy of mine. It has a 870p barrel with tritium rifle sites, hogue pump, extended mag, and a Knoxx collapsable stock with shell holder and battery compartment. Its a really nice fighting shotgun.

The problem is my department wont let me carry my own shotgun unless its a 870 Police Magnum, so I obviously cant carry it.

They will issue me a 870p if I want to go that way but I really dont for a few reasons. For one they are not in the best of shape being rather old patrol guns. The second reason is I cant do much modification to a city gun to configure it to my liking. Then three is when I move to a different position, I have to give it back.

So I basically have two choices.

1. Try to trade or sell my 870 for a 870p and start over with the modifications.

2. Keep my 870 I have and use a city gun for work.
 
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2 Qs.


1 will they let you carry your own gun in anything but stock form? personally, I would use what I was issused, heaven forbid you have to use the weapon and it comes back to bite you in court.

2 what do you plan on changing from a stock gun?
 
1. I can modify it from stock form if its my gun. Only certain things though that are authorized. Therefor anything modified I am covered.

2. My main plan is a stock with a pistol grip. Covering a door for a long period of time, I find the pistol grip to be more comfortable. Next would probably be a light pump grip, like the Surefire. Then maybe new sites and a Vang Comp barrel.
 
I'm not sure I'd replace the barrel... if for some reason you had a pellet go some where it was not supose to... that will come up in court.
 
that means very little if the other side has a good lawyer, but hey its your choice.




<<<<< too many years of being a small biz owner, I try to limit my liabilty as much as I can.
 
if you like the pistol grip and the lighted forend go with them.


To be truthful, I can't see you useing the lighted forend, in the corse of being a "beat cop".
 
just my opinion, but i would keep the one you bought and just use what was issued. Not only would I (if it were me in your shoes) feel more comfortable from a liability standpoint, but would rather bang up someone elses gun, rather than my own.
 
I know I could easily use the city gun. But the thing is I dont want to get used to it and then have to turn it back in when I switch areas and have to get a new one and start over with it.

TAB I can think of several situations I have been in recently where a flashlight on a shotgun would have been useful. For instance covering a perimeter in a dark alley behind a burglarized business at 10:30 at night.
 
So you want to point a shot gun at every thing you want light up?

I'm not saying they don't have a place in LE,just they would play a very limited roll.
 
Well if a suspect come crawling out a window it would be easier to verify if he was armed or not with a flashlight attached to the shotgun. And yes if you are a suspect for a burglary I am pointing my gun at you.
 
so your activly scaning a alley with a shotgun mounted light? wow...

No offense, but that is exactly the kind of thing that creates speration and animosity between the public and the LE.
 
Ummm no.

Where did I say I was sweeping areas with my weapon???????

Usually covering an alley or other area means scanning it VISUALLY and addressing any situations that may present themselves.

So if Im at a forced entry burglary of say a McDonalds I might be tasked with covering the rear of the store. So I could be back there scanning the area using one of my flashlights on my belt to check shadows. But if a guy decides to break out the rear window and start crawling out I can cover him with my weapon. If that weapon happens to be a shotgun, using a mounted light would be much easier to illuminate the suspect that using my other hand to hold my other flashlight.

It would be safe to assume that someone breaking out of a burglary scene probably isnt grandma on her way home from the store.
 
I could poke holes in your argument all day....

The question is what will do the job for you in the most expedient manner. I believe that the department is being a little picky in demanding a "P" model for a patrol gun. I can also see where a pistol grip and everything else may not be necessary. If you are willing to spend the money though, purchase what you believe you need and become proficient with that weapon.

I personally like the MESA LEO pistol grip attachments. I have read that the Knoxx have had bad reviews at combat courses. I see no advantage from vang comp porting of the barrel, it does not give you much utility. I use rifle sights and bead sights on my shotguns and have really good results with the Remington rifle sights. Call me old fashioned but I like the Remington shell extender, if nothing else it comes with a clamp. A shell extender without a clamp is an accident waiting to happen.

