Remington 870 Express Tactical Shotgun and Accessories
PK, one of the readers of the Rem870.com blog has sent me information about his shotguns. Today, I want to show you PK’s first shotgun project: Remington 870 Express Tactical Shotgun.
PK, thank you for the great photos and info!
Remington 870 Express Tactical Shotgun
I own a slightly modified 870 Tactical with factory provided ghost ring sights. I have found through trial and failure that the extra $ spent for top quality accessories is well spent.
Remington 870 Tactical
The forend with the rail is a FAB Ltd. defensive line PR870. There is another brand out there that I believe is the exact same thing, Mako. I’ve actually seen it at Gander Mountain.
I went through the Basic Shotgun course @ US Training center last summer, 846 rounds in three days, mostly shot, some slugs and some buck. Very demanding course both for the operator and the gun. The only mechanical “problem” I had, was that the choke loosened up a couple of times.
Remington 870 Tactical (Sling and Accessories)
I had the most non-stock firearm there. Modifications-MesaTactical six shot side saddle(I have had a TacStar, one of those $ deals and a failure), MesaTactical four round side saddle(right side mount), MesaTactical LEO six position collapsible stock, Mako three rail forend, Vang Comp high dome safety, and a V-Tac two point sling.
Tactical Link Sling
This course is a great way to find out what works and what doesn’t, the 4 shot side saddle…..gone after the first day, and the V-Tac 2 point has been replaced with a TacticalLink single point bungee sling. I’ve tried three other slings and this one from Tactical Link is awesome. The QD works perfect with the Mesa LEO stock, I also have installed Tactical Link’s QD adapter on an M-4. Transitioning from shooting to the back hang position is a breeze and can be accomplished while drawing a sidearm, reversing is just as easy.
Remington 870 Express Tactical with Mesa Stock and Vang Safety
The locking ring on the buffer tube for the Mesa stock caused a fairly irritating abrasion on the backside of my hand at the base of the thumb, a problem that has been corrected by Mesa with a redesign of the lock ring. I have installed the modified ring with very good results although I have not done any real intense shooting since the change.
Tactical Remington 870
I am extremely satisfied with MesaTactical both with their products and their customer service.
I know that there are lots of people who will comment on the “tactical” accessories. The express tactical has been well proven, everything on that gun provides functionality and though may not be absolutely needed are very nice to have.
Remington 870 Tactical Breacher Choke
I have purchased almost all my accessories from a site called Tactical Shotgunner (no longer available). If they don’t have an item, call them and they will try to get it for you. I ordered the full length rail/heatshield from them before it was on their website or anyone
else’s either.
Second post (about Remington 870 Marine) is coming soon!
Related Post:
10 Steps to Upgrade Your Remington 870 Express to Police Version
10 Must Have Upgrades for Your Remington 870 Shotgun
Magazine Extensions for Remington 870 Shotgun (Nordic Components, Choate, TacStar, Remington, ATI)
Very nice!
What do you usually put on the rails on your forend?
Why did you choose the 6-round side saddle versus the 4 or the 8?
I bought that forend with the thought of using a light on it, but have not put one on it yet. I do have a StreamLight TLR-2 for it. I also have a stubby Picatinny rail that attaches to the Mesa magazine clamp that I think would be a better place to mount a light. I originally put on the Mesa barrel clamp for the sling QD, but like I said I really like the Tactical Link single point, I’ll keep it like this so I can use a two point sling if I would ever need too.
I went with the six because I was originally concerned the eight might interfere with the forend and I did have a right side mounted four shot, but under extreme fire conditions I would have spent shells kind of hang up on the ejector. A hand sweep over the top of the receiver would clear it easy enough but it got to be a pain in the @$$ and I thought that the 4 shot might have been contributing to the problem. Removing it almost eliminated the the issue. At the shotgun course I attended last summer starting the second day all drills were done maxed out, you would fill your magazine, side saddles, pockets, belt clips, wherever you could put rounds of ammo. The idea was to try to go through two boxes of shells for each drill as fast as you could. After removing the 4 shot side saddle shell hang-up on the ejector was way less frequent, once a box or so. Heat build up and expansion of shell casings may have also contributed.
This shotgun is the culmination of many different configurations. Glad you appreciate it, thanks.
PK
Oh absolutely, I hope to eventually get my own preferences as refined as you seem to have yours. It’s going to take some time and much more experience until I find out what I like.
I look forward to the next article.
Jon
Curious about camo paint job. There a method behind it or is it more a work of spontaneity?
Curious about the camo paint job. Is there a method behind d it or is it a work of spontaneity?