Remington 870 inquiry

[Black Majik]

Hi folks, it's been a while.

I wanted to chat on the topic of home defense shotguns, particularly the 870. It's the platform I'm most comfortable with, and I'm quite familiar with it.

My current HD shotgun is an old Wingmaster which I put a 20" RF barrel, +3 factory extension and walnut stocks. I was fiddling around on youtube a couple of days ago, and came upon a few videos from Clint Smith. What I particularly noticed was his preference in shotguns. Basic 870s without the gizmos. Cool, I agree there and also agree that training and familiarity far outweighs the cool stuff most people like to hang on their shotguns. He seemed to mostly have basic police 870s, and a Marine Magnum which was his "modified version" with a TLR-1 on the side. Pretty cool.

So that lead me here, this place is still my favorite place to lurk for shotgun discussions. And I realized, a +3 extension loaded up is quite heavy. Taking off the extension made it much easier to swing as expected. However, the question remained "Was I willing to give up the capacity." Given an event of a home invasion, and I, the shooter used my shotgun... would 4 be enough? Very well, most likely.

I also noticed, without the extension that was less worried of banging it around. Sure, the factory extension with the magazine clamp has never failed me... but it seemed like a more durable gun without the extension.

Another question popped into my head. "Four rounds isn't much, but say I did use up all 4. I don't sleep in anything with pockets, I'm surely not going to have extra shells on me. What to do?" Coming from other platforms such as pistols, rifles and other guns with even more capacity, we've always been taught not to leave your defensive guns dry. During an "after shoot" situation, you want that gun loaded up until you're sure all threats are taken care of. That's why CCWers carry spare magazines with them. Shoot to stop, threat is down, reload.

Chances of an all out gunfight in your place of residence is highly unlikely. Even more unlikely is the necessity to reload in the middle of a gunfight. However, after taking care of a threat, without reloading, an extra few more rounds left in the magazine tube sure does sound like a good idea for reasons stated above.

Your opinion? Does this justify extra 2 or 3 more rounds and sacrifice portability for the assurace of higher possibility of rounds left after taking care of a threat?

I went 2 days with 4 rounds loaded in my 870. Last night I put the extension back on. It sits in a corner, weight doesn't matter much since it doesn't get carried. I do miss the easiness to swing it.



Which brings up another question. 870s are some of the heavier pump action shotguns available. Say if we were to lighten this gun up, with a minimum of 18" barrel (sorry no SBS for this discussion), how would you lighten it up. Factory polymer stock with police forend make a significant difference than walnut? Any other options to lightening up an 870?

Anyways sorry for the ramblings. I'm just thinking outloud.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Luke G]

Ive got an 870 with an 18" barrel and a +2 mag extension for my HD gun and I will admit that my shotgun is heavy and not as nice to swing as my long barreled wingmaster. However, I feel that since I dont carry it on a regular basis the extra 2 shells are more pro than con.

One thing that helped me with the extra weight in the front end was to shoot clay pigeons with it. I would load the magazine full and have a buddy lob out the same number of clay pigeons as fast as he could in a random fashion. After a few rounds of this, I felt very comfortable in my ability to adapt to the balance change in the gun, and my wingmaster started moving really fast

Luke

 

[Fred Fuller]

Good to see you back around the place 8^).

Around here what I like or prefer takes a back seat to my wife being able to handle the same guns I do. Since she's a consideration- if not THE consideration- the guns fit her and are set up to suit her. She dislikes weight in front of the support hand, so no magazine extensions for us. Stocks are 12.5" LOP, forearms are field length (9") versus LE length (7").

She did agree to 4-shot Sidesaddles, as the weight there is between the hands. And for mounted lights, we went to rail-mounted versions (Streamlight M3 and TLR, LEDWave, Insight SSL1).

After getting used to what necessity required, I have come to prefer it. It doesn't seem too much of a sacrifice to do without a magazine extension. We load magazines one down anyway to facilitate an immediate select slug drill if necessary, so the 870s here have three rounds of 00 in the magazine, an empty chamber (action locked, hammer cocked, safety on) and four KO slugs in the Sidesaddle.

I can't tell any real difference between weight as far as wood versus synthetic is concerned. The synthetics we use are SpeedFeed IIs, and they are heavier than normal synthetics- but can be shortened more easily and then fitted with a good recoil pad.

