20 gauge side saddle fix

[Zebra62]

I picked up a Mesa Tactical 6 round side saddle for Pinky, Gypsy's 20 gauge youth model, and I ran into a problem with the rear of the forend stiking the saddle, preventing rounds being pulled from the magazine. The action was stopping about an inch too far forward. Gypsy wasn't happy with this considering the amount we spent on the saddle and she definately wasn't happy about having to trim Pinky down, but it needed to be done.

The forend striking the saddle.


Bolt carrier too far forward.


Masking off to mark the edge of the saddle.


Saddle off and forend all the way back, ready to mark for trimming.


Using the saddle as a template to mark.


Chucked into my hobby vise using a piece of an antifreeze jug to cushion the forend.


Trimming and sanding finished ready to be dusted off and re-assembled.


Back together.


It isn't a perfect fit, but it is very close. All I need to do now is to find a light stain to make the trimmed corner match the rest of the forend. Gypsy still isn't happy with me trimming Pinky down, but I think she may forgive me. Could take lots of groveling and begging.

[Synchronizor]

Hopefully she won't stay mad for too long. It looks like the amount of material you had to remove was pretty minimal; she'll still have the benefits of the longer fore-end. And since wood & laminate fore-ends are solid, there shouldn't be any of the structural issues that can arise when attempting similar mods on low-end, hollow-core, synthetic fore-ends.

Before you get into staining and finishing, have you checked to make sure that shells can be inserted into and removed from the sidesaddle (ideally in both directions) with the fore-end all the way back?

[Zebra62]

I hadn't thought about checking clearance on the shells with the forend back. Thinking back on it now, the level of the forend does stand out further than the saddle, so there may be an issue with the front shell. I will have to check that this afternoon sometime. We are out getting sewing supplies to finish Halloween costumes right now.

[DaveC]

You could get a "corn cob" style forend, if you think your spouse Gypsy would like it. Some folks who are short statured hold the pump quite far back, and so pinching may be an issue on a new forend that does not have the profile of your Remington 870 there, or some of the Mossberg guns too.

Personally, I used a 12-gauge, six-shell side saddle carrier for a while, but after running it in a course, I decided it unbalanced the gun too much. I was torn between a speed-feed type stock and no side-saddle, or a smaller side saddle. I tried both and went with a four-shell 12-gauge for my own defensive 870. I do not know if they make smaller 20-gauge side-saddles, but that is yet another option perhaps. Good luck! As I've probably stated repeatedly, if I had to do things over again, I'd have gotten a 7-shot 20-gauge Rem. 870 and not looked back!

Good luck!

PS: IS that a hauberk of CHAIN MAIL in the one photo?! Pretty cool! If so, I may have stumbled right past you guys at the last Renaissance fair over in Bastrop?!

[Zebra62]

Before you get into staining and finishing, have you checked to make sure that shells can be inserted into and removed from the sidesaddle (ideally in both directions) with the fore-end all the way back?

I did a clearance check this afternoon and I think it will work as it is.

The forward most shell has quite a bit of clearance past the forend and can be easily removed by pushing with the thumb from the top with the forend all the way back.

You could get a "corn cob" style forend, if you think your spouse Gypsy would like it.

Dom't know if she would go for it or not. We will see how this works out for her. We will need to hit the range and see what happens.

PS: IS that a hauberk of CHAIN MAIL in the one photo?! Pretty cool! If so, I may have stumbled right past you guys at the last Renaissance fair over in Bastrop?!

That is chainmail in the photo at the base of the vise in the above photos, but not my hauberk. My hauberk is hanging in the shop on a hook with my koif. I make chainmail as a hobby. As far as stumbling past you in Bastrop, I don't think so. We go to Plantersville when we have the opportunity ( not in about 10 years - been making babies ) Should you ever get up to Plantersville, look out for these guys.