870 defender project?

[Armored farmer]

I recently acquired another 12ga 870.
She's pretty rough. Not too well cared for. Carried often. Shot little. Dinged, scratched, and chipped. Stored in the basement for decades.
I have a couple crappy pics.

It was a quail gun that belonged to a cousin.
I think it would make an excellent donor for a short barreled defense shotgun. I have another 870 that doubles as a field gun and a bedside defender, but I would like a dedicated 870 with SOME if the defensive bells and whistles.

Im thinking ......
* synthetic stock and one of those lighted forends by Streamlight or Magpul or whoever makes them.
*a sling mount.
*a cool ceracoat job
*ammo carrier
*rifle sighted smoothbore
*?

Inspirational pictures of, and suggestions for HD shotguns from my THR friends are appreciated.

Let's see those defensive scatterguns.

 

[entropy]

Skip the sling, unless it's going to be an outdoor gun for walking your farmland. Indoors they are more of a determent than a help.
Why Cerakote? You could trade this one for a Police Express in that case.
A Velcroed "card" on the side would be OK, but as long as you want to put plastic furniture on it anyway, why not a SpeedFeed stock? 4 rounds on tap right in the stock, adding a card would make it 9 or 10 on the gun plus the 5 in it.
Rifle sighted smooth bore? Plan on shooting a lot of slugs. I wouldn't pass one up for a good price, but I wouldn't pay extra for one either.
Just spit balling with you.

 

[WrongHanded]

You could chop the barrel and drill/tap for a bead. Or a barrel clamp front sight and ghost ring rear on the receiver.

Add a mag extension, which would allow for a mag-tube/barrel clamp. That clamp could be used for a front sling mount, and a rail to attach a light. Add a rear sling stud, and you could call it done. The Velcro cards would be a good addition for a farm yard gun though.

 

[Armored farmer]

I gotta get a light

 

[shooter1niner]

How about getting a short slug barrel and an extended magazine tube, (or another bird barrel which you could shorten) . That way you still have the quail gun. I believe there to be lots of aftermarket items for 870's.

 

[Lon_E]

Chris at Lucky Gunner did something similar and it turned out pretty good.

 

[entropy]

No it didn't. It's still a Winchester 1200.

 

[dh1633pm]

I like the short rifle style sights on my SLP. I gave my 870 to my son. It too had a short barrel and rifle sights. I replaced the stock with synthetic, not sure I really needed to do that. On the SLP I added night sights. The 870 is great because you can go to town with it.

 

[Armored farmer]

You could chop the barrel and drill/tap for a bead. Or a barrel clamp front sight and ghost ring rear on the receiver.

Add a mag extension, which would allow for a mag-tube/barrel clamp. That clamp could be used for a front sling mount, and a rail to attach a light. Add a rear sling stud, and you could call it done. The Velcro cards would be a good addition for a farm yard gun though.

Yes it's a farm yard gun that I'm wanting. I have a great AR set up for that... but after all my exploits with an 870, I'm just more at home with it than an AR.

I want a light and a sling and I want it to be sexy even if I have to drop some $$.
(I have a reputation you know!)


That's why the new ceracoat job and new furniture.
You know....bling!

 

[Riomouse911]

I posted these a couple of times recently. Since this is an 870 idea-thread, I will add them again .

870 12 gauge 2 3/4” model.
20” rifle sight barrel.
Synthetic stock/fore end.
Choate +2 extension with Wolff spring and hi viz orange follower.
Magazine holds six Federal #1 buck.
Sidesaddle for three Federal #1 buck and three 1 oz Winchester segmenting slugs.
Sling for carry.

(I would love a Surefire fore end/light, but I will wait on that as they are a bit pricy.)



Stay safe.

 

[PapaG]

I've been fiddling with one for about a year now. It was a fairly late Express that I deburred, polished the innards, and generally slicked up. Put an old police walnut stock and forend on it along with an extended magazine (after I bought the detent removal swage) and a rifle sighted smooth bore (with Remchokes) barrel. Stock sleeve for now as I don't like the side saddle thing in my face. Yours, being a real Wingmaster, would be way better from a smoothness and cool factor. I haven't messed with a light as I'm now in town and darkness is not a big factor (but I have considered a clamp on light. Good luck with the project. I'm up to five 870s all in different forms. (Original, mostly TB, built up Classic, Wingmaster field, Express with Jack West adj comb stock and imp mod barrel, and my defense gun just described. All have been smoothed up some but only one was at all rough.

