I bought a very nice Remington 870 Wing Master SM about a year ago. It has a very nice gloss finish on the stock and forend. It came with a 28" vent rib barrel and I purchased a 20" bead site barrell which I primarily use for hunting deer and turkey. (It doubles for HD on the off season) I haven't gotten around to purchasing a camo stock yet. This past hunting season I wrapped the stock with the camo guaze tape which worked pretty well. I did purchase a second forend that I camo dipped and other than having the receiver part exposed it pretty well camos out overall.
I've often wondered if I should get a sling for it, for hunting only, but this is my dilemma, I really don't want to ruin the gloss finish or take away from the aesthetics of the nice stock. It's just a beautiful piece of wood and I don't want to mar it up. I have heard that you can get a velcro sling that wraps around the stock. Has anyone ever had or used one of these that really works? What's the opinion of everyone — should I carry or sling it when I go hunting? I look forward to your responses.
If you feel you need a sling for what you do, just put a sling stud in the stock. It won't hurt the finish (apart from the hole drilled for the stud) so long as it's done correctly, and it's not like it'll ruin the lines of the gun. Most 870s come from the factory with sling studs in the stock these days. The proper method is to drill a pilot hole to avoid cracking or splitting the wood, and slightly countersink/relieve the area just around it so that the stud head seats neatly against the stock. Proper tools & techniques will also ensure that the stud is centered, properly aligned, and secure. If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, a gunsmith should be able to take care of it for you easily.
Thanks for the advice and tips Synchronizer. I have just followed all the dialogue and tips on here, I figured I would ask before I do something I'd regret later.