Jeff
 
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There is actually only one answer, which gun can you use to defend your's and other innocent life. If the answer is to purchase your own P version then do it. The cost would be less than flowere for the funeral your wife would have to pay should you use a weapon you are not 100% 'A' game with.
 
But the thing is I dont want to get used to it and then have to turn it back in
Click to expand...
How much "getting used too" can there be with a different issue 870?

If ya seen one, ya seen'm all!

rc
 
I don't see how it could ever be a bad thing to have both.

I haven't ever been a cop, but something I learned in the army, is that training and day to day use puts a lot of wear and tear on your gear. (I suppose this might vary a lot between departments.) Bring your own gear if you want to, but understand, if you wear out THEIR gear, they have to replace it. When you have to beat one up, let it be THEIRS, not YOURS. If over time, you decide there is gear that you need to have, but they won't provide it, THAT is what you out of pocket for.

Have you checked the local pawn shops for used 870Ps? It's some cash, but look at it as an investment, having backup for ALL of your gear.
 
There's... a bunch... of different 870s here. While some are different, most of the HD guns are set up pretty much the same way as far as LOP, Sidesaddle, magazine capacity etc are concerned- that's so my wife can use them effectively also. All have standard or conventional style stocks- no PGs among them- but some are factory LOP and some are 12.5". Some have 20" barrels, some have 18", some have 18.5". Some have bead sights, some have rifle sights, some have ghost rings.

I don't have a lot of trouble shifting from one to another. But that's just me. And I'm not going to be carrying a shotgun on the street ever again, as far as I know. So it's a different thing completely. I wouldn't begin to sugest you should do what I would do.

I've bought 'trade-in' LEA 870s. I'd love a chance to latch onto anther one or two at a good price. I've found that many LE issue guns look battered on the outside, but are in great shape mechanically. It wouldn't bother me to carry an issue shotgun on duty, though the last time I did it the gun was a Winchester Model 12 factory riot gun, if that suggests how long ago it might have been. 8^)

But you need to satisfy yourself, not me, and not us. And most of all IMHO you need to carry a duty gun you have confidence in. If that means selling the 870 you have in order to get an 870P that your department will let you carry, and you can afford to do it, I'd say you should do it. And however you want to modify it, IF you train and practice with it sufficiently to demonstrate that your confidence in the durability and utility of whatever accessories you bolt onto it is warranted, then that's up to you too.

I'm a KISS sort of person in some ways when it comes to fighting shotguns. I like weaponlights, the kind that use LEDs and mount on rails. I like Sidesaddles. I like slings. I like sights, beause my eyes aren't what they used to be (if in fact they ever were). And in spite of the 37" sleeves on my long sleeved shirts, I like 12.5" lop conventional stocks with premium recoil pads. But I'm not about to say that the way I like a shotgun set up is the only way it should be done. It's your gun, your job to carry it sometimes and if you ever get into it, it'll be your gunfight. I won't be there. Far be it from me to tell you what shotgun you should carry...

But I will say... Stay Safe!

lpl
 
I may be reading too much into this, but I think you won't be satisfied unless it's your shotgun in hand. I know I'm more confident with my stuff than other's stuff.

BTW, I did the Knox stock on my 870 with a Sure-Fire forend and it sucked badly. Either are fine, but together the Knox stock gives the Sure-Fire a running start at whacking the bejezus out of your weak side hand. I'm going to get a Choate PG for my 870 soon.
 
I would love to keep this gun and just buy another P version, but with a month old baby, that isnt going to happen.

Also the Knoxx isnt going with me to the new shotgun, its not authorized. Only Choate or Remington stocks.

Ive decided Im going to try and get rid of this one and get a 870p. I just like knowing that its mine and I wont have to give it back when I switch squads. Plus then I wont be restricted with what I can do with it, like maybe hunting (unlikely but possible).
 
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