Youth-to-Adult Conversion

[HarcyPervin]

Has anyone done a conversion on a youth 20 ga (I'm looking at a 870 express) to a full size stock? Which kit did you go with? There seems to be a million and one options with these. I'm thinking it would be a heck of a grouse gun in the woods with the 21 inch barrel. Pictures are always nice if you have any as well.

Thanks,

 

[bob9125]

I did it on a Browning BPS Micro. The shotgun came with what they called growth insurance and so you had a 5 year window from when you bought it to change it over. Browning had me send it back to the factory and they matched the wood for a new stock and forearm. They made the change and then sent the old stock and forearm back to me along with the gun. I believe the cost for the change over was around $135. I thought about selling the youth stock and forearm to recover some of the cost but have not done that.

 

[Dave McCracken]

I did....

Early in the 90s, I bought the kids a 20 gauge 870 Youth Express to learn on.

They grew up, moved on and moved out, leaving me with a shotgun I really couldn't shoot very well.

Then a friend bought a used 28 gauge 870 Express for his twins, 9 or so. His had an altered adult stock, converted to a straight grip and refinished.

We swapped stocks. He ended up with a tool his kids could shoot comfortably and I with a 6 lb, 2 oz quail gun that's quick but not whippy, sure but not ponderous. Sometime when the project list is shorter, I may hog out some wood under the plate to move the balance a bit more forward, but in the brush it's fine as is.

HTH....