I found my way here thanks to Synchronizors great youtube channel where he had links to this forum.
I'll be buying my first 870 in a few weeks and I've been eyeballing upgrades for it since forever.
I think I pretty much know what I want to do with my shotgun and that is;
Mag ext tube.
Side saddle.
Picatinny rail to mount a red dot on the gun for my driven hunts.
I don't want to mar up my gun with a dremel so I'll buy a barrel dent remover to get the mag dents out nicely.
I also don't like to fiddle around using the method of trail and error, it has to work right from the get go and hold up to hard use. It has to feed shells without any problems.
Failure is not an option.
I want the mag ext tube to be flush with the barrel for visiual satisfaction mostly.
I don't know the barrel length yet but maybe someone can say "this many rounds ext tube for that and that barrel length".
The rail options for me is my biggest problem I'd say.
If the gun does not come drilled and tapped, I have to have this done to get a quality rail on my 870?
I think I saw a sidesaddle with a rail before, are these worth buying?
Does a picatinny rail obstruct the bead sight when the red dot is off the gun?
So suggestions on brands for these three mods and where to buy them would be appriciated!
Thanks in advance!
Future accessories and upgrades - help and suggestions
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Synchronizor
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Re: Future accessories and upgrades - help and suggestions
Welcome to the forum.
There are rails that install directly to the top of the receiver, using drilled & tapped holes. This is the simplest, lightest, and most low-profile option, but not all 870s come with these holes already drilled (though it's a pretty straightforward gunsmithing operation), and you're going to block a front bead sight if you don't want to use a red dot. It may also get in the way if you want to swap on a hunting hunting or sporting barrel, and if you take it off, you'll be left with open holes in the top of your receiver unless you install plug screws. You can find receiver-mounted rails that incorporate a rear ghost ring for use with a barrel-mounted front blade sight; this setup comes factory-installed on some fighting 870 models. A receiver-mount rail won't hold zero perfectly since the barrel can shift around slightly in the receiver, but this is unlikely to be a problem unless you're trying to shoot really high-tech slugs with a magnified optic.
Saddle-mount or stock-mount rails are much easier to to install, and you can get ones that allow you to look underneath to see your front bead. If you want both a sidesaddle and red dot, this is a pretty convenient way to go. They add considerable bulk & weight though, and are generally going to be the least effective at holding zero. They're also likely to complicate take-down, though they are easier to remove and re-install than the previous option if your 870 is a multi-purpose gun.
The third option is a cantilever rail, which is mounted to the barrel, and extends backward over the receiver. These are the best at holding zero, since they're part of the barrel, not the receiver. They're also awesome for a multi-role gun, since it allows the optic to be swapped on and off with the barrel. They're typically only found on high-dollar fully-rifled slug-hunting barrels though, and are meant to hold zero for magnified optics. Probably not what you're looking for.
Well, then you made a good choice getting an 870. It's a very simple, robust, and reliable design. While there are occasional defects or factory issues, that will be the case with any brand. It is best after a break-in period though; if you buy new, I would encourage you to clean the chamber and barrel bore thoroughly (as instructed by the manual), and then get a case of Federal Top Guns or Remington Gun Clubs (the former for being inexpensive, the latter for being good to reload) and give your gun a good running-in. If you buy used, have a qualified gunsmith look it over and give you a list of parts that could use updating. The 870's been improved over the years with tweaks to several parts. Most of these tweaks are minor, but you sound like you want to have the best guts you can get.Rem870FTW wrote:I also don't like to fiddle around using the method of trail and error, it has to work right from the get go and hold up to hard use. It has to feed shells without any problems.
Failure is not an option.
It's hard to say exactly without knowing the barrel length and specific extension kit. Generally, you're talking +3 extensions for 20" barrels, and +2s for 18/18.5" barrels, but it's not quite that simple. The Vang Comp +2, for example, is deliberately a hair shorter than an 18" barrel to avoid sticking out. The Wilson Combat +2 is designed to line up exactly with an 18" barrel. The S&J Hardware +2 lines up with the muzzle of an 18.5" barrel; it'll stick out past an 18" barrel by half an inch. The factory Remington +2 and +3 extensions are military designs intended to mount bayonets, so they are intentionally designed to stick a half-inch out past 18" and 20" barrels, respectively. Plus, depending on what spring and follower you're running, and what shells you're loading, an extension can provide more or less than its rated capacity. The S&J +2 can be a +3 with 2 3/4" shells and the right spring and follower setup; while if you like 3" magnums, the Vang Comp +2 may just be an oversized +1 once you get a reliable spring & follower set into it.Rem870FTW wrote:I want the mag ext tube to be flush with the barrel for visiual satisfaction mostly.
I don't know the barrel length yet but maybe someone can say "this many rounds ext tube for that and that barrel length".
There are three options for putting an optic rail on an 870.Rem870FTW wrote:The rail options for me is my biggest problem I'd say.
If the gun does not come drilled and tapped, I have to have this done to get a quality rail on my 870?
I think I saw a sidesaddle with a rail before, are these worth buying?
Does a picatinny rail obstruct the bead sight when the red dot is off the gun?
