Anyone here customized a Rem. 870 Express?

[jpatterson]

VHinch, that thing looks like a beast! Bet its smoother'n hell though
I like it!

 

[Bababooey]

Not too customized and not a express but installed knoxx spec ops dual recoil stock,tac star light mounted side-saddle and will be installing a heatshield w/ ghost ring sights.




http://picasaweb.google.com/MnRepoMan/870REMINGTON#




EDIT: I have removed the side saddle shell carrier,it was binding up the carrier action,the gun is new and I need to get up north to get some rounds down range...

 

[CountGlockula]

Hi guys. Does customizing your 870 allow it to not function 110%, since it's no longer stock?

I guess my choice would be to pick up two 870s, one Express and one Police Magnum.

Thanks and God bless.

 

[rantingredneck]

Hi guys. Does customizing your 870 allow it to not function 110%, since it's no longer stock?

That's going to depend largely on what you do to it and how much crap you hang on it. Also the pedigree of said crap (Some brands better made than others).

My current 870 (I've owned a few but settled on just one believe it or not), has a factory 20" RS RC barrel, Speedfeed II stocks, a Remington +2 extension, a Remington railed mag clamp. I have a streamlight TLR-1 for it and a light nylon sling.

None of this stuff is too heavy. No wires or big protrusions to snag on things. I can have it restored to 4+1 or 2+1 plugged condition with a 28" VR barrel within 10 minutes and be on my way to a clay range or dove field.

Stick with quality components and you shouldn't have reliability issues.

 

[CountGlockula]

Thanks ranting.

 

[Jack2427]

A lot of folks did not know it but many of the guns produced by Wilson, Scatterguns Inc., its predecessor, Novaks and many other customizers started out as express models. In some cases (as in my Novak) they just upgraded everything to a police model spec. Some of them have told me they do it so they control more of the build, I am slightly more suspect that it might be lower original cost

 

[Six Feet Under]

Mine, but that sling is only used for hunting and my friend broke the swivel on it a few weeks ago.

 

[Taurus44]

If you put a magazine extension on an Express, you have to drill/roll/hammer out the dimples in the standard tube for it to function properly.

That being said, here is my only 870 Express



I have added a 4-round Mesa Tactical side saddle and a Speedfeed forend since that picture, though.

 

[r1ng3l78]

don't make it look like a movie prop. also, i can't say enough good things about the knoxx spec ops stocks(even though i think it looks like a movie prop). i've never liked "gimmicky" accessories but i picked up an 870 a few months back with one on it and it blew my mind. makes a 12 guage firing target loads feel like a .22 rifle. added a hogue foreend and the rubber grip through knoxx and i'm good to go. this pics before i added the grips.

 

[LoadedDrum]

On a budget I would make the following mods:

Shorter barrel
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=958340&t=11082005

Mag extension (this one isn't cheap but the weight savings relative to a steel mag extension, and its effect on the balance of the gun justifies the cost)
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=496329&t=11082005

Mag extension clamp (too many people for go this and risk a hard knock damaging the threads on their mag tube which would have to be replaced)
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=643064


Add a Surefire 618LFG latter as your budget allows.

 

[Howaido]

I saw some problems with my 870 when I bought it.

J safety. Gone for a factory one.

Lack of ammo capacity. It already had an extended tube, so couldn't do anything about that one. I put a side saddle on it to keep extra ammo handy.

Terrible bead sight. XS big dot.

Recoil. I wanted to be able to shoot hundreds of rounds in an outing with no ill effects. Knoxx specops. Also solved LOP problem.

That is it so far except for a wilson spring and follower. May get around to changing out the express internals for the police/wingmaster internals sometime. Who knows, if I don't, those parts might wear out after 10000 or 20000 rounds.

I now have a gun with much better ergonomics (IMO) than I started with.

 

[czbegenner]

Ok guys im still stumped on mine do i bour the groves down with a drindle
to get my 8 shot,or what

 

[76shuvlinoff]

The dimples in the stock magazine tube?

You can drill them out from the outside or try to hammer them out. I used a dremel tool with a 3/8 inch stone and carefully ground them down. It didn't leave a hole but I bet it's paper thin there now.

 

[El Tejon]

Yes, this is an 870 Express done by Scattergun Technologies before they were purchased by Wilson:

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=1694&d=1046919195

 

[PTK]

Taurus44

That reminds me of my only 870, as well!

 

[God]

Sorry for bumping an old thread...


CountGlockula, I was just curious what direction you took, and how your scattergun looks today?




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Query two: Does anyone have any experience with Mossberg's 870 12ga barrels? How do they stack up against factory replacements?

I ran across a couple new 18.5" (LE) and a 24" 870 barrels made by Mossberg. They're both slugsters with rifle sights ($30 each). I know Mossy has been making Remington replacement barrels for quite awhile, it just feels kinda weird buying a Remington replacement made by Mossy (ya gota wonder if they put their best work & material into a competitor's product ).