Hi from NW Kansas

[Arloe]

Found this forum looking around for a conversation on an early 870, so I joined. When my new gun comes, I will post the question. As for me, I just retired from 35 years as a criminology professor and then moved from Williamsburg, VA to a very small town in NW Kansas so that my wife can finally be with her family. I have been here four months, and love the shooting opportunities. Spending time shooting is far better than my old job--trying to combat numerous liberal colleagues' relentless attempts to suppress free conservative speech on campus, especially that related to the 2nd amendment. Many of them have no problems raising public policy questions about Constitutional liberties they don't like.

I got my first gun when I was 31 and, ever since, I have way overcompensated for all the years I didn't shoot. I have three 870s--1) 12 GA Express that has been converted to a tactical gun with extended magazine tube and Hogue stock (a gun I should shoot far more often than I do); 2) 20 GA Express with 21" Remchoke barrel, 26" Remchoke barrel, and 28" Wingmaster Mod VR barrel, and will be getting a Hogue stock whenever they finish making them--I've been on the waiting list at Hogue for probably four or five months and it will be another few months, at least). I used the 20 gauge gun a lot for quail and skeet in VA, and it's my go-to gun when I take newbies out to shoot; and 3) .410 Bore Express with gold trigger and laminate stock with 25" barrels (Express Full choke and Wingmaster Modified choke). I use the .410 for skeet and clay birds off of a spring thrower. Did I say "clay birds"? They call them "Blue Rocks" in NW Kansas, so I have to start using that.

My new 870? A very early one (don't have the barrel code yet) in 16 GA with 28" plain full choke barrel. My question relates to the mismatched stock and forend (forend is from a standard grade and stock is from the ADL grade). Stock has a cute grip cap with the doggie-with-bird-in-mouth. I don't know whether the barrel is matted (an ADL feature), so I need to get the gun and examine it. Will be back in a week or so.

[Vitaly]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

[Arloe]

Welp, got the gun today and the top barrel is NOT matted. Barrel code is 1954, but no serial number on the bbl,, but I assume that it came with the gun because the gorgeous rust bluing is, well, gorgeous on both the barrel and receiver. So this is obviously a standard grade AP and not the "Deluxe" grade ADL. The stock is obviously of ADL variety. As you can see from the photos, gun is in overall very high condition and doesn't seem to have been messed with at all. I originally believed this was an ADL gun where the owner liked the corncob forend better than the "Deluxe" forend with "finger grooves" just as I do (looks more vintage and is very grabby with gloves). Wrong, based on the non-matted top of the barrel. It appears this was either ordered with an ADL stock or the person had a relatively choice ADL stock from somewhere. Any input on this?

By the way, this 16 gauge is very well balanced, and is much like my Winchester Model 12 16 gauge (both are 28" Full). Unlike the new Remington 870 16s, which are built on the same frames as the 12 gauge, this one, even though there is the "large barrel ring", is light and lively. Don't have a scale because it is packed somewhere, since we just moved.

So any thoughts on this stock/forend mismatch?

[Synchronizor]

I'd suggest calling or emailing Remington. If you give them your full serial number, they may be able to tell you exactly what your gun started out as.

[Arloe]

Thank you. It's a good suggestion, although going back 60 years may be hoping for a lot. But won't know until I try!

[Vitaly]

Interesting comment from Facebook about your shotgun:

John Strauss That butt stock is from a remington 58 sportsman autoloader