 

[kwb377]

Inspirational pictures of, and suggestions for HD shotguns from my THR friends are appreciated.

Let's see those defensive scatterguns.

Fighting shotgun setups: 500/590's & 870's (Pics welcome) | The High Road

Shotgun picture thread. | The High Road

 

[kwb377]

Skip the sling, unless it's going to be an outdoor gun for walking your farmland. Indoors they are more of a determent than a help.

Then why do 99.9% of people that carry a long gun professionally (shotgun/subgun/rifle) for indoor CQB use a sling? A sling on a long gun is like a holster for a handgun...it provides somewhere to "put" your gun when you need to use your hands for something else, and it provides retention. I had numerous instances while carrying a long gun on entries/searches than someone decided to lay hands on my gun. The sling helped me retain the weapon while delivering a muzzle strike (usually sternum, once to the forehead) that ended their desire to contest ownership of the weapon.

 

[lemaymiami]

Said this more than once... All I ever needed was a standard older 870 in riot configuration (four shot tube, bead sight, improved cylinder bore, 18 - 20" barrel) ... the basic item chambered for 2 3/4" rounds using 9 pellet 00buck rounds... I'd want to keep the original barrel and buy a second specific barrel for close quarters work..

My only required accessories? An elastic butt cuff holding five rounds (a few of them slugs) and a sling. I know that many want a light but for my purposes in suburbia or the city don't include one at all.. I'd much rather be very, very hard to see in low light conditions when hunting two legged types with bad intentions that might be headed my way..

 

[FL-NC]

The most important things to address IMO is the barrel, and getting a round-the-clock capability out of it. I believe Mossberg makes some basic Remington 870 18" barrels for a modest price, or just try to find a used one to cut. If you cut one with a vent rib, you can add turkey type fiber optic sights to it. To give it night time capability, you don't need the surefire dedicated HG light that costs more than a new 870 you could buy the Magpul MLOCK forend (26.51 on amazon) and 1 section of rail to put at 9 o'clock (3 if you are a lefty) and a decent handgun light like the streamlight TLR-3 (about $100) and you will have a very capable defensive shotgun. In doing this, you will keep the costs down and have a light that could also be used on pretty much anything with a rail, vs a overpriced 1 trick pony of a light. Anything other "upgrades" like a synthetic buttstock, side shell carrier, mag extension, etc. you could chip away at getting incrementally, and you would still have the original barrel, furniture, etc. for other later options for that 870.

 

[Armored farmer]

The most important things to address IMO is the barrel, and getting a round-the-clock capability out of it. I believe Mossberg makes some basic Remington 870 18" barrels for a modest price, or just try to find a used one to cut. If you cut one with a vent rib, you can add turkey type fiber optic sights to it. To give it night time capability, you don't need the surefire dedicated HG light that costs more than a new 870 you could buy the Magpul MLOCK forend (26.51 on amazon) and 1 section of rail to put at 9 o'clock (3 if you are a lefty) and a decent handgun light like the streamlight TLR-3 (about $100) and you will have a very capable defensive shotgun. In doing this, you will keep the costs down and have a light that could also be used on pretty much anything with a rail, vs a overpriced 1 trick pony of a light. Anything other "upgrades" like a synthetic buttstock, side shell carrier, mag extension, etc. you could chip away at getting incrementally, and you would still have the original barrel, furniture, etc. for other later options for that 870.

Yes
That is my thoughts as well. I already have a weapon light or two that could go on the msgpul mlok.
This gun has the toe of the stock chipped off.
Oh and two barrels...full and modified. I already have two more spares, so plenty of barrels. I do want decent sights. No optics.

 

[luzyfuerza]

I've found that a light designed for handgun that's mounted on a shotgun forend, mag tube, or barrel is difficult to use. The buttons just aren't placed correctly for pump shotgun use. And wires running from a light to a pressure switch are a terrible idea! Anything hanging off the side or bottom of the gun is prone to tangle or break in real use.

My Streamlight TL Racker was reasonably-priced ($111) and works well. The buttons are placed perfectly for both right- and left-handed shooters.



https://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-69600-TL-Racker-Lithium-Batteries/dp/B07P9RSS32

 

[entropy]

Then why do 99.9% of people that carry a long gun professionally (shotgun/subgun/rifle) for indoor CQB use a sling? A sling on a long gun is like a holster for a handgun...it provides somewhere to "put" your gun when you need to use your hands for something else, and it provides retention. I had numerous instances while carrying a long gun on entries/searches than someone decided to lay hands on my gun. The sling helped me retain the weapon while delivering a muzzle strike (usually sternum, once to the forehead) that ended their desire to contest ownership of the weapon.

