remington 870 questions

therealtwitch · May 16, 2009, 09:13 PM

Today my father gave me a new remington 870 express shotgun for HD. well I bought a tacstar side saddle shot shell carrier. with the carrier installed I couldn't not rack the slide with the stock for grip; and the only other forgrip in the house was pistol style for grip. so we put that on. once we did that we fugured WTH and put on a pistol grip instear of a stock. and I really like it. but the barrel is really long of home defence(28"). So I would like to get a shorter barrel for HD. But as this is my first shot gun I am at a loss as to where to start. What is a good length? and where can I buy a shorter barrel.

I am gonna get a short barrel for HD and a new stock and for grip to use with the stock barrel for hunting. So any opinions and pictures of you HD shotguns would be greatly apreciated.

Steamboatsig · May 16, 2009, 09:23 PM

I went with a Mossberg 18.5" from MidwayUsa for $119. Don't get confused, the barrel is made for the Remington 870, but manufactured by Mossberg. Make sense?

18.5" to 20" should fit your HD needs.

There are a lot of options for HD stocks.
Remington Youth Stock (shorter for more manuverability)
Speedfeed with or without pistol grip
Knoxx Recoil Reducing Stock etc.

Oh, and with respect to pistol grip only stocks, stay away from that. Outside of Hollywood or breaching doors, they are worthless.

therealtwitch · May 16, 2009, 09:34 PM

I shot it today with the pistol only stock. I put it on there because the only for grip I had that would fit was a pistol style. so it just felt better with pistol only rear stock. both will be replaced in the near future.

Chad · May 17, 2009, 01:36 PM

Here are some pictures of my HD shotguns...scattered around the house...

stargazer65 · May 17, 2009, 03:01 PM

+10 Steamboatsig. Probably just about everyone will agree with his assessment, and maybe add a couple of their own preferences.

Hi Chad. Welcome to TFL. That's some perty tacticool stuff you got!

Scattergun Bob · May 17, 2009, 03:38 PM

Congrand on the getting a 870

It is common to have this problem with the longer sporting forends, they are long for the comfort of hand placement but interfere with many sidesaddle arrangements.

When you grow out of the front forend, the fix is to obtain a Law Enforcement style (short) forend. Many different manufactures make then, Speedfeed is one of my favorites.

Good Luck & Be Safe

Edward429451 · May 17, 2009, 07:27 PM

You can pick up a shorter 'corncob style' fore grip that will clear the 6 rnd sidesaddle for ~20 bucks.

I just cut my wood forearm and refinished it to work on my (gasp) WM. You used to be able to find `18" police trade in barrels for it. I found one for 50 bucks but has been awhile.

Be careful to size the mag tube extension carefully after you have the shorter barrel.

Dave McC · May 17, 2009, 08:32 PM

Nice gun. Nowgoshoottheheckoutofit.....

therealtwitch · May 17, 2009, 09:41 PM

I am going to get the mosberg 18.5" barrel. with a barrel this short what is the longest mag extention I can get for it?

ATANRA · May 17, 2009, 11:50 PM

Be careful with short grip and short barrel . From Wikipedia-
Shotguns intended for defensive use have barrels as short as 18 inches (46 cm) for private use (the minimum shotgun barrel length allowed by law in the United States without special permits). Barrel lengths of less than 18 inches (46 cm) as measured from the breechface to the muzzle when the weapon is in battery with its action closed and ready to fire, or have an overall length of less than 26 inches (66 cm) are classified as short barreled shotguns ("sawn-off shotguns") under the 1934 National Firearms Act and are heavily regulated.

Chad · May 18, 2009, 08:05 AM

Thanks stargazer! I've been a lurker here for a while, finally joined

Naterstein · May 18, 2009, 05:11 PM

Yeah Ive seen the "police or tactical" style wood stock set on GB for about $30.

