Remington 870 express into tactical?

[Bushfam]

FarmerJohn - You must have read the response before I deleted it. I thought it may have been too much. It is a bit frustrating though.

I will try to start over:

I would like to have a shotgun with:

at least a 7 round cap
short barrel (18-20)
Some sort of combat sights

This will be my Home Defense / SHTF protection gun.

I currently have an 870 express with a 26" barrel. Would it be worthwhile to modify this one? Does anyone make a kit for something like this?

If I do not modify this one, I am looking at either a Mossberg 500 "tactical" or a Benelli Nova "tactical", Any thoughts on these?

Thanks for the input

[FarmerJohn]

Originally Posted by Bushfam

FarmerJohn - You must have read the response before I deleted it. I thought it may have been too much. It is a bit frustrating though.

I will try to start over:

I would like to have a shotgun with:

at least a 7 round cap
short barrel (18-20)
Some sort of combat sights

This will be my Home Defense / SHTF protection gun.

I currently have an 870 express with a 26" barrel. Would it be worthwhile to modify this one? Does anyone make a kit for something like this?

If I do not modify this one, I am looking at either a Mossberg 500 "tactical" or a Benelli Nova "tactical", Any thoughts on these?

Thanks for the input

not really a kit per say but you can get replacement barrels in a shorter length the link i poster in a earlier post from cabbalas i think but you can get a new barrel thats like 18 inches for like $120
the benefit is that you can keep your 26 incher in the closet and put on later if you want to hunt birds or what not

also they make magazine extensions for your tube that shouldn't be too expensive there around $40 and get you 2-3 more rounds depending wich you order
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=4...ZINE-EXTENSION

so for total of around 200 including shipping or so you can get an extra barrel and the tube extension and still have the longer barrel for hunting

that said I would recommend measuring your mag tube length with the mag tube extension and then order a barrel that is the proper length to be flush with it

[m47dragon]

Originally Posted by techo

You should review the difference between police and express here.
Police models are built with quality and care because LEO's and military have their lives on the line. I went with a 11-87P

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=11636

Thank you for your sources. As a Remington LE Field Armorer, I am familiar with this information and the original source cited by your weblink. My response to the OP was to express (pardon the pun,) that an 870 is basically an 870. They already have an express model and I was focusing on what the barriers were to modifying such (barrel/mag extension tube.) The similarities far outweigh the differences, but some of the differences may be important in given situations.

I would not feel the need to go out and purchase an LE model because I felt an Express was lacking. I also would not feel the need to make major modifications to my existing shotgun to meet a tactical need save perhaps a shorter barrel. Practice and ammunition selection will play as keen a role as any.

[Eagle Scout Dan]

My pops has an 870 Police that came from the Chicago PD. 18", cylinder bore. Very nice gun. Tried dove hunting with it last year. My pattern at 30 yards is about 6 feet

[compexp]

Originally Posted by rdsmith3

Are you saying that you can get a new one of these for $310? Where?

http://www.remington.com/products/fi...-tactical.aspx

http://www.gunbroker.com/Pump-Action...actical&Sort=4

[rdsmith3]

Originally Posted by compexp

http://www.gunbroker.com/Pump-Action...actical&Sort=4

That's used; I don't think you can get a new one that low.

You had said, "I can get a new 870 tactical for about $310 - where I know everything will work as advertised."

If you are buying a used one, you cannot be sure of that.

[farley]

Parder protector is $200 new.

[Paarthurnax]

I love the look of my stock 870. The only addition was a shoulder strap.

Your money is better spent on ammo than making it look tactical.

[SeekHer]

Look for turkey barrels for the gun--smoothbore, comes with rifled sights but they're 22" to 24" and come with choke tubes...There are also slug barrels with the same configuration in 20" and 22" lengths or they may be cantilevered to accept a scope or holo sight.

You do not need an 18½" barrel for home defence--something short, yes but a 22" or 24" barrel isn't going to make that much difference in handling.

I hope you never have to use it.

[BamaBinder]

I have a Rem 870 express. It isn't tacticool. It has the original wood. I replaced the plastic magazine follower with a solid orange one. Put a 20" smoothbore rifled slug barrel and an extension magazine. It was done years ago before all this tacticool stuff came out.

You could easily cut your barrel down to 18.5" and add an extension or not. Maybe not tactical, but purpose built. Used or new Express models are great values.

[Wild-Will]

Originally Posted by Bushfam

I have a 10 yr old 870 express 12 ga. that I was wondering if there is a way of making it into a tactical shotgun? Is there a kit? Is it worth doing? I have a 28" barrel now, so I would need to get a shorter barrel as part of the modification.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

I did, it's great! Go for it!

[Nomad1]

Have had a 870 Wing Master for over 20 years and change barrels for hunting and a
home defense shot gun 20" barrel for the home. Have used this with slugs and buck.
You can spend a great deal on STUFF to make it look better plan and simple keep things simple short barrel for the home and practice with it.
A good training aid is place a mini mag in the end of the barrel with light on and have some one use a flashlight to put a light on a wall moving across then mount your 870
and adjust your mount until you are on target each time...
Do this with a EMPTY shotgun..........may save wall repair....

[M1AG30]

bought my 870 express magnum at a local shop for $200 with both the 18" with rifle sights, and 28" barrel then got the knox stock and forend (used...barely) for $40 bucks on another forum.... so it can be done for less than the price of a new one... just look around.... Im me and i can hook you up with links to pistol grip stocks in the $40-60 dollar range.... barrels slightly more in the $70-90 range for 18" with rifle sights or 20" with rifle sights ....if i remember correctly...... dont quote me lol

[Burtenshaw]

I have a friend that has an 870 Wingmaster and he added an 18" barrel. He thought about adding the mag extension, replacing the furniture, adding different sights, but decided he was better off getting another shotgun. He picked up a Pardner Protector Pump at D.i.c.k.s for $179. Then picked up the Remington 870 Express Tactical with the breach extension and the ghost-ring sights.

The old Wingmaster is the smoothest of the 3. The Pardner is a tough gun but the action is a little rough and it didn't load very easily until he did some Dremel work on it.

I think I've see the 870 Express Tactical Grey at some Walmarts for about $350. No ghost-ring sights though, just a front bead.

[Hawt Sauc3]

this is like the same issue i had with my mossberg. i bought it cuz i wanted a shotgun and figured i could turn it into a tactical. depending how "tactical" you want to make it buying a separate shotgun may be more worthwhile. i found out quickly that to do the pistol grip with stock and a new barrel i should have just gotten a diff shotgun. but the pistol grip isnt necessary so i'm just going to buy the 18" barrel for mine.

[79ford]

Have you checked over at www.remington870parts.com for kits or accessories?

[Big philly]

Dont discount the mossberg line of shottys. Mossberg makes remingtons barrels. Also there 590 and 535 are a force to be recond with. Ill stick to my guns no pun intended. Mossberg... Remington is to heavy worth the money.but to heavy. I have never had one malfunctin of anykind with my mossberg 500 with over 2000 rounds threw it and 500 in one day...there great shottys....