Attachable Forend grips

[12GAfun]

I have a CAA Commander arms forend grip mounted to the bottom rail of my 870. The forend is a Mako fab defense PR-870 3 rail with the 2 sides removable, I did take them off and thought it looked ugly without them. My ? to all is will using a detachable forend grip on a pump shotgun going to cause slide rail damage or any damage to the pumping action of the SG. The one I have on it is kinda long and I want to put on something else like a Magpul VFG vertical forend grip. Not sure if it will fit onto my bottom rail mount saw a video on youtube and the install failed on my grip.

Here is a pic of the forend grip, will this do any damage to my gun with use, I have never shot a shotgun with one before always used the forend to load this tactical shotgun is new to me but yet the same.

[Synchronizor]

When racking a pump gun, the shooter has a tendency to apply some amount of lateral force to the fore-end since they're pulling from the side with their support arm. A vertical grip turns this sideways force into torque, twisting the fore-end and action bars. As I understand, this is a bigger issue with other shotguns that have a single action bar, or weaker attachment of the action bar/s. I've heard a lot more stories about Mossbergs - especially the older models with one action bar - being broken by fore-end torque than 870s. The 870 has twin steel action bars firmly brazed to a steel fore-end tube, and the action bars run in machined steel slots and interact with all-steel components, so it's pretty resistant to the effects of fore-end torque. Still, even with something as tough as an 870, expect more internal stress and increased part wear due to a vertical fore-end grip. On really heavily-used guns, that can start to add up.

If you want to run a vertical grip as tacti-cool eye candy on a relatively light-use range toy build, you can get away with that on an 870 (so long as you don't go all-out Hulk on the thing). If you want an actual working gun that will see a lot of cycles, you'd probably be best off with a standard fore-end. Odds are though, if your 870 really is a working gun, you'll figure out for yourself that a vertical grip doesn't really add anything long before the gun sees enough use for fore-end torque to cause a problem.

By the way 12GAfun, you should consider cropping or reducing your images before uploading them. It would make your posts a lot easier to read if they weren't stretched by oversized images.

[Banshee]

YES you can twist the arms. I have worked a couple that were twisted from vertical grips. They look neat, but this is about it. If it was my gun I would lose the grip

[12GAfun]

SAM_0746.JPG (490.18 KiB) Viewed 6780 times

Thanks all for your advice, in which I took, I have only shot this shotgun like only with 6 shells through it, no more. I have put on a different forend a Magpul MOE forend. Will give some pics of it.
I can notice since I have been practicing with dummy shells and racking that shotgun with the grip on it for like 4 months I can tell after installing the Magpul that the arms look a little bent, not horrible or anything but you can see a slight bow to them.
I am only putting on a flashlight on it now and going with a standard hand pumping to load the shotgun. I have thought about those Angled forend grips that Magpul makes but not to sure about them either on a shot gun since they look to be mainly targeted to the AR platform, if anyone has any info on using a AFG on a pump shotgun let me know please would love to read you input on this.
Here are some pics

[Banshee]

It looks better too.

[Automag]

12GAFun, i had the same setup as you had withe the Fab fore-end and vfg. Well, i soon learned that that combo is not really practical and i went overboard and was myself going for the Tacti-coool look. I even convinced myself it handled better that way. Long story short, it was a mistake and waste of money, and yes it does put more stress on your action bars and can bend them. I now prefer a more standard kind of fore-end, big time; it's more comfortable and no muss-no fuss bs-lol.
Here's a pic of my way "Over Board Setup", and hopefully a cautionary tale to anyone who sees this. Don't go this route. I've learned that Less is better on a shotgun. Just my opinion though.

[12GAfun]

12GAFun, i had the same setup as you had withe the Fab fore-end and vfg. Well, i soon learned that that combo is not really practical and i went overboard and was myself going for the Tacti-coool look. I even convinced myself it handled better that way. Long story short, it was a mistake and waste of money, and yes it does put more stress on your action bars and can bend them. I now prefer a more standard kind of fore-end, big time; it's more comfortable and no muss-no fuss bs-lol.
Here's a pic of my way "Over Board Setup", and hopefully a cautionary tale to anyone who sees this. Don't go this route. I've learned that Less is better on a shotgun. Just my opinion though.

Yes sir I agree, I went with this instead and it works great.

[Automag]

That looks really good and is a pretty nice functional setup. I've got all magpul furniture on my 870 and am considering adding an AFG2. I've already bought a couple dif Magpul rails, i just haven't got my AFG2 yet; i'm kinda looking at an Inforce Tac Light too. I want a tac light. and the Inforce is very light weight and good quality light. I like the way it mounts too. I'm still debating whether to mount it on a 2" rail on my MOE Forend, or buy a CMD-BMT Clamp/Mount. How does your gun handle and shoot with that ATI Stock installed? Just curious...


This is my 870 currently

This is the same pic but i'm using an Improved Cylinder Rem Choke

[12GAfun]

That looks really good and is a pretty nice functional setup. I've got all magpul furniture on my 870 and am considering adding an AFG2. I've already bought a couple dif Magpul rails, i just haven't got my AFG2 yet; i'm kinda looking at an Inforce Tac Light too. I want a tac light. and the Inforce is very light weight and good quality light. I like the way it mounts too. I'm still debating whether to mount it on a 2" rail on my MOE Forend, or buy a CMD-BMT Clamp/Mount. How does your gun handle and shoot with that ATI Stock installed? Just curious...


This is my 870 currently

This is the same pic but i'm using an Improved Cylinder Rem Choke

Nice setup, how is that Magpul stock, I have considered it in the past and taking that 6 position stock I have on there now off. I just have gotten used to shooting it with it on. How is the control of the shotgun with that Magpul stock. I have not gotten the chance to shoot a shotgun with one installed.

[Automag]

I love the Magpul SGA Stock. I've used many different stocks (traditional and pistol grip), but the Magpul is my favorite. I had seen this stock for sale everywhere and on a lot of peoples shotguns, and it had great reviews. I finally saw one at my LGS mounted on an 870 and picked it up and handled it and checked it out. I bought one immediately after that, then took it it right to the range; i was glad i bought it. I can't just explain how and why i like it, i just do. A hell of a lot of people use the SGA Stock, and i don't think it's for the looks of it..lol. It's a good, rugged and comfortable stock, and it kinda gives you a great grip like a pistol grip stock, and the good shouldering and cheek weld of a traditional stock. It's also has several great features, like LOP adjustability, different buttpads and some good upgrades for it. I consider it a good "tactical shotgun stock". Well that describes it pretty well i think. It shoots and handles like a champ for me. I'd sure recommend one. Hope that helps. Good luck! Happy shooting..