Converting a 870 for home defense

[bigvalkriefan]

The previous thread on shotguns for home defense has piqued my interest. I currently have a standard Remington 870 that has just sat unused for 15 years. After the previous thread i want to turn it into a home defense killing machine!    Can anyone advise how to do this? Can anyone recommend a quality company that maybe makes a kit?

[sandy]

I'd do a search for Remington 870 riot gun. You'll probably buy an 18.5" barrell and a pistol grip stock to shorten up the overall length. Take out the plug so you can load 5 shots instead of 3. All the changes are reversible for hunting.

[six2go #152]

Cabela's "Shooting catalog" has several items for converting the 870 to a Tactical Shotgun. Try Cabela's website at www.cabelas.com or call or email them for a copy of their shooting catalog.

[Jess from VA]

You don't say, but I am guessing you have a hunting version of the 870 (bbl of 26-30 inches)?

Sandy has it right;  18.5" bbl, composite Pistol-grip butt stock and matching forend, remove plug (if one is in there).

870 schematic:  http://www.remington.com/~/media/Files/Schematics/Model%20870%20Schematic%20copy.ashx

870 Owner's Manuel:   http://www.remington.com/~/media/Files/Owners-Manuals/om_870.ashx

All 870 bbls are interchangeable except  1) Model 870 12-gauge Super Magnum and 2)  Model 870 12-gauge Special Field (do you have either of these?)

How to disassemble:

Remington 870 dissassembly	powered by Aeva

So you need an 18.5" bbl
And a pistol/grip stock.

I like Midway for parts. (these first 3 links much be copied and pasted)

870 parts:  http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/BrowseCategories.aspx?tabId=8&categoryId=11373&categoryString=649***20766***9143***

bbls:   http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/BrowseProducts.aspx?pageNum=1&tabId=8&categoryId=11765&categoryString=649***20766***9143***11373***

stock:  http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=420928

mag extension:  (a two round extension takes gun from 5 to 7 rounds) (optional)
http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/BrowseProducts.aspx?pageNum=1&tabId=8&categoryId=12944&categoryString=649***20766***9143***11373***

receiver mount shell carrier (also 4-rounders)  http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=395885

If you get a simple bead front sight on your bbl, the best tritium nightsight for the 870 just glues over the bead.  XS Big Dot Tritium Front Sights a (Remington pedestal bbl)

http://www.xssights.com/store/shotgun.html

If I was you, I'd call Midway and/or Brownells and ask for assistance in selecting the parts you want for your build.  Both have good service departments and should give decent advice.  Get your parts and do it yourself.  

OR, go down to your local gun shop(s) and talk over what you want with them.  This is an easy build and should not cost much more than the parts (but they will mark those parts up a bit over your best internet prices).

If you will never hunt with your long shotgun you might as well use it.  However, if you might use it for trap, skeet or hunting, you could look for a used riot gun as your base gun.  Some years back, I went down to a local shop and bought a well-used (finish gone) but serviceable police 18.5" Remington 870 for $175 and then added a Chote pistol grip stock setup (and some other parts) to it.  

Tactical shotgun pictures (porn) FYI;
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=40059

http://www.google.com/images?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&hl=en&q=tactical+shotgun+pictures&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=ALIbTeW_DcP38AbJ7sG2Dg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCAQsAQwAA&biw=1115&bih=512

[Tx Bohemian]

I have a Mossberg like your talking about, great fun gun at the range.  But normally loaded for home defense when at rest.

I bought it from a local gun dealer, for $70, with a pistol grip, the barrel shorten (cut with a hacksaw) and the plug gone.  As stated it holds 5 in the chamber and one in the barrel for a "six shooter."  Not sure if it's the gun or me or a combination of both but I'm fairly accurate shooting from the hip.

The pistol grip is black plastic/composit of some kind and at first the forearm was brown stain so I painted it black and it looks much better.  More menacing IMO.

[PAVALKER]

If you don't want to spend money on the shorter barrel, and you are just using it for home defense.  You could saw it off at 18inches (no less than that) and then the mag tube extension should take it out even with the end of the  shortened bbl I think.

[bigvalkriefan]

Thanks everyone, lots of great advice. I'll go over everything and figure it out.

[Jess from VA]

If you do cut your barrel off, do it at 18.5" not 18".  One 10/1000th" short makes you a felon, and if you were unlucky enough to have to use your sawed-off to defend your family, they WILL measure it.  This is why all the gun makers go a half inch over.