Help with SBS

[jc000]

I'm looking for some advice from the brain trust here. The first gun I purchased was a 20" rem 870 Police Magnum (circa mid 90s). It was my HD gun (and only gun) for a long time, and now just sits there looking sad and neglected.


For fun I'm sending it to Wilson / Scattergun Tech to make it handier as a HD and woods gun shooting a mix of slugs and buckshot. Here's what I'm planning:
14" barrel
Whatever mag extension that the 14" barrel can support
Install the trak lock Ghost ring sights with a tritium front sight.


I intend on reinstalling the original wood furniture it came with. Anything else I should consider?

[HCM]

I'm looking for some advice from the brain trust here. The first gun I purchased was a 20" rem 870 Police Magnum (circa mid 90s). It was my HD gun (and only gun) for a long time, and now just sits there looking sad and neglected.


For fun I'm sending it to Wilson / Scattergun Tech to make it handier as a HD and woods gun shooting a mix of slugs and buckshot. Here's what I'm planning:
14" barrel
Whatever mag extension that the 14" barrel can support
Install the trak lock Ghost ring sights with a tritium front sight.


I intend on reinstalling the original wood furniture it came with. Anything else I should consider?

Have you considered a red dot optic mount or rifle sights in lieu of the ghost ring sights?

If going Ghost ring, have you considered the Haught mod 1/2 ring ?

[GJM]

If it helps, I probably have a few extra 870 14 inch barrels around, with Vang Comp treatment, NP3 and adjustable height post front sights that mate with a rear ghost ring.

[Lon]

I intend on reinstalling the original wood furniture it came with. Anything else I should consider?

Chop the stock so it has a 12.5” LOP after you add a Limbsaver recoil pad.

[GJM]

Chop the stock so it has a 12.5” LOP after you add a Limbsaver recoil pad.

Either what Lon says, or better yet go with a Magpul stock that will help tame the liveliness of a 14 inch with heavy loads.

[LHS]

Have Wilson cut the stock down to your preferred length and install a new pad. Might as well while it's in there, right?

[jc000]

Have you considered a red dot optic mount or rifle sights in lieu of the ghost ring sights?

If going Ghost ring, have you considered the Haught mod 1/2 ring ?

Not a red dot – just not really interested at this time. May be short-sighted, I know.

Wilson just does the ghost rings, so that’s why I haven’t really considered the rifle sights. I did see the RH u-notch – looks cool, what is the actual benefit?

[Lon]

Either what Lon says, or better yet go with a Magpul stock that will help tame the liveliness of a 14 inch with heavy loads.

This is what I would do, but it sounded like you wanted to keep the wood.

[jc000]

If it helps, I probably have a few extra 870 14 inch barrels around, with Vang Comp treatment, NP3 and adjustable height post front sights that mate with a rear ghost ring.

I think that would be awesome but trying to think of the practicality / logistics of buying a barrel of you, getting my stamp, and sending the receiver off for the rear ring.

I will say that your 14” 870s have been an inspiration for what I’m trying to accomplish with this shotgun.

[LHS]

Not a red dot – just not really interested at this time. May be short-sighted, I know.

Wilson just does the ghost rings, so that’s why I haven’t really considered the rifle sights. I did see the RH u-notch – looks cool, what is the actual benefit?

Dad finds it to be a bit faster than the full aperture, but that may be just a matter of personal preference on his part. Everyone's eyes are a bit different after all. I do think it makes a big difference in speed and uncluttering the sight picture if you're running a red dot with co-witnessed irons, but as you said, you're not looking to run a dot on it. In that case, the Wilson ghost rings should do you just fine.

Here's a link to a P&S modcast (https://youtu.be/5HGDikyeqfQ?t=1408) we were on a few years back, where he explains his thoughts behind it.

[jc000]

Dad finds it to be a bit faster than the full aperture, but that may be just a matter of personal preference on his part. Everyone's eyes are a bit different after all. I do think it makes a big difference in speed and uncluttering the sight picture if you're running a red dot with co-witnessed irons, but as you said, you're not looking to run a dot on it. In that case, the Wilson ghost rings should do you just fine.

Here's a link to a P&S modcast (https://youtu.be/5HGDikyeqfQ?t=1408) we were on a few years back, where he explains his thoughts behind it.

Lol, just caught your name in your signature below – how awesome is this forum?

Yes, your dad’s U-notch sights look very cool – I feel my eyes do better with pistol sights than rifle irons (AR post-type) so I would definitely consider those. But that is probably apples to oranges when compared to the two shotgun systems, Ghost v U-notch.

[HCM]

Not a red dot – just not really interested at this time. May be short-sighted, I know.

Wilson just does the ghost rings, so that’s why I haven’t really considered the rifle sights. I did see the RH u-notch – looks cool, what is the actual benefit?

I have it in the CROM, I find it faster than the regular ghost ring and equally as precise. I find rifle sight LE more precise than ghost rings.

The RDS is the champ though. I really want one on my SBS 870. The traditional RDS solution is receiver mounted like the CROM. However Vangcomp has done some barrel mounted RMR’s which look pretty neat.

[jc000]

Good stuff…

[Crusader8207]

Not sure what Wilson charges for their work, but I cn say I am very happy with what Vang Comp has done. 12.5" LOP with full Vang upgrades. One of my favorite guns to shoot. Need to add the limb saver though. The Vang sights offer a pic rail so I can add a red dot. I have had a Aimpoint on it in the past.


63043

[Lon]

Not sure what Wilson charges for their work, but I cn say I am very happy with what Vang Comp has done. 12.5" LOP with full Vang upgrades. One of my favorite guns to shoot. Need to add the limb saver though. The Vang sights offer a pic rail so I can add a red dot. I have had a Aimpoint on it in the past.


63043

Wood stocked shotgun perfection right there.

[LHS]

I've long maintained that if someone could figure out a way to make a functional, durable, wooden Magpul stock, I'd have them on all my gauges.

[Crusader8207]

Wood stocked shotgun perfection right there.

Thank you :)

[CleverNickname]

* Whatever mag extension that the 14" barrel can support


The Wilson +1 extension goes nearly even with the muzzle of a 14" barrel.

[L-2]

Here's a +1 extension which came with my Tac-14 Remington. I don't who made the extension or where to get one separately. I screwed in my own QD socket, which didn't come with the extension.

[LHS]

Here's a +1 extension which came with my Tac-14 Remington. I don't who made the extension or where to get one separately. I screwed in my own QD socket, which didn't come with the extension.

I've seen a few of those types over the years, and they get really interesting when someone misses that the sling has covered the muzzle before they press trigger.