There are rails that install directly to the top of the receiver, using drilled & tapped holes. This is the simplest, lightest, and most low-profile option, but not all 870s come with these holes already drilled (though it's a pretty straightforward gunsmithing operation), and you're going to block a front bead sight if you don't want to use a red dot. It may also get in the way if you want to swap on a hunting hunting or sporting barrel, and if you take it off, you'll be left with open holes in the top of your receiver unless you install plug screws. You can find receiver-mounted rails that incorporate a rear ghost ring for use with a barrel-mounted front blade sight; this setup comes factory-installed on some fighting 870 models. A receiver-mount rail won't hold zero perfectly since the barrel can shift around slightly in the receiver, but this is unlikely to be a problem unless you're trying to shoot really high-tech slugs with a magnified optic.
Saddle-mount or stock-mount rails are much easier to to install, and you can get ones that allow you to look underneath to see your front bead. If you want both a sidesaddle and red dot, this is a pretty convenient way to go. They add considerable bulk & weight though, and are generally going to be the least effective at holding zero. They're also likely to complicate take-down, though they are easier to remove and re-install than the previous option if your 870 is a multi-purpose gun.
The third option is a cantilever rail, which is mounted to the barrel, and extends backward over the receiver. These are the best at holding zero, since they're part of the barrel, not the receiver. They're also awesome for a multi-role gun, since it allows the optic to be swapped on and off with the barrel. They're typically only found on high-dollar fully-rifled slug-hunting barrels though, and are meant to hold zero for magnified optics. Probably not what you're looking for.
Re: Future accessories and upgrades - help and suggestions
Thank you sir!
The world needs more unselfish people like you
Too many feel the need to keep info to themselvs or to charge you money when you ask for help!
It's the remington 870 express synthetic stock with the 26" barrel I got.
I'll go with the sidesaddle/rail version on my shotgun, what brand was it?
I'm ordering from brownells, what extension would you get if you were me?
* Flush with the barrel, more or less.
* Function flawlessly.
* The extension must be level with the barrel, I don't want it to cant up or downward.
Thanks!
/ Peter
The world needs more unselfish people like you
Too many feel the need to keep info to themselvs or to charge you money when you ask for help!
It's the remington 870 express synthetic stock with the 26" barrel I got.
I'll go with the sidesaddle/rail version on my shotgun, what brand was it?
I'm ordering from brownells, what extension would you get if you were me?
* Flush with the barrel, more or less.
* Function flawlessly.
* The extension must be level with the barrel, I don't want it to cant up or downward.
Thanks!
/ Peter
-
Synchronizor
- Elite Shotgunner
- Posts: 3022
- Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2012 8:04 am
- Location: The Inland Northwest
- Contact:
Re: Future accessories and upgrades - help and suggestions
The saddle-mount top rail/shell carrier combo I showed previously is from Mesa Tactical.
Are you looking for a mag extension that'll be flush with a 26" barrel? That's going to be pretty nose-heavy fully-loaded - not something I'd want to hunt with. Or are you getting a second shorter barrel for HD?
Are you looking for a mag extension that'll be flush with a 26" barrel? That's going to be pretty nose-heavy fully-loaded - not something I'd want to hunt with. Or are you getting a second shorter barrel for HD?
Re: Future accessories and upgrades - help and suggestions
I want it to take lots of ammo for HD.
When I hunt it will be 2+1 like it is now.
What Do you suggest?
I'm open to suggestions
I want a high capacity wrol HD shotgun.
I wont get a shorter barrel, it will be stored as HD with longer tube and side saddle.
Used for hunting without the tube ext.
When I hunt it will be 2+1 like it is now.
What Do you suggest?
I'm open to suggestions
I want a high capacity wrol HD shotgun.
I wont get a shorter barrel, it will be stored as HD with longer tube and side saddle.
Used for hunting without the tube ext.
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Synchronizor
- Elite Shotgunner
- Posts: 3022
- Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2012 8:04 am
- Location: The Inland Northwest
- Contact:
Re: Future accessories and upgrades - help and suggestions
If you want to use all the space under a 26" barrel, you're probably looking at a +5 or +6 extension. Just off the top of my head, Nordic Components, Choate, and Lancer are companies that offer extensions that large. Lancer gives detailed measurements for its extensions; Nordic or Choate don't (at least, as far as I've been able to find), but they should be able to give you help if you call or email them.
You'll also need to measure your barrel to find out exactly how much space you have under there. The barrel guide rings on standard 870 barrels should have a front face 11.75" from the breechface, so in theory, a 26" barrel would give you 14.25" for a matching extension, but nominal length for longer hunting 870 barrels is not always entirely accurate, and choke tubes can change things too, so you should measure for yourself.
Realistically, you may not be able to put together a magazine configuration that lines up exactly with your muzzle, but you should be able to get close.
You'll also need to measure your barrel to find out exactly how much space you have under there. The barrel guide rings on standard 870 barrels should have a front face 11.75" from the breechface, so in theory, a 26" barrel would give you 14.25" for a matching extension, but nominal length for longer hunting 870 barrels is not always entirely accurate, and choke tubes can change things too, so you should measure for yourself.
Realistically, you may not be able to put together a magazine configuration that lines up exactly with your muzzle, but you should be able to get close.