Work horse shotgun

Maybe look around for an older M37 Ithaca pump gun with an 18-20 inch barrel.
Generally speaking they are about one pound lighter than an 870 with the same barrel length and for various reasons, a bit cheaper too.
Also they have a history of steel manufactured parts unlike the Express 870.
 
-im sure someone in your area has a 12.5" Grizzly you could handle - either another CGNer or a gun shop perhaps.

-search for shotgun scabbard on ebay.

-as for 'painting' it - its already parkerized so all you need to do is thoroughly degrease it and it is an ideal surface for painting. there are some modern protective gun finishes available now in spray cans.
as for some scratches, bit of surface rust, etc - decide whether this is going to be a safe queen, or youre looking for a backpacking/camp gun. the two are mutually exclusive, IMO.
 
Its not going to be a safe queen, however developing surface rust because of a foggy coastal morning is no good...
I took a spill with my 700 and it got a sprinkle of powder snow on it, I cleaned it off as best I could and in the 2 hours between it getting wet and getting home it rusted up.
 
manbearpig said:
no.
the 8.5" is much more limited in what you can do with it. the 12.5" barrel length is the minimum you can put on a 'standard' Remington 870. in order to make the 8.5" (and 6.5") 870s, the forend and mag tube had to be shortened, and the lug moved back on the barrel. therefore standard 870 barrels, magazine tube sling plates, heatshields, foreends, etc either will not fit at all, or will require modification.

if you are concerned at all with compatibility, then pick up the 12.5" Grizzly, and save $100 while youre at it. everything fits on those, even 870 barrels.
if this is your first 'shorty' then get a 12.5, itll be much more versatile and youre not giving up that much overall length.
this is a 12.5" 870P, not a Grizzly, but they will look more or less the same :)
870p.jpg


give some serious consideration as to whether or not you want ghost ring sights. when buying a Grizzly it costs only $9 extra, but adding aftermarket GR sights to a bead shotgun will cost you $150-200.
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Does the 8.5" come with a top pic rail mounted? From the website it appears not but I watched a few 8.5" unboxing videos and they had them.

Are the 8.5 and 12.5 cylinder bore? You mentioned I could change barrels on the 12.5. Would I do this if I wanted to put a different choke on it or even a rifled barrel?

Thanks for all your help manbearpig
 
mobgma said:
Does the 8.5" come with a top pic rail mounted? From the website it appears not but I watched a few 8.5" unboxing videos and they had them.

Are the 8.5 and 12.5 cylinder bore? You mentioned I could change barrels on the 12.5. Would I do this if I wanted to put a different choke on it or even a rifled barrel?

Thanks for all your help manbearpig
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1. yes it does. mine came mounted, apparently later shipments had the mount but were missing the screws. i am sure someone here can tell you what thread pitch/size screw you need, and you can pick them up for a few cents off ebay. if noone can tell you i can try and measure the threads of the ones that came with my rail, but im not a machinist.

2. yes both are cylinder bore. the Grizzly short barrels are nice and thick, however - so if later on you decide you want chokes, your gunsmith can tap the barrel for chokes for $75-100 easily.

3. the 12.5" Grizzly will take any Remington 870 12 gauge (3") barrel. they are all over the EE. so you could buy a 26-28" hunting barrel for it, thats already tapped for chokes (and 99% of the time comes with one remchoke) easily on the EE for <$150.
and yes you could put a rifle sighted barrel on it, a cantilever rifled barrel, a turkey barrel, an 18" home defense barrel, etc.
 
QuickDraw16 said:
If I buy one with the ghost sights could I take them off?
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Front sight is still gonna remain.

Depending on how high it is it may not work to well on it's own.

I will be picking one of these up in the next few days. For $250 it is hard to beat, and I can't find any negative about it in the ton of reviews I have read.

[YOUTUBE]iIcP5gvUKoU[/YOUTUBE]
 
QuickDraw16 said:
I got long arms and I'm afraid that I'm going to take one of my fingers off if I shoot one of those short barreled guns. The Remington 870 Marine Magnum is just too expensive for my liking so it is the mossberg but the other Remington would be fine...

