870 Express to 870 Express Tactical w/ Blackhawk Conversion?

[jamesoncue]

If you're buying the 18.5" barrel yourself, you should see if you can find an acceptable deal on one threaded for chokes. It'll make the gun more versatile by giving you more control over your pattern (or let you add one of those breacher chokes, if that floats your boat).

That actually sounds cool, breacher or not, as my 28" barrel has an adjustable choke. However, the 18.5" barrels are pretty hard to find right now and rather limited in selection, so I had to get one with a cylinder bore as the rest were all gone. Plus I wouldn't know where to go to get one threaded for chokes. Perhaps in the future I can have a gunsmith thread it.

What style of S&J magazine follower are you looking at?

I was looking at the S&J green delrin follower with the finger depression. Seems pretty nice.

If your gun didn't come with it, you'll also need the short cob-style fore-end to match the Blackhawk! model. If that's something you want to add, I believe it's the Davis Speedfeed fore-end, part# 94057 (you may want to double-check this if you're ordering it; my parts list doesn't have pictures).

The Blackhawk stock I ordered came with the fore-end of it as well!

It's actually the carrier dog follower spring that some people change on the 870, but the carrier latch spring from the Remington 1100 shotgun can be used for that if you want a really heavy spring in there. Upgrading to a heavier spring makes feeding a little more positive (mostly when working the action really fast), but it will also make the shell carrier stiffer to push out of the way when loading. There are a couple different springs you can use here, if you feel the need to change it.

Yeah sorry I meant carrier dog spring. After reading your input about it, I'm not so sure I want to change this out, at least not right away. We'll see.

I just use Rem Oil on my 870, both the spray can and the nifty pre-oiled wipes (those wipes are awesome for caring for a wet gun out in the field). I also use Permatex Anti-Seize to protect and lubricate threads, including the SideSaddle mount screws (when I'm running it), choke tubes, and stock bolts & receiver lug. Both of these are great products, and are inexpensive and easy to find.

Guys, what are your thoughts on using grease on the shotgun action as opposed to an oil? As of now I'm planning on treating it with some FrogLube to see how it works out with it.

Thanks everyone for your input so far on all of this!

J

[Synchronizor]

Plus I wouldn't know where to go to get one threaded for chokes. Perhaps in the future I can have a gunsmith thread it.

I believe Carlson's makes them for a decent price, but I'm not sure what their availability is right now.

I was looking at the S&J green delrin follower with the finger depression. Seems pretty nice.

That's the one I would recommend. I bought their orange one with the post in the middle because I preferred the color. However, over time, that post tended to crack open the crimps on the buckshot loads I kept loaded for HD, and I got buffering all in my receiver. I used a drill bit to give it the same hollow as their green follower, and I like it much better that way (though I still like the orange color).

Guys, what are your thoughts on using grease on the shotgun action as opposed to an oil? As of now I'm planning on treating it with some FrogLube to see how it works out with it.

I've never tried it, but my thought would be that a grease or paste would gunk up by collecting dust, powder residue, metal flakes, etc. I've seen that crap in cars, I don't want it in my gun's action. I only use a paste in threaded connections like stock bolts or choke tubes.

[spsreef]

I have the Tactical Blackhawk model of which you speak. I like it a lot! The drawbacks I see in the model is you can't use a large safety,

Not True. You will have to use a TACTICAL RESPONSE® JUMBO HEAD SAFETY. http://tinyurl.com/c8djero I have that on our tactical 870. You just can't use an oversized safety that sticks out. Because the gun slides back into the stock as it recoils. It takes some finger adjustment to hit the safety just has you slide it the tigger guard.

I repeated Blackhawk's recommendation for the stock they manufacture. If you feel they are incorrect I am not going to argue with you.

[Vitaly]

spsreef, here is my Knoxx Stock Review: http://www.rem870.com/2011/12/20/knoxx- ... and-video/

I have contacted Blackhawk! and they confirmed that Wilson Combat safety can be used with their stock. But all other oversized safeties will damage the stock.