Rem 870 LEO top-folders -- really that bad?

manbearpig

manbearpig

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IMO there is no more 'iconic' shotgun folding stock than the 870 LEO top folder.
ive always wanted one, but lately seeing all of the threads about breaking pistol grips and WTB ads for pistol grips only, i have to wonder if its even worth it. a friend warned me away from them saying they are the most uncomfortable stock to shoot and the pistol grip always breaks, but i must admit im still tempted to get one so i can set up one of my 870s as a 'classic LEO folder'.

just how brittle are these? is the pistol grip some sortof brittle bakelite-type material?

why hasnt a company stepped up and made a modernized version of these, or at least an aftermarket pistol grip from a less brittle material?

any thoughts from people who have used/owned these? thanks for looking.
 
I don't have comfort problems shooting these, nor do I have recoil issues. They are old and now have brittle PG's. I broke one myself firing it, but I think it was a bad mold to start with. That's what I figured when having a close look.

The reason I'm looking for a pistol grip only in the EE this time is for a wingnut friend of mine who, unwisely, kept slamming the folder open and when it skipped over the detent, broke the PG. That's what the evidence shows.

Here's one of mine ... note the factory sling swivel and rubber buttpad.

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I fire this gun once in a while, I like the way the grip fits my big mitts, packs well into my duffle bag in transport, works great while reloading weak hand without removing the gun from your shoulder and makes for a good HD implement too.

Aside from that, the Top Folder was intended to fit a rack in RMP's, I like the history behind it and keep it for giggles from days gone by as REM doesn't make these any longer.

Closest you'll come to the real macoy are the Advanced Technologies top folding stocks, but they are not metal, they are made with a nylon resin composite. Choate makes a top folder and a side folder as well if that's your thing.

Shoulder the gun properly and you won't have any issues with recoil, :) ya wosses. :D :D

.
 
B said:
... Probably the most uncomfortable I have fired.
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I own one. B is right, but could have left the 'probably' out. The end of the stock is an unpadded chunk of steel. I'm sure you can imaging how good it feels to have that driven into you. Leave the magnum rounds at home is all I can say. I run only 2 3/4 loads and reduced recoil slugs through mine to keep the discomfort down. Its not bad if you aren't shooting it that much in a short period.

Mine has been durable. It has seen somewhere in the neighbourhood of 1000 rounds (that I know of- bought used) and hasn't broken yet. The handle is simillar to bakelite, but not quite it. It does seem like it would be brittle though.

Bottom line is look for something else for sustained use IMHO. Mine is on my survival gun for the airplane so packaging not comfort is my main concern. It is better than a straight pistol grip but inferior to a proper stock is the best way to some it up. It is a good idea in principal but not really in practice.

I do like the way you can flip it open with your thumb and rolling the gun at the same time. Wicked fast transition from pistol grip to shoulder. That is about the best thing I can say about it though...

Edit: Saw Easy's post.... I am a wuss I guess. For me it just hits a unsweet spot inside my delt when I shoulder it. Not unbearable, but you might want to try before you buy. He is right on all the rest, its just that comfort is obviously subjective. And the flip trick to open...be sure not to let it overextend or it will break. I 'catch' mine with my forearm when I do it. Maybe that is why mine hasn't broken (yet?)
 
I have owned one. I never had any problems with recoil or finding it uncomfortable to shoot. Never broke the PG on mine either. Kinda miss that thing, it was a neat and compact shotgun.
 
.... Having carried one on Land and Sea, I can attest to the fact that they are NOT comfortable to fire ! They are compact, and handy as far as taking them from the Office to the Car. Firing with the stock still folded is possible. Personally, with the genuine "issued" folders, I've never come across a broken "Pistol Grip" with one. Given the choice, I'd always opt for the "Full Stock", and live with the extra length of the Butt. ...... David K
 
Yeah, I do admit the LOP doesn't fit every stature. Fit has a lot to do with comfort, that's for sure. ... and personally, I don't fire it while folded either, I prefer full length stocks myself. More for ease of transport.
 
Just make sure that the stock is either collapsed or extended. A cop I knew growing up got shooting at a scumbag trying to drive him over, and didn't quite have the butt extended. From what I remember of the story, a couple thousand dollars in dental work was the end result.
 
Max Power said:
... And the flip trick to open...be sure not to let it overextend or it will break. I 'catch' mine with my forearm when I do it. Maybe that is why mine hasn't broken (yet?)
Click to expand...
Bingo!


... and I intended the wooss comment in a jovial way of course. I'm sure you noticed the emoticons. Yes? :D
 
Complete garbage IMHO.
I would much rather have a short LOP full stock or a M4 style sliding one.

These have a brutally long LOP that gets much worse when using armor and LBE.
Cheers,
Grant
 
If it was the only shotgun I owned, it wouldn't have a top folder, or any folding stock. Since I don't want to sell any of my REMs, I don't want be bored by them either.

Besides, some of us are forced to come up with reasons at home why we need so many guns, eh. :p :D
 
i looked at the ATIs (and even the butler creek ones) and they just look so flimsy.
as for the Knoxx folder - they seem to have missed the entire point of a folder, and made something almost as bulky as a full stock. bulkier, perhaps - since the stock extends several inches above the gun when folded.
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the thing about the LEO folder is the look. its just so classic and clean looking. i have other full-stocked shotguns so this would be just a fun gun, although im sure i can come up with other uses for it.

easy - could i trouble you to measure the OAL from the tip of the barrel to the back of the (folded) stock where the bolt goes please? (not to the mag extension).
trying to figure out what the min length barrel you can use with these is, and how much shorter it would be folded than a short LOP stock/12.5 barrel.
 
... "manbearpig" ... Speaking specifically of the RCMP ( BC at that ) most of the issued 870's were the ones designed with Rifle type sights attached, an if memory serves the "hole" in the Folder fitted over the rear sight. The stock barrel length worked pretty well, from an handling point of view, and much shorter, and I'm sure the muzzle "flash " would have been really horrendous ! Bad enough as it was with the factory barrel ! ... Issued shells were 00 Buck, but mostly, SSGs. Gas Shells also were kicking around, as were "slugs". ....... David K
 
I find the Butler creek side folders are surprisingly comfortable to shoot and durability doesn't seem to be an issue.
 
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