Convert a 26" 870 to tactical or trade?

[Beltaine]

I have an 870 Express Super Magnum I got on trade form a member a while back. I intended to upgrade it a bit at a time to make it a home defense gun, but as I'm pricing out upgrades I'm realizing that I will spend more in upgrades on the gun than I would if I just bought the 870 Express Tactical version outright.

Things I'd like to do:

20" barrel

Breaching choke

Ghost Ring sights

Tactical stock

Am I better off finding a new home for this 870 and buying one like I want?

[Will Carry]

The 870 express is a nice shotgun. I'd keep it and buy the tactical shotgun you want. A 28 inch barrel has it's advantages, though it's too long for close quarter combat, you can sure cover your yard with it.

[bigwakes]

I have a 25" 870 Express Super Mag. I already put a 4 shot extender tube and have tossed around the idea of an 18 or 20" barrel, but can't find a decent price yet.

[Guest GunTroll]

Been there. Unless your hell bent on a DIY'r type project to get it exactly the way you want it. You are probably better off buying the tac shotgun and then doing minor changes/upgrades, sadly.

[JeffsSig]

yes just sell what you have and then buy a new Tac one THEN in time you will do upgrades to it LOL

Upgrades are fun easy and you always end up with spare and extra parts.

[Garufa]

Call up Robertson's Trading Post down in Henderson and see if they have any 870 Police Magnum trade-ins. That'll get you half-way there on a much better gun.

[Guest Grout]

Been there. Unless your hell bent on a DIY'r type project to get it exactly the way you want it. You are probably better off buying the tac shotgun and then doing minor changes/upgrades, sadly.

Yep,+1.You can always get the Cyl bore barrel threaded for Rem Choke to get whatever choke you want and have ghost ring sights installed.

[leroy]

....I have a 25" 870 Express Super Mag. I already put a 4 shot extender tube and have tossed around the idea of an 18 or 20" barrel, but can't find a decent price yet .... .

Wakes:_____________

Check the latest Midway flier. It seems i saw an 18 inch aftermarket 870 barrel for about $110.

Beltaine:

....I intended to upgrade it a bit at a time to make it a home defense gun, but as I'm pricing out upgrades I'm realizing that I will spend more in upgrades on the gun than I would if I just bought the 870 Express Tactical version outright. ...

I just did some of this. I didnt bother to add a set of ghost rings. Just a normal bead front. All i did was to add a nordic components magazine extension. Still need a tritium front sight bead (....probably $50 or so...). Got the shotgun exactly like i like it. If you decide to DIY, take a look at the nordic components magazine extensions. There is nothing else out there that is close. I just put a plus 4 on a browning bps (...cost $78 bucks...). They are hands down the best extension ive ever seen.

All that being said; like Garfua says, if ya can buy a lightly used police trade in for $250 - $300 thats the way to go. (...i can never find 'em when the notion hits me for this kind of stuff!!...). Ya also got to understand that i'm a "shotgun junkie"; so i like 'em all; from model 97's thru 870s, to auto 5's, to the shotgun that winchester (...and everybody else...) should have made (...and mossberg kinda did....)....), the browning bps.

Hope this helps.

leroy

[bigwakes]

Wakes:_____________

Check the latest Midway flier. It seems i saw an 18 inch aftermarket 870 barrel for about $110.

Yeah, it a Remington factory with a fixed improved cylinder. I'm looking for a Remchoke barrel. It's a good price and very tempting though.

Bud's has an 18" 6 +1 870 for 321. The tactical models start at $440 and go up from there.

[leroy]

Wakes:_____________

...Yeah, it a Remington factory with a fixed improved cylinder. I'm looking for a Remchoke barrel. It's a good price and very tempting though.

The guys around here do a custom bore and thread for a choke for about $50. Plus, ya got to buy the choke. That turns a $110 barrel into a $185 barrel pretty quickly.

Good luck with your project (..mine always cost more than i originally thought too!!...)

leroy

[Will Carry]

I never knew a shotgun needed to be pimped out before it was suitable for home defense. All those years my 870 sat in my closet loaded with buck shot and me thinking it was a good self defense gun. I didn't realize I needed a certain type of choke or a night sight or a ghost ring or a "tactical" do dad with a "laser". I am greatful I never had to use such an inferior weapon as an un-pimped shotgun.

I mean, sure my 870 could hit a dove flying 60mph and a deer at a full run, but inside my house at ranges up to 30 feet....tha's different.

I'm looking for a 20 gauge tactical shotgun, although a side-by-side coach gun looks very cool.

Edited May 27, 2011 by Will Carry

[Guest BenderBendingRodriguez]

I never knew a shotgun needed to be pimped out before it was suitable for home defense. All those years my 870 sat in my closet loaded with buck shot and me thinking it was a good self defense gun. I didn't realize I needed a certain type of choke or a night sight or a ghost ring or a "tactical" do dad with a "laser". I am greatful I never had to use such an inferior weapon as an un-pimped shotgun.

I mean, sure my 870 could hit a dove flying 60mph and a deer at a full run, but inside my house at ranges up to 30 feet....tha's different.

I'm looking for a 20 gauge tactical shotgun, although a side-by-side coach gun looks very cool.

I think the idea is that if it looks hardcore enough the badguys will just flee or drop dead from fright. That way you don't have to deal with cleaning the blood and guts up off your floors/walls. Out in the woods you don't have to worry about that sort of thing.

[leroy]

Will and Rod make an excellent point in the above two posts. The fact is that any short barreled shotgun is a "tactical" shotgun. As close as mine comes to "tactical" is a plus 4 nordic components mag extension on my bps.

In the old days they called 'em "riot" shotguns. "Riots" held 5 rounds (...countin the one in the spout...). They guarded many a prisoner and finished many a bad guy. I guess that criminals and hooligans are just tougher today. We've got four of them. Two model 97's, a model 12, and an ithaca 37; plus all the other "long barreled" shotguns. As ya can see, im a "riot" shotgun junkie. I'm lookin for a lightly used 870 police gun myself!!

PS-- Will. If ya find two lightly used 870 20's ill take one too!! Cant help myself!

Keep up the good work.

leroy

Edited May 28, 2011 by leroy

[Will Carry]

I'll do that. I recently traded my Sweet 16 Wingmaster 870 for a NIB Benelli Nova 12 gauge pump. The Benelli is a POS.

Edited May 28, 2011 by Will Carry

[leroy]

...I'll do that. I recently traded my Sweet 16 Wingmaster 870 for a NIB Benelli Puma 12 gauge pump. The Benelli is a POS.

Will:_____________

I'm suprized at this. I figured the Benellis were pretty good shotguns.

Thanks again.

leroy

[Will Carry]

My 16 gauge 870 was smooth as silk, light and fast. The Benelli Nova is big! 3" magnum 12 gauge. I'm 6'2" and the gun is big for me. It works fine but it's doesn't have the smooth action that 50 years of breaking in creates. Value wise they are about the same. But the old 870 has wooden stocks and grips where the Benelli is black plastic. The plastic is cheaper to manufacture than wood. They don't call it a sweet 16 for nothin'. I may trade the Benelli in for a 20 gauge tactical. That Puma is like an anti-aircraft gun.

Edited May 28, 2011 by Will Carry