.
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Long arms nothing, heck, I'd not even noticed until pointed out on the board here how close my fingers were to the muzzle. Hold the forearm right at the raised portion at all times or risk amputation, if you ask me. I know I don't even pick up mine without special care and consideration toward that, and towards how easy it is to point it at yourself or others, compared to other longer barreled shotguns. Oddly enough, I'd even compare it unfavorably in this regards towards handguns, but perhaps that is just myself. This is the 8.5'r I refer to, the 12.5 seems worlds longer for some odd reason. Don't get me wrong I love mine, it is my current "chuck in the trunk shotgun," but seeing as it's never actually left the trunk aside from being put away, perhaps I'm not the expert you'd like to hear from.
 
QuickDraw16 said:
If I buy one with the ghost sights could I take them off?
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the back one will unscrew, the front post is brazed on.

this is how i see it:
12.5 with GRs = $310
12.5 with bead = $300
12.5 barrel only, with bead = $150

if you buy the Grizzly with ghost rings, and end up not liking them, you can buy a 12.5 barrel with a bead for $150. you could then unscrew your rear GR, and sell the barrel/rear GR in the EE for $160+ in 5 minutes. youve lost no money.

the other way around? you buy it with a bead sight, and decide you want GRs? youre looking at $150+ for the GRs, plus installation. sure, theyll be better GRs, but youll be at over $500 at this point.

just my .02. if i bought a 12.5" Grizzly now id definitely go for the GR version. i just ordered a set of tritium GRs for my 8.5".
 
As you can see by my sig it will be the 8.5" I am getting.

Just can't resist. I do alot of crown land trail dirt biking/quadding/ side x siding and alot of camping in the middle of nowhere between Caroline and RMH. Perfect little gun for this.

Thanks for your advise MBP. Despite the advise on the 12.5" I plan to get the Fabarm Martial Proforces with Tactical Stock (Not the pistol grip one) 14" Barrel with Tribore and LPA Sights that will fill that void nicely.
 
manbearpig said:
the back one will unscrew, the front post is brazed on.

this is how i see it:
12.5 with GRs = $310
12.5 with bead = $300
12.5 barrel only, with bead = $150

if you buy the Grizzly with ghost rings, and end up not liking them, you can buy a 12.5 barrel with a bead for $150. you could then unscrew your rear GR, and sell the barrel/rear GR in the EE for $160+ in 5 minutes. youve lost no money.

the other way around? you buy it with a bead sight, and decide you want GRs? youre looking at $150+ for the GRs, plus installation. sure, theyll be better GRs, but youll be at over $500 at this point.

just my .02. if i bought a 12.5" Grizzly now id definitely go for the GR version. i just ordered a set of tritium GRs for my 8.5".
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Will the Tritium Sight thread into the already existing bead sight?
 
aprilfoolsme said:
I chose the 12.5 because the tube magazine holds 4 shells while the 8.5 holds only 2.

Mind you the 8.5 is already water fowl legal
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thats the way i prefer to look at it :)


mobgma said:
Will the Tritium Sight thread into the already existing bead sight?
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there is an XS sights 'Big Dot' tritium sight that epoxies over the front bead. Brownells #006-000-160WB, $60. they have versions for vent rib and front pedestal sights too.
p_006000158_1.jpg


but i ordered the Wilson Combat/Scattergun Tech tritium ghost rings for my 8.5"
Item_Wilson_Combat_ScattergunTech_Ghost_Sights.jpg

mind you, had the 8.5" come with a ghost ring option for another $10, id have been all over it like a fat kid on a cupcake.
 
I'm more of an 870 guy myself. Some people seem to be opposed of the pistol grip pumps. Yes, they're rough on the hands, they hurt to shoot, but they are quick to put into action. If you're going to be on the move, I'd suggest a medium length mag fed grizzly. You can have the short length, with a full length stock, and the firepower of a full length gun.
 
Here is what I built for what you are talking about:

125DominionArmsGrizzly.jpg


Its a 12.5" Grizzly, Tritium XS Sight Sytem "Big Dot" front sight, Fab Defense Fore Grip, Hogue Tammer Pistol Grip & a Dlask "Happy Face Cap" (not on in this picture). Rifle is Restricted as presented due to over all length. Its a work gun & requires a ATC license. The factory stock is actually fairly decent as it is quite light. The Hogue Tammer Stock is better though in my opinion.
 
Here in BC you can't hunt with a barrel under 12 inches or so.
The 12.5" gives up very little in weight and length but has double the capacity without modifying the gun. And you can hunt in BC with it.
 
You'll like the 12.5".
Get a rail on the foreend so you can mount a light...... don't go blasting out of your tent in the dark without identifying the threat!
 
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