Recoil moderation for Hogue 12" LOP stock?

[Synchronizor]

I called that number and got an operator for the Shopremingtoncountry.com website. The operator told me that they did not have the forend in stock, but that the "Parts Department" did. I thought they were the parts department. He transferred me to another number. I spent 30 minutes listening to hold music before I gave up.

Call Remington's customer service line directly, I don't recall ever dealing with excessive hold times with them. The number I use is 1-800-243-9700. Further details on ordering parts, including hours of operation for the service department, are in the 870's owner's manual.

[aegusto]

Here's the latest scoop. I called the "Consumer Services Department" at 800-243-9700. This time I refused to hang up. I placed the call at 1:31 p.m. I listened to generic hold music (one of the most annoying sounds in the world) until 3:07 p.m. Someone finally picked-up and, after much difficulty with his computer, took my order. My guess is that Remington is trying to outsource their parts fulfillment to Amazon and is intentionally making it unpleasant to order direct from the company.

Remington has two entirely separate parts departments:

1. The folks who run the website at 877-387-6691

2. The "Consumer Services Department" at 800-243-9700

Each department has a separate and discrete inventory. One department can be out-of-stock while the other department has the part you need. The website (in my experience) is fast, easy to use, and tightly integrated with Amazon. The "Consumer Services Department" is slow and painful and will try your patience. Ultimately, I was able to order the 12 gauge fore-end, but had to work hard to do so.

[Synchronizor]

I think you're reading a little too much into things. I've ordered parts from Remington by phone many times, and I've never had to wait very long on hold or while ordering. I just gave them the part numbers I needed and my payment info, and that was that. You probably just caught them on a busy day, or in the middle of some technical problems, or you got stuck with some newbie, etc.

I can't think of any reason Remington would want to intentionally make their customer service line unpleasant to use - certainly not to try to promote their online store. Remington Country, USA is a a separate division of Remington that operates out of their NC facilities. They're not operated by Amazon, they just use it as a platform. They stock and sell a handful of gun parts and accessories, but they're not meant to replace or compete with Remington's actual parts department, their primary focus is outdoor products and other Remington-branded merchandise.

[aegusto]

I can speculate, but cannot explain, the reasons for my ordering difficulties. I think it's unconscionable for a vendor to keep any buyer on hold for an hour and a half, regardless of call volume. I still don't understand why Remington would want to bifurcate parts distribution.

[Synchronizor]

I'm not necessarily assuming Remington is blameless for your negative experience, but having worked jobs involving phone operation, I know that sometimes s**t just happens.

As for their online store, like I said, it's not supposed to be a second/replacement parts department. Outdoor stores like Cabelas or Bass Pro stock limited selections of 870 parts, but they're not trying to do what Remington's customer service department does. Remington's webstore is the same thing, just with a big "R" slapped on it.

[DaveC]

Personally, I dislike those extra-long forends, although I concede that a shorter intended shotgun user might be well served by one if the person has to hold the pump farther back. Certainly the design avoids the painful "pinch" between receiver and action slide/pump that can occur.

My dislike is due to the design making it very difficult to correctly unload the tube magazine, by first opening the action to extract the chambered shell, and then depressing the shell latch through the loading port to release the shells one at a time into the hand, rather than holding down the disconnector and shucking each and every shell through the chamber.

As for recoil reduction: The last defensive shotgun class I attended, there was a gentleman using one of the Knoxx type stocks. I've got a shortened/reduced l.o.p. Choate pistol grip stock and a slip on decelerator butt pad. It seemed that when we operated the shotguns one-handed, his action would spring open after he fired a shot, while mine remained closed, until I worked the action. Of course, my gun was an 870 and his a Mossberg 500, but I tend to think it was his stock more than anything.

Slugs hurt. No way around it. I tend to stick with buckshot from a shotgun and use a carbine and rifle for longer range shooting, but I guess I'm doing a disservice to the versatility of the shotgun that way.

Good luck with the parts.

[killingjoke]

I have used Royal Star low recoil slugs 1 1/8 oz. 1200 fps using ATI adjustable stock. I can shoot them all day and no pain. I am 5'11" 210 lbs. Maybe use different brands and fps to fit your needs.

[Synchronizor]

My dislike is due to the design making it very difficult to correctly unload the tube magazine, by first opening the action to extract the chambered shell, and then depressing the shell latch through the loading port to release the shells one at a time into the hand, rather than holding down the disconnector and shucking each and every shell through the chamber.

You can unload the magazine from the loading port with the action closed, too. In fact, I prefer to do it that way. I find I can unload the magazine much faster with the shell carrier actively pushing each shell out of the port and into my hand. There's also the option of slotting the bottom of a long or mid-length fore-end to keep it from covering the loading port. Some aftermarket mid-length fore-ends are specifically designed this way, and it's an easy mod to do on most others.