870 for Predator hunting

what a nice looking shotgun, but I would be afraid one of my buddies would shoot me on instinct if he walked up on me turkey hunting! very nice. jhg
 
Thanks for the replies,

Vantucky - I'm not really much for a traditional thumbhole stock, but the one you lionked to is more of a pistol grip stock with a Bady law type work around to get away from the pistol grip rule. All in all it's not far from what I've been thinking about.

Hidalgo - A lower stock won't get it done for me, I'm already in the receiver, if anything I need a higher front sight. To be honest I've never quite been sure about the barrel on this gun. .... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif considering that I ran over the gun with my truck when it was practically brand new. The story isn't as bad as you might expect. It was in very soft sand and the gun didn't appear to be damaged in any way, but I've always wondered about the barrel even though it looks straight enough ... It will take a new barrel to put my mind at ease.

GC - (1) I'll take the Remington HD-BB load into consideration. I'm a copper plated buffered BB fan already. Your choke suggestion is also a good one. Who's choke are you using? There are about a dozen good choke companied out there.

(2) I'll look into your suggestion for a scope. I don't mind a shotgun with some weight. I like weight in a shotgun, my competition/skeet gun is a Remington 3200 with 30" barrels. A heavy smooth swinging beast if I've ever seen one. This is part of the reason I want the mag extension, weight forward.

(3)I also like the idea od having a slightly lighter spring in the mag. ... meaning, with a standard shotgun mag tube the spring is under maximum compression with a FULL load of shells, a plugged mag extension makes for an over all easier gun to load with reliability still more or less guarenteed. The Game and Fish folks shouldn't be a big problem, they will take the shotgun and stuff as many shells in it as will fit, extension or not. It's standard procedure.

I forgot to mention, I'm left handed using a right handed shotgun. A side saddle rig won't be in my line of sight (
I'm a eyes open shooter as well). I already carry a Butt Cuff on the gun, works well. But I've always wanted more shells. However that was when we could only have 3 in the gun, now that we can load 5 the need for extra shells isn't the problem it used to be. My primary weapon is the rifle, but when it comes time for the shotgun it's nice to just grab it from the gun sock and go not worrying about extra shells and such. I'm looking for a short compact ready to go package. Another admission on my part. I like the look, but it needs to be practical. 3 gun competition might be in this guns future, the extension won't be wasted.

Rubenator - I hope this thread is helpful for you. I know one thing, a shotgun that doesn't fit is horrible to use. This shotgun is an axample of that. I can farily easily scratch down 24's and 25's in trap with my other shotguns. This one is true work to bust 15 birds. IT just doesn't fit me, but by golly it will before I'm done.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Vantucky - My thoughts exactly. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

PaleRider - My thoughts exactly. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

OldTurtle - This gun might see some time in 3 gun, thats part of the reason for geting the extension. I also like a weight forward shotgun, especially with a short barrel. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif Feeding the magazine hasn't been a problem for me or feeding from a cuff for that matter, remember, I'm a single shot rifle shooter and doubles fall regularly for me, feeding a hungary gun comes second nature. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Nightsniper - You and I are pretty much on the same page. generally tou are right about killing in 5 shots, but I've had 8 coyotes respond on one stand. Never had a stand like that one before. Early in the season, the coyotes responded one and two at a time. I should have been able to kill'em all, but didn't come close to doing that. I watched the last two walk because I was out of shells even with the extras in the Butt Cuff.

unload - I will look into your suggestion.

Blinddog - It sounds like we are on the very same page.

Nice paint job, mine aren't neasrly so pretty, but as camo goes, mine is hard to beat.

richards - I'll look into the speedbead, thanks.

shooter44n45 & Frogman - We are on the same page my friend.

knock'emdown - You have brought new information to my attention, I was unaware that you could get a reddot that wasn't parallax free, that is good to know.

Tactical .20 - As always, good information.

Thank you all for your input. This project will be better because of it.
 
Michael:

Did you ever pattern this gun/barrel combo to see where it shot? If it consistently shoots high, and your sight picture is "normal" then it may very well be that when your drove over the gun, you bent the barrel in a fashion that caused the gun to shoot high.

If that is the case, a simple barrel change may very well fix the problem.
 
You can polish a turd, but in the end it is still a turd. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Maybe a change in direction is in order?
Benelli1.jpg
 
SongDog1 - Yes, I've patterned it and it does shoot high ... VERY high. The barrel looks good and I don't think I actually ran over the barrel portion of the gun. With that being said, the possibility of a bent barrel has always been on my mind. The barrel change is going to happen no matter what I do, the rest is gravy. Sort of a while I'm at it, why not situation.

Crapshoot - Don't think what you've suggested hasn't crossed my mind. But I think the 870 has great old proven bones for working through the hard stuff. Besides, I like a good gun project, as they say, sauce for the goose Mr. Adams, sauce for the goose ......
 
Speaking of being left handed with a right handed shotgun, especially a Remington shotgun. I've asked this question before but can't remember the answer.

This is an older 870 with the old style safety button. Is there a left handed safety conversion button available? I've looked and it isn't a simple mattter of switching the button from one side to the other like with many other shotguns (Browning).
 
Quote:
Speaking of being left handed with a right handed shotgun, especially a Remington shotgun. I've asked this question before but can't remember the answer.

This is an older 870 with the old style safety button. Is there a left handed safety conversion button available? I've looked and it isn't a simple mattter of switching the button from one side to the other like with many other shotguns (Browning).



Michael:

I remember we spoke of this the evening before we hunted the San Carlos Res in Feb 2008 Predator Masters. I know of no left handed safety conversion for the 870.

Back to the 870. So it sounds like the barrel is bent. Or something. It's pretty clear you can shoot the 3200, and you know what the proper sight picture should be. So if you are seeing the a "good" sight picture with the 870 and the gun is shooting high, either the stock is way too high, which is unlikely with the Remington Express stock; or the barrel is bent, but you'd probably be able to see the bend; or it is possible that the choke tube was put in non concentrically, so that it shoots high.

In any event, a new barrel sounds like a good fix.

By the way, I got wind that you may not be attending the 2009 Predator Masters Hunt in Globe this year. Any truth to this rumor?
 
It pains me some to say this, but at this point in time I will not be attending. ....... but I've been considering droping by to break an egg or two .... this year I would be ready with an acceptable rifle that's ready for that 300 yard egg ..... I've been considering asking Dan Carey if he could loan me one of his truly fine AR's to crack a few ..... now that would be fun.
 
Midway come through once again!

After searching in several different "sales" sites for a left handed conversion for the 870 safety (you can't simply turn an 870 safety in a shotgun manufactured after 1993) I quite litterally stumbled onto exactly what I wanted in the midway catalog. So an order went out for:

- 1 conversion safety
- 1 20" Rem Choke deer barrel, Midway is quick, seconds after ordering it, they became out of stock .. they must have had only one in stock.
- 1 Stock, similar to an AR CAR adjustable stock, like the one on the Mossberg (sp) Predator gun.
- 1 side saddle shell holder especially made for the stock
- 1 3 shell mag extension
- A sling that holds 15 shells
- 1 Weaver scope mount, the type that can be removed in seconds.
- I already got a Red Dot scope from Sportsmans Warehouse.

I think the project has started off well..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Tyhe project is moving right along. I can say this right now, the new barrel shoots straight and true, that problem seems to be solved.

I've learned a thing or two and will post with pictures, probably not long from now ... but not quite yet. One thing I can say for Midway is, they are shipping as quickly as is possible.
 
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