Because they have to carry it around everywhere else except in their own house. He's not an LEO doing no knock raids where he has to cuff, etc.
Cops have to do a lot of things that virtually require a sling. (OTOH, I don't recall the rack shotguns in cars having slings.) Homeowners generally don't. I did mention that were he to use it as a ride along gun in the truck or tractors, a sling would be good.

 

[lemaymiami]

I found a sling an important accessory on the street when your only other alternative (we were actually taught this) is to un-load the weapon and ground it if you needed your hands free... Not exactly the best tactic I can think of... Most of the time a shotgun in hand isn't needed for its intended purpose and a sling allows you to do other things (running, jumping, climbing) to get where you're needed... or just dealing with the crowd that can show up at any critical incident... Assisting someone (maybe your own family member who's been assaulted or injured during an incident... is something that any armed citizen needs to consider as well... Takes very little time to familiarize yourself with how to handle a shotgun with a sling... I found it a necessity (but only after I made sergeant and could keep my issued shotgun in a case in the trunk of my vehicle when not in use). Shotguns that have to sit in a rack or electro-lock can't have a sling at all...

 

[EMT40SW]

Have you looked at Scattergun Technology from Wilson Combat to make that gun sing for like $230?
https://www.wilsoncombat.com/shotgun-customization/#remingtonsteal

 

[Lo-Profile]

I wouldn't whack, hack or cut anything.
Plenty of 18-20" barrels available at reasonable prices. That's what I did with the one I have. Added a sling and a low lumen light. Done.
Wood is better than synthetic when it comes to recoil reduction due to the weight.

 

[Armored farmer]

I wouldn't whack, hack or cut anything.
Plenty of 18-20" barrels available at reasonable prices. That's what I did with the one I have. Added a sling and a low lumen light. Done.
Wood is better than synthetic when it comes to recoil reduction due to the weight.

I looking at a Carlson barrel with that cool breacher tube on the muzzle......not that ill be doing any breaching...lol
The barrel, magpul fde stock and fore end, a light, and a sling would about suit me fine.

 

[gralewaj]

A few pics of my HD project that began life as a refinished receiver and rifle sight smooth bore barrel for inspiration! Make sure you upgrade the breech bolt and carrier to the Flex-Tab versions for HD reliability.

 

[DustyGmt]

I recently acquired another 12ga 870.
She's pretty rough. Not too well cared for. Carried often. Shot little. Dinged, scratched, and chipped. Stored in the basement for decades.
I have a couple crappy pics.
View attachment 1105014 View attachment 1105015
It was a quail gun that belonged to a cousin.
I think it would make an excellent donor for a short barreled defense shotgun. I have another 870 that doubles as a field gun and a bedside defender, but I would like a dedicated 870 with SOME if the defensive bells and whistles.

Im thinking ......
* synthetic stock and one of those lighted forends by Streamlight or Magpul or whoever makes them.
*a sling mount.
*a cool ceracoat job
*ammo carrier
*rifle sighted smoothbore
*?

Inspirational pictures of, and suggestions for HD shotguns from my THR friends are appreciated.

Let's see those defensive scatterguns.

I would love to find one of those ribbed 870 forends. I always loved the way they looked on the older riot guns. If you chopped the barrel to 20" and put a choate +3 extension on it, along with sling and light, you'd have a nasty looking pump gun after a lil touch up blue and add the bead and I'd definitely consider a square patch of Velcro brand Velcro and some shotshell cards.

It would retain some the old character while still looking very formidable and with a touch of modern.

I like both though, Full synthetic with matte or park finishes but blued steel and walnut is beautiful too. Here's a couple of mine, wingmaster not in this particular pic....

 

[DustyGmt]

A few pics of my HD project that began life as a refinished receiver and rifle sight smooth bore barrel for inspiration! Make sure you upgrade the breech bolt and carrier to the Flex-Tab versions for HD reliability.

View attachment 1106108 View attachment 1106109

To my eye that's about the pinnacle of beauty in an old project 870...... I'd be very pleased with that outcome if I set out to do something like that.