SHOTGUN MODS

[91xlt]

I have a Remington 870 Express, I bought for small game hunting originally. I have only taken it hunting twice. I use it at the range almost exclusively.
My thoughts are heading toward mods in the way of home defense.
Pics would be greatly appreciated of your HD rigs.
My first thoughts are a shorter barrell, possible light and either different sights or a red dot scope? Nothing really set in stone...looking for suggestions.
Thanks in advance.
Jeff

[dgg9]

Originally Posted by 91xlt

My first thoughts are a shorter barrell, possible light and either different sights or a red dot scope? Nothing really set in stone...looking for suggestions.

Under the "shotgun is not a rifle so don't turn it into one" category:

- Scope = no point at all. Home defense SG is to be used with distances of 15 yards at most.

- Ghost Ring sight = no real need. Bead sight is fine.

Under the "recommended mods" category:

- Light = excellent idea.

- Mag extender = also a good idea.

- for home defense, 18" bbl is the only way to fly.

Under the "probably unnecessary but if it floats your boat" category:

- Shell carriers (side or receiver or butt cuff)

[MarcS]

For the shotgun, as with many guns, I'm a really big fan of the XS big dot sight. Very fast acquisition up close and unlike a bead sight, if you need to place a slug down range, you can actually do it with some degree of certainty.

Flashlight is a must. For a pump gun, you really just need to spend the money on the surefire forend.

Extended magazine is a must. Get a quality one and loctite it.

If you install a side saddle, loctite the shit out of the screws. If they back out they'll jam your gun.

18" barrel is a must for gun handling in close quarters, as is, in my opinion, a shorter length buttstock. Hogue, i believe, makes one with a 12" LOP. This lets you square up with your target and move better in tight quarters. I also find a pump gun is quicker to operate when it's close in.

[TonyF]

18 inch barrel.

Surefire forend.

The big dot sights work as do the ghost rings but you might be able to find a short barrel with Remington's factory sights. Those will work fine too and it'll be a bit cheaper.

Forget about optics. The SG stock's drop at comb was designed for rifle sights and is therefore too extreme for an optic.

Short LOP buttstock as MarcS mentions is probably the most important but overlooked accessory for the SG.

Some say the +1 mag extensions balance better than the +2's. YMMV.

I'm more or less in agreement with MarcS and ddg9.

[djturnz]

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=80131
The top one is an 870, with a 13" barrel. The above thread tells how to make it legally.

[BUCKMARK]

One of the best and cheapest ways to build a HD shotgun with what you have is to simply buy a barrel.

Since you already own this gun and use it for hunting, you probably shoot it pretty well. Don't change out the stock on a gun you already shoot well.

Look for a used 870 barrel. Plain barrels with no rib are cheaper, and make a great HD barrel.

Have the barrel cut down to 18.5" and have it drilled and tapped for a Trijicon night sight bead.

Now buy a 2 shot magazine extension and a flashlight with the barrel clamp mount.

Install the HD barrel, mag extension and clamp the light on the end of the magazine.

DONE.

Come hunting season, remove the light, mag extension and barrel. Now put the hunting barrel back on and replace the mag. end cap.

A 18.5" cut down with no choke will work great with 00 buckshot for home defense distances.

It's cheap, easy and it works.