Originally Posted by
ssb
One suggestion I have would be a reduced LOP stock. I'm of the opinion that the Magpul SGA is the best thing going (I've used the Mesa Urbino 12.5", the Hogue 12" LOP, a custom Benelli 13" LOP PG stock, and of course the Magpul) for defensive use -- it gives all the benefits of a pistol-grip stock with none of the obtrusiveness inherent to those designs. I found that my thumb was uncomfortably close to my nose on the Hogue stock (risk of getting hit in the face if I don't ride the thumb off to the side) but it was otherwise serviceable.
I have a custom shortened 13" wood field stock for classic build that should be complete whenever Fedex gets around to delivering my Brownell's order. While I have no live fire time behind it yet, it feels like a good length to facilitate a more modern stance.
FWIW, my two shotguns are set up:
1) Remington 870 not-marked-Express Express/HD model. Police internals (lifter spring, hammer spring, firing pin spring, Police extractor properly fitted) w/ Magpul SGA stock, Magpul single-point sling mount, Vang Comp Detachable Side Ammo Carrier (explained below), Vang Comp safety, Vang Comp follower, Surefire DSF-870 forend (second model -- w/ LED upgrade), and a Wilson +1 extension from Dr. House. The barrel is the factory 18" "DEA" barrel with low-profile XS sights. This is my HD long arm and it's been through one shotgun class and will go through another next month. I'm evaluating a Vickers two-point sling at present for class use (keeping 9lbs of gun in your hands and not pointed at anything/anybody all day kind of sucks), though I doubt I'll keep it on when kept at home. I was very impressed with Chief Weems's Blue Force Gear(?) single point I tried out at his course.
2) Remington 870 Police Magnum that I'm waiting on the last of my parts for. Wooden Police forend, wooden field stock cut to 13" LOP, Vang Comp +2 extension, Vang Comp follower, factory 18.5" Police rifle sight barrel. The last of the parts (bbl and extension) are inbound, and this will likely be my PC travel long gun as -- excluding some of the asinine licensing laws in a few states -- it's 50-state legal. Without attempting to start a debate on this point, I do feel the wood/steel tilts things a bit more towards the "Grandpa's old deer gun" end of the public perception spectrum. I also have a soft spot for wood/steel guns.
The Vang DSAC is, in my opinion, the best of both worlds with the detachable side saddle game. I get no bulk/weight when I don't want it and the capability to rapidly add onboard ammunition if I choose to do so, while adding a bit in the durability department. I have had two adhesive velcro side-saddles fail when left on the receiver loaded, and to my knowledge I prepped those about as well as one can do. The Vang doesn't have that problem as it's an aluminum plate which attaches with receiver pins (which apparently have some sort of special sauce to prevent binding of the receiver by over-tightening. The big downside is, of course, cost: it's like $90. The Airidus unit performs a similar role.