I don't know of any other way to lighten up an 870, save shifting to a 20 gauge. If defense at typical room distances is the concern, then a 20 is no real disadvantage. Remington seems to have tumbled to that fact as well- http://www.remington.com/products/f...l_870/model_870_express_synthetic_7-round.asp .

That's about all I can suggest... hope it helps,

lpl

 

[dfariswheel]

You have to do a "real world" threat analysis of the MOST LIKELY situation you'd face.

As example, you live across the street from a biker bar in which the denizens are prone to fits of paranoia about the neighbors and might launch a mass assault on your home.

OR:
You live in a more or less "safe" area in which the most likely situation is a burglar who'll run at the first sign someone is home.

What you have to do is a truly honest assessment of what is most likely, not what your ego says.
Too many "home defense" guns are really "range toys" to have fun with and impress the buddies with.

The shotgun is so good because its so adaptable to different situations.
In some moves a few years ago, my Police gun went from a 4 shot #1 buckshot gun, to a 7 shot 00, #1 and slug "Dutch load with a bag of spare ammo and a light, to a 4 shot #4 buck gun.

The point is, to be really honest with yourself about the most likely threat.

 

[45shooter]

Keep it simple.

Mine is a Express 12G with the wood stock cut back one inch. I replaced the 28" barrel with 18" cylinder barrel that came from a police gun.
I just refinished all the metal parts with Norrell flat black to make it more rust resistant.

Nothing more.

 

[Gord]

There's always the option of a sidesaddle - four (or six, if you have or are willing to put on a police-style forend) more rounds on tap, and with the weight back at the receiver as opposed to out on the muzzle.

My 870's a stock Express with an 18.5" IC barrel and a four-round sidesaddle - nothing more. Simple but effective, and I can do shoot-one-load-ones quickly enough that I'm not concerned about having "only" four rounds in the tube.

 

[mljdeckard]

Is it THAT much heavier? I doubt you will notice if you ever have to use it.

I don't tell people they have to go out and get an extension if they don't already have one, but if yours is there, I don't see a reasonable reason to take it off. Why not use the extension AND the sidesaddle?

 

[Rshooter]

I believe in simple guns. The only two addons one of my guns has is an extended magazine and a factory fold over pistol grip. I do practice with my guns though and sometimes carry them unloaded. Something I learned in the military, carry your weapon everywhere until it becomes a part of you. At that point it is not too heavy or hard to swing. It also comes right to hand on a cold dark night. It works for me.

 

[Youngster]

A +1 extension is all I'll run and even that's not a necessity. The longer tubes give up too much in terms of handling and ease of reloading to be worth what's only an extra round or two, on what's still going to be a low capacity weapon.

Beyond the +1 tubelet, a Sidesaddle or buttcuff will let you keep some extra rounds on the gun without turning it into a nose heavy brick or creating worries about dinging a long extension setup.

 

[Sniper X]

Well, I have the new 870 in 20in with factory mag tube extension (8rd). Even though I load a full load and have a side saddle with 6 in it, It balances out nicely enough for me to love that I have a compliment of 14 12ga rounds in one shotgun! I also shoot in for fun 3 gun comps so the longer mag keeps me from to many reloads on the course and keeps my time to a minimum. I love the extra weight myself, but I am 5'8" tall, or short, and am 190lbs and not fat.

 

[Sniper X]

BTW Black Majic, in here or anywhere, you'll get a ton of pro and con people on mag extensions and farkles (gizmo's) for any gun! I mean there are the guy's who don't like ANYTHING but the minumum on their shotguns who think those of us who do like a few extra rounds and a light or laser are nuts. But more power to em!

Like the farkles myself and use those I have.

 

[rbernie]

My planned use of a HD shotgun is for barricade defense. In that role, lightness of swing is less important for me than it might be for a more dynamic intended use.

Having said that - Lee's point about sizing the platform (LOP, weight, and balance) for the smallest shooter that may need to use it sounds like excellent advice with which I strongly resonate.

 

[45shooter]

I keep mine loaded with 4 rounds of Federal #4 tactical load and I have handfull more of same load in the night stand. I don't see the need for more in the gun as I will only depend on the shotgun until I can get to the loaded M1A in the closet... 8-10 feet away from the bed.