Hello from Jersey

[Lupton41]

Just bought my first shotgun. 870 express hd... bought it for home defense and target shooting but the guy at bass pro said there are mods I can make to hunt with the gun and it went over my head.

[Synchronizor]

Welcome to the forum.

Is this the 870 Hardwood HD model? That one can take hunting barrels, but certain other tactical/defense Express models have special mag tubes that aren't designed to work with hunting barrels. Hopefully the fellow who sold you yours knew the difference.

[Lupton41]

Unfortunately it's not the hardwood. It's the synthetic stock. Express. Going by what you're saying it sounds like I'm out of luck

[Synchronizor]

Can you upload a picture or provide an order number? There are synthetic-stocked tactical models that can take hunting barrels, so you may still be alright. But others, like the current #25077 Express Synthetic 7-Round, have the long single-piece mag tube that can't take hunting barrels without modifications or a goofy spacer.

If you did end up with a special long-mag model, perhaps you can return it or exchange it, since you bought it after being explicitly informed that it could be re-configured for hunting like a normal 870.

[Lupton41]

Screenshot_20170723-225732.png (241.06 KiB) Viewed 5708 times

First time posting pics so I hope it worked.

[Lupton41]

Screenshot_20170723-225745.png (135.22 KiB) Viewed 5708 times

[Synchronizor]

Yeah, that's the one. It's really a nice choice for a dedicated home defense shotgun, since the nonstandard single-piece magazine streamlines the design and makes the gun easier to maintain than an 870 with a standard-length mag tube and a separate magazine extension. Unfortunately, as you found out, the problem is that the people selling the guns often don't know what they're talking about.

I would definitely try to take it back and exchange it for a standard 870 if you want a multi-role gun. The blame is really on them for telling you this has the versatility of a standard 870, when it's actually a non-standard dedicated fighting model. If they still try to say that it has the normal 870 barrel compatibility, tell them to try swapping the barrel from one of their hunting 870s onto the long-mag receiver.

A standard 12ga 870 would have the barrel guide ring directly in front of the fore-end, rather than out near the end of the barrel. It's alright if it has a magazine extension, just make sure that the base magazine tube is a standard 4-rounder.

[PeaceOfficer]

Welcome!

Gotta say that there's a ton of valuable information on this forum.

[Lupton41]

Thank you for all your help. Bass pro wouldn't take it back. Oh well. I'll have to buy another one. I took it to the range and first time firing a shotgun, used slugs, definitely has some kick to it.

Can't wait to go trap shooting

[Synchronizor]

If it doesn't have one already, you should install a SuperCell recoil pad. It's in the $20 range, and it drops right on to that specific stock without any fitting. It's a huge upgrade over the other solid rubber buttpad for that stock.