Adjustable Stock for Trap - 870 Express

[Musketeer]

I just started shooting trap about a month ago and am hooked. I am using a Remington 870 Express Magnum (came with an 18" "get out of my house!" barrel) with a 30" full choke Wingmaster barrel I got off Ebay for a steal some time ago when I had thought about trying out the game.

I don't have serious cash to drop but as has been pointed out the gun fits me poorly. I was wonderring if there was a reasonable adjustable stock that would help with fit available until I can seriously think about even a used good trap gun (say a year or so from now)?

Having just started in the game I am more concerned with getting fundamentals down now but I would like to have something that fits reasonably well without dropping a ton of cash. I figure I have decades ahead of me to spend stupid amounts of money on pretty guns after the kids are older and the house is paid!

[oletymer]

Go to this link. It is about as low priced as you can get for an adjustable stock. http://www.jwstocks.com/Injected_Molded_Adjustable_Sto/injected_molded_adjustable_sto.html

[Musketeer]

Thanks, that certainly is what I pictured but I never expected a stock for an 870 to cost $250!!!

[pbgunrunner]

If its too long/short you can add a recoill pad of different length or cut it down, if the comb is too high you can sand it down (unlikely with a field stock), if its too low Gander Mountain and similar stores sell a "add a comb" kit that consists of several foam "comb spacers" and a neoprene sleeve that slides over the stock and spacers. It works pretty darned well, Ive used it to let customers "try" a stock before they invest in having one made. If your handy you can build up your comb with wood filler or body putty and sand it down to the dimensions your looking for. Then paint the stock black and go break birds!
Just FYI- a lot of trap guys shoot a hi rib/ hi pattern gun- ie the gun shoots higher than sighting down the barrel would indicate so they can float the target above the barrel for a sight picture. Your factory remington stock and wingmaster barrel would give you a flat shooting gun, if you try copy what the guys with a high rib gun are seeing for a sight picture you might assume that the gun doesnt fit you. You gun will work better for hunting and sporting clays though! Take care- chad

[pbgunrunner]

... pattern your gun with different loads, I think you'll find a Remington full chokes barrel patterns pretty tight at the distances your shooting as a beginner, you might find a load that patterns a bit more to the open side if it does. Or ebay off your barrel and get an express barrel with choke tubes. Try http://www.corsonsbarrels.com/ too. Assuming your seeing the bird as it leaves the trap, your probably breaking them at 30-35 yards- good modified territory IMHO. I see a LOT of new shooters overchoked.

[Musketeer]

Thanks. The Gander Mountain dohickey sounds perfect. The puller the second time I went was also one of the instructors at the range. He pulled me aside and showed me some of the problems with how the gun fit. First, I needed to bring it pretty far into my chest area and raise it fairly high. Without doing this my cheekbone could not be pressed into the stock without seriously canting my head over and throwing everything out of whack As soon as I did this I immediatly started getting a couple more hits. The position keeps my head far more upright and the gun firmly pressed under my cheekbone but leaves very little of the stock firmly against my torso (probably only 50%).

I also was on the line with a group of older gentlemen who shoot together every week yesterday. They noted that I was often below the bird, possibly due to what you mentioned. I tried to coorect a little and made some solid hits on the next couple birds as opposed to just getting a piece of them.

[Musketeer]

Thanks all. I found this:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0010018223766a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=comb&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=comb&noImage=0

For $20 I can give it a try.