I have an 870 Express that I’ve had for 20 years now.
I haven’t used it in a hunting capacity in almost 20 years now. I’d like to turn it into more of a fighting shotgun. Plans are for a magazine extension, new follower, sling mounts, stock set, maybe a side shell holder, and possibly a white light.
My question has to do with stock sets. I understand the factory forend can interfere with the shell holder and I’d prefer a synthetic stock as well. I’d like something that allows for a squared shooting stance. I’m also unsure whether I should go with a traditional styled stock set or a pistol grip which is closer to the AR’s and AK’s I’ve been running for years?
I’m no expert on scatter guns so what are y’alls suggestions? I’m not liking the looks of the Magpul set.
I bought an Express about the time they first came out. Since then I’ve had the 28" VR barrel cut back to about 19" and re-threaded for chokes. I also cut about an inch off the factory stock added a Sure-fire forend light and a sidesaddle. I had an extension but ditched it years ago due to the weight but I’m thinking about getting another one.
If you skip the Surefire forend you will want to replace the forend or cut off the extension. Lately I’ve been hunting with my daughters 870 and I see where the extension interferes with access to the mag tube.
I started out using a conventional Speed-Feed stock with the short “LE” fore end. I always preferred the conventional style stock for comfort.
I then switched to the pistol grip Speed-Feed since that is what we use at work, and they do make it a little easier to control the shotgun while loading.
I now use the Magpul stock with the Speed-Feed fore end. I didn’t like the look of the Magpul when they first came out, but when I handled an 870 with one I was sold. I prefer a short LOP which you can have with the Magpul, and the angle of the grip is a nice compromise between the comfort of the old style stocks and the control of a pistol grip. I also like the side sling mounting points on the buttstock.
I had an 870 with the Mesa Tactical adaptor, but I felt it added a lot of weight to the gun while simultaneously making it front heavy. I might go with a Mesa rig for an SBS, but I didn’t like it on an 18.5 inch gun.
I am running a 870p forend with the standard buttstock, I found the forend in the spare parts bin of my lgs for a really good price. If I were to replace the entire stock set I would probably get the speed feed iv-s.
I’m 5’10" and have relatively long arms, but prefer short stocks for general handiness and to allow me to shoot from a squared stance. They also allow me to push my weak hand further out on the forend , allowing, theoretically, for better control of the muzzle. I’ve not run any properly designed tests, so I can’t say for sure that it works out that way in practice as well.
I have Hogue 12" length of Pull synthetic stocks on both my fighting 870s. I very much like this length and the overall feel of the stock. I haven’t tried any other aftermarket stocks, so I can’t comment on them. I have to add that the modularity of the Magpul stock makes it tempting to add one to one of my guns.
I too went the Mesa Tactical route with a Surefire fore-end. While both are well built, The Surefire is heavy and I think the return on investment for the Mesa isn’t great considering the cost unles you are going to run optics. It also seems to change things enough that getting a good cheek weld is less natural.
The Mesa side-saddle and barrel clamps are the cat’s meow.
If I were to do it again I think I would just use the Hogue stock kit with a light on a Mesa barrel clamp and the Mesa side-saddle.
If I were going to run optics then the Mesa stock adapter is probably the answer.
Handled a Remington 870 Tactical with factory Magpul stock and fore-end. I was surprised at how well it pointed and how light it was. If I had the money I would have bought it.
I picked up a Wilson +2 mag extension last night as part of NetTac’s sale. It comes with a spring and follower so I think I’m good there. It also has a sling loop, but I think I’d rather have a QD sling setup like on my other long guns.
I believe I’m gonna go with the SpeedFeed IV-S stock set as well.
I was thinking of the Mesa Tactical Mag Clamp which incorporates both a rail for a white light and QD sling socket. It seems like its either or on each side though… i.e. if I want both my light and sling on the left side of the weapon they both can’t reside on the clamp. Is that the case?
What is the preferred method of running a QD two point sling and a white light on a pump gun?
I appreciate all the input so far. Once I get my old 870 in fighting order, I’ll be looking for a class to learn to run it better.
Yah, the clamp gives you rail or QD on a given side, not both. You could mount a second clamp (one each way), use a longer rail section on the clamp and use a rail attached QD or get a for-end that can support a light being attached like the Magpul or has the light built in like the Surefire.
The Mesa clamps are pretty beefy, so the Magpul route is probably lighter.
I don’t have much to add because I have a different philosophy – I go for lightweight handleability and simplicity. I like the longer hunting style foregrip as I tend to place my hand further back and I think that it would be easier and quicker to get a grip on under stress in the dark. I got rid of the side saddle because it adds too much weight.
But what I will say is that whatever you decide on, make sure after you put it through its paces to take it all back off and see how you perform with a more bare set up. And be fair! You might find that less is more.
My $0.02 is that the light belongs on the forend of a pump shotgun, and the Surefire integrated unit is as good as anything… just as long as it doesn’t interfere with the sling/sling mounting. I don’t see many people refer to it these days, but the GG&G 870 forend does an adequate job, especially when used with a TLR-1 or other dedicated weaponlight. For me, minimal rail area on a shotgun forend is better, and the GG&G is about as minimal as one can find without going DIY.
I personally have gone back to two-point slings of relative simplicity (like a Blue Force Gear VCAS or the Gear Sector GS-2P) and have abandoned side sling mounts for plain-Jane QD swivels and swivel studs at the 6:00 position. The more I tried to “carbine-ize” an 870, the less I liked it, thus my return to old school slinging… at least on a pump shotgun with an 18" or longer barrel.
E(and re-E’d)TA: On 870s I favor the Remington reduced LOP LE stock (Remington part # F113069) that comes with an R3 pad. It looks cheap and stumpy, but for those who don’t need a pistol grip, it works great.
I really wanted to like the Magpul stock set, but it is too different in feel for me to cotton to, and the forend did not mesh well with my preferred mag extension/sling.
Agreed. I have the Magpul stock and forend on mine and it was a huge improvement. The stock is actually pretty heavy, possibly a little heavier than the factory express stock.
On an 870, it’s a wash. It comes down to personal preference. The same applies to what LOP stock you prefer. The youth stocks are generally 13", with the Hogue being 12". The Hogue can be a bit too short for some people who don’t have T-Rex arms. Using the thumb-over-stock grip can sometimes result in a good thump to ones snotbox. Your choice of recoil pad can also affect your LOP.
IMO, a SureFire forend is still the way to go. You can pick up a brand new 318LM for about $250.
We are running Knoxx recoil reduction pistol grip stocks on our 870’s. They are excellent if you like the pistol grip. The recoil reduction is significant (according to the guys that complained before). I prefer a traditional straight stock on my shotgun and I really like Hogue’s 12" short length of pull! I’ve used most of the speedfeed stuff before as well but the Knoxx and Hogue are better imo. Mesa Tactical makes one of the nicer shell holders with quite a few options available.
I’ve used most of the speedfeed stuff before as well but the Knoxx and Hogue are better imo. Mesa Tactical makes one of the nicer shell holders with quite a few options available.