May 16, 2009, 09:13 PM	#1
therealtwitch Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2007 Location: Mesa, Az Posts: 358	remington 870 questions Today my father gave me a new remington 870 express shotgun for HD. well I bought a tacstar side saddle shot shell carrier. with the carrier installed I couldn't not rack the slide with the stock for grip; and the only other forgrip in the house was pistol style for grip. so we put that on. once we did that we fugured WTH and put on a pistol grip instear of a stock. and I really like it. but the barrel is really long of home defence(28"). So I would like to get a shorter barrel for HD. But as this is my first shot gun I am at a loss as to where to start. What is a good length? and where can I buy a shorter barrel. I am gonna get a short barrel for HD and a new stock and for grip to use with the stock barrel for hunting. So any opinions and pictures of you HD shotguns would be greatly apreciated.

May 17, 2009, 03:01 PM	#5
stargazer65 Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2009 Location: Connecticut Posts: 761	+10 Steamboatsig. Probably just about everyone will agree with his assessment, and maybe add a couple of their own preferences. Hi Chad. Welcome to TFL. That's some perty tacticool stuff you got! __________________ "I assert that nothing ever comes to pass without a cause." Jonathan Edwards

May 17, 2009, 03:38 PM	#6
Scattergun Bob Senior Member Join Date: February 29, 2008 Location: Nine Mile Falls, Washington Posts: 1,186	therealtwitch Congrand on the getting a 870 It is common to have this problem with the longer sporting forends, they are long for the comfort of hand placement but interfere with many sidesaddle arrangements. When you grow out of the front forend, the fix is to obtain a Law Enforcement style (short) forend. Many different manufactures make then, Speedfeed is one of my favorites. Good Luck & Be Safe __________________ First, with the most, WINS! Regards, Scattergun Bob

May 17, 2009, 11:50 PM	#10
ATANRA Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Posts: 48	Be careful with short grip and short barrel . From Wikipedia- Shotguns intended for defensive use have barrels as short as 18 inches (46 cm) for private use (the minimum shotgun barrel length allowed by law in the United States without special permits). Barrel lengths of less than 18 inches (46 cm) as measured from the breechface to the muzzle when the weapon is in battery with its action closed and ready to fire, or have an overall length of less than 26 inches (66 cm) are classified as short barreled shotguns ("sawn-off shotguns") under the 1934 National Firearms Act and are heavily regulated. __________________ "Colt is expensive but a lot of people have died in $50 Stetsons carrying $5 pistols"

May 16, 2009, 09:23 PM	#2
Steamboatsig Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 170	I went with a Mossberg 18.5" from MidwayUsa for $119. Don't get confused, the barrel is made for the Remington 870, but manufactured by Mossberg. Make sense? 18.5" to 20" should fit your HD needs. There are a lot of options for HD stocks. Remington Youth Stock (shorter for more manuverability) Speedfeed with or without pistol grip Knoxx Recoil Reducing Stock etc. Oh, and with respect to pistol grip only stocks, stay away from that. Outside of Hollywood or breaching doors, they are worthless.

May 16, 2009, 09:34 PM	#3
therealtwitch Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2007 Location: Mesa, Az Posts: 358	I shot it today with the pistol only stock. I put it on there because the only for grip I had that would fit was a pistol style. so it just felt better with pistol only rear stock. both will be replaced in the near future.

May 17, 2009, 07:27 PM	#7
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	You can pick up a shorter 'corncob style' fore grip that will clear the 6 rnd sidesaddle for ~20 bucks. I just cut my wood forearm and refinished it to work on my (gasp) WM. You used to be able to find `18" police trade in barrels for it. I found one for 50 bucks but has been awhile. Be careful to size the mag tube extension carefully after you have the shorter barrel.

May 17, 2009, 08:32 PM	#8
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Nice gun. Nowgoshoottheheckoutofit.....

May 17, 2009, 09:41 PM	#9
therealtwitch Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2007 Location: Mesa, Az Posts: 358	I am going to get the mosberg 18.5" barrel. with a barrel this short what is the longest mag extention I can get for it?

May 18, 2009, 08:05 AM	#11
Chad Member Join Date: May 17, 2009 Location: The communist state of NJ Posts: 15	Thanks stargazer! I've been a lurker here for a while, finally joined

May 18, 2009, 05:11 PM	#12
Naterstein Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2009 Location: Central KY Posts: 151	Yeah Ive seen the "police or tactical" style wood stock set on GB for about $30.