Mmmm...first 870!!!

[pmcaz]

Aloha Group...

First off, thanks! I spent two weeks researching my first shotgun and this forum helped a lot.... So I swapped an FS92 (lnib) for an 870 but I don't know the model 'cause it's under s sidesaddle. She's got an 18" or 18.5" barrel (eyeball'd, not measured), a 2 shot extension (looks like a TacStar), and a six shot side saddle (TacStar). The metal is what I'd call a "Desert Storm tan". The stock and foregrip are Remingtion in a "Desert Storm" computer generated camofauge (sp). The seller told me it was a TALO Edition, but I don't see any info about that. I'll get some photo's up later tonight or tomorrow. She's a real sweetie and I'm damned glad to have her. Haven't fired a round thru it yet, but it's night-time handy with 00 2.75" in the tube and 00 3" saddle. Built like a tank, but of course you know that because YOU convinced me that it was!

I do have a few specific questions....
a. Steel Shot? I want to use cheap steel 2.75" bird shot for "plinking". Any reason not to use steel?
b. Slugs? Gotta a smooth bore and don't think (???) it's choked (how to tell?). Can I shoot slugs? If not, how about sabot's?
c. Sidesaddle? TacStar shows bullets up-side down, most photos show bullets up-side right...which one and why (if it matters)?

Sorry for the long post....just excited!

pmc

[Synchronizor]

Welcome to the forums, and congratulations on your purchase.

First off, thanks! I spent two weeks researching my first shotgun and this forum helped a lot.... So I swapped an FS92 (lnib) for an 870 but I don't know the model 'cause it's under s sidesaddle. She's got an 18" or 18.5" barrel (eyeball'd, not measured), a 2 shot extension (looks like a TacStar), and a six shot side saddle (TacStar). The metal is what I'd call a "Desert Storm tan". The stock and foregrip are Remingtion in a "Desert Storm" computer generated camofauge (sp). The seller told me it was a TALO Edition, but I don't see any info about that. I'll get some photo's up later tonight or tomorrow. She's a real sweetie and I'm damned glad to have her. Haven't fired a round thru it yet, but it's night-time handy with 00 2.75" in the tube and 00 3" saddle. Built like a tank, but of course you know that because YOU convinced me that it was!

If it is a TALO 870, that'd be pretty cool. Not exactly a priceless collector's item, but fairly unique, and you'll get compliments from other 870 fans who know enough to recognize it. However, I believe the TALO 870 was essentially a standard, matte black, 7+1 Express with a unique furniture set in a kind of digital-tigerstripe, jungle-camo pattern. If you have tan metal and a TacStar extension, you may have a different model.

If you want to know the exact barrel length, measure from the muzzle to the front of the barrel guide ring, then add 11.75" to that.

I'm guessing the previous owner put at least a few rounds through it, but if not (or maybe even if so), you should take it down and give it a thorough cleaning before you shoot it. You may want to polish the chamber as well, if it doesn't look real clean. I'd also check the little screws on the sidesaddle that hold the plastic shell holder to the aluminum baseplate. If the previous owner wasn't smart enough to locktite those, you'll end up digging through the dirt looking for them after they back out under recoil.

I do have a few specific questions....
a. Steel Shot? I want to use cheap steel 2.75" bird shot for "plinking". Any reason not to use steel?

The 870 will handle steel shot just fine. The only problem would be if you're running a screw-in choke tube that isn't rated for steel shot. Unless you found a special deal on those steel shells though (or if your range is uncool enough to require it), basic lead target loads will perform better, wear your gun less, and probably be cheaper as well. Just stay away from the Winchester Universal shells, they're complete crap. For the same price, other manufacturers offer equivalent loads that are a lot more reliable.

b. Slugs? Gotta a smooth bore and don't think (???) it's choked (how to tell?). Can I shoot slugs? If not, how about sabot's?

If the gun is threaded for choke tubes, and a tube or breaching stand-off is installed, it should be pretty obvious just by looking at the muzzle:

If you don't have a tube in, but the barrel's threaded for them (the muzzle will be very thin, and you'll be able to reach inside and feel threads with your finger), do not shoot it until you can find or buy a choke tube to put in there. If it's not threaded for chokes, it's probably a cylinder-bore barrel, but you can measure it to be sure. American Standard 12ga bores are .729".

If the barrel has a cylinder bore or cylinder choke, you can safely shoot any slugs through it (sabot slugs included, though without rifling to stabilize them, they'll just tumble once they leave the barrel). Most slugs are also safe to shoot out of lighter chokes; and the ammo packaging should tell you what constrictions are recommended for that specific load.

c. Sidesaddle? TacStar shows bullets up-side down, most photos show bullets up-side right...which one and why (if it matters)?

You can put the shells in your sidesaddle whichever way you like. For loading the magazine from the sidesaddle, most people have shells brass- (or steel, whatever)-down. If you're going to be reaching over the top of the gun to pull shells from the sidesaddle and drop them directly into the ejection port, brass-up might be better. Some people also like to insert different types of shells in different directions to make it easier to tell what's what. As an example, a common setup in a 6-round sidesaddle is 4 buckshot brass-down for topping of the magazine, and 2 slugs or other specialty ammo brass-up for changeovers.


Feel free to experiment on your own, and see what works best for you.

[Vitaly]

Aloha pmcaz! Welcome to the forum!

[pmcaz]

Thanks Synchronizor....you know your stuff.

Getting back to slugs....the bore is smooth as silk, no threads inside or out. Based on the comment about slugs tumbling after leaving a smooth bore let me ask you this. Is a 00 or larger buck better than a smooth bore slug at say 100 feet? I'm sure the slug will "hurt" more, but not if it can't hit a target!

Also, do you think it came from the factory with the tube extension? If so, would that make it a Remington Extension or...?

Here's my new-to-me 870... Notice that George is trying to figure out how to rack a round.....good thing the tube's empty!!!

[Synchronizor]

Getting back to slugs....the bore is smooth as silk, no threads inside or out. Based on the comment about slugs tumbling after leaving a smooth bore let me ask you this. Is a 00 or larger buck better than a smooth bore slug at say 100 feet? I'm sure the slug will "hurt" more, but not if it can't hit a target!

Sabot slugs are the only ones that will tumble like that out of a smoothbore barrel, because they're built very much like a rifle or muzzleloading projectile, and are intended to be spin-stabilized by rifling. Most other types of slugs, Foster, Brenneke, Plumbata, and so on, were specifically designed to function in smoothbore barrels, and use different design elements to achieve stable flight.

If you want to make a 100-foot shot, a slug will serve you much better than buckshot, especially with no choke to tighten a shot pattern.

Also, do you think it came from the factory with the tube extension? If so, would that make it a Remington Extension or...?

The extension on the gun in the picture is a Remington extension, yes; it has the narrowed tip to accept an M16 bayonet. I can also confirm that the furniture is the TALO pattern, and the rest of the gun's configuration matches the TALO model, except a former owner seems to have gone over and painted everything else that tan color.

[ponycarman]

Good looking shotgun! I remember how happy I was when I got my first 870. The only time I was happier was when I shot it

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