18" barrel modification

[Bastard File]

Ok...I like sights on my 870's and I have three 18" cylinder bore barrels. I'm thinking of having factory rifle sights installed on one of them. I like not only the versatility of the rifle sights, but the looks as well. Will probably have my gunsmith thread it for choke tubes as well.

[Vitaly]

I think that adding rifle sights to barrel is not an easy task. But I agree that they are great. I have rifle sights on my 20 inch barrel. Easy to upgrade, easy to aim, really like them.

[Synchronizor]

I believe sight bases, elements, and shims can be ordered directly from Remington; they're listed in their price parts list:

F98803 870 CANTILEVER BASE N/S 12 GA (MUST BE WELDED) $17.00
F93164 870 FRONT SIGHT BASE RAMP IN THE BRIGHT $18.00
F111050 870 REAR SIGHT BASE IN THE BRIGHT 12 GAUGE $19.00

These could be welded or brazed onto a barrel, then finished. It's not something most casual "kitchen gunsmiths" would want to tackle, but a professional gunsmith with the right skills and tools should be able to handle it easily enough (plus, given the amount of business Bastard File seems to give his gunsmith, I'm guessing he gets some good deals on barrel work).

If I ever get rich enough to blow the money on it, I'd love to have a cantilever scope rail installed on one of the 25.5" fluted fully-rifled Super Slug barrels for the ultimate sniper shotgun barrel that I can swap on and off quickly without re-zeroing anything.

[Zebra62]

If I ever get rich enough to blow the money on it, I'd love to have a cantilever scope rail installed on one of the 25.5" fluted fully-rifled Super Slug barrels for the ultimate sniper shotgun barrel that I can swap on and off quickly without re-zeroing anything.

Copy That, Synchronizer.

I had a buddy in the Air Force long time ago who had an 870 with a long rifled barrel and a scope and he could get a 4 inch group out to about 500 yards. Of course, he slept with his shotgun, too.

[Bastard File]

My gunsmith is a pretty sharp ol boy! He's done a great deal of work for me over the last 25 years. We've discussed this modification and he said it could be done easily. I've already obtained the sights off a ruined 1100 barrel I picked up recently.

[MStarmer]

We really need to see some pics of all these project guns!

[Bastard File]

I'll see what I can do:-) I'm photographically challenged!! Perhaps my two teenage boys can figure it out for me. Mine are all straight forward builds...some with just a barrel swap and things done you can't see...lengthened forcing cone...threaded for choke tubes. Some have had barrels cut down, sights added...mag extensions...jumbo safeties...combat followers and heavy duty mag springs...tube detents removed...furniture painted with Dura Coat. I prefer long forends and the Express wood has served me well also. I use buttstock leather shell holders...only have two with black synthetic furniture and its factory...on a early Marine Magnum & an Express Magnum stamped 870 that has been cut to 20" and Scattergun Technology Trac-Lock sights with a Wilson Combat +2 extension. All my 870's have sights...either factory 20" rifle sights or Scattergun Technologies.

[Bastard File]

I need to clarify...my first 870 was a 20 gauge 3" Wingmaster with 3 barrels...full, mod & IC. That was 40 years ago which I still have. Also have a very early Express that I had cut to. 24" and the whole works camo painted...use it to turkey hunt. Also have one with a fully rifled barrel with Leupold 4X shotgun scope I still deer and hog hunt with from time to time. The rest of mine are set up as HD shotguns of which I have several...11 total actually. I have two my gunsmith is almost finished with. I have two others that I'll have him parkerize here in the near future.

[mercman]

I have several 870's, mostly ones that I picked up at garage and estate sales in the 80's and 90's. I've converted most of them into riot gun configuration. I silver soldered some sights off one of my Remington 700's onto one of the barrels and have been using that one as my duty SG since 1988 with zero problems with the sights. It can be done and just takes attention to detail.