12.5" Grizzly as a shotgun "platform?"

.22LRGUY

.22LRGUY

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Hey guys, I know I've read comments about what barrels fit what, re: 870 vs. 870 clones, but if memory serves...it was in regard to putting a 12.5" Norinco barrel on an 870 receiver. My question is this;

I'm looking to buy a 12.5" Grizzly when they become available again, but wouldn't mind having a longer barrel for it (with choke tubes) for use as a hunter, or maybe singles trap. Do 870 barrels fit this gun with no modification?

Thanks, and I apologize if this has been asked WAY too many times already.
 
Well my DA 12.5"/GRS came set up with chokes(modified) and proved to be fine for hunting in general, especially in thick brush. 870 barrels and parts do interchange and shoot nicely. However, maybe depending on which clone you buy, I've read that some dont fit perfectly. Carbon steel receiver and machined parts, built like a tank. I'm definately picking up another with GRS when I see them up for grabs.
 
Here is my Grizz w/ my 30" rem barrel, full choke.

Picture005.jpg



I had a similar question awhile ago about putting the grizz bbl on my rem receiver... Works fine for me.
 
Excellent guys, thanks so much for the quick responses. Sounds like this'll be easy, whenever the 12.5" guns materialize from the far east. My plan is to keep it as a short bear protection gun for the back country, but it's good to know there are options.

BTW, the "hunting" consideration would be for turkey and I can't imagine a 12.5" barrel, no matter the choke, being good for that job. Am I wrong?
 
I've taken grouse with my 15" barrel grizz... I just made a wooden block to fit inside the mag spring to effectively block it to 2 rounds. I found the 15" ok for birds... mind you they were close range shots.
 
mp5k said:
Yes, The parts are interchangable with the 870.
Click to expand...

Technically yes. But I saw someone try to fit a short Griz' barrel to an 870 Express and they would have needed to break out some sandpaper. It was sort of going but stuck tight partway in. It may just be tolerance issues but it's not always a smooth swap.
 
Do yourself a favor and think longer term. Get a real 870 for a "platform". I went down the same road. Your going to end up there anyway. Find a used 870P-mag or the like and go from there.

After you up grade this and that you will wish you had spent that money on a real 870. The ONLY thing I dig (beside the SEEMINGLY initial cheap cost) of the Grizz is the short barrel.

My 12.5 grizz was $300, found a great condition used 18.5" 870p-mag for $400. Not much more money for a better made sg. I spent a lot upgrading both. (the grizz was a couple years earlier). Very happy to have spent the upgrade extras on the 870. Every time I look at the grizz I wish I had spent that upgrade money on a real one instead.

Initial difference... $100. Now, its not worth selling the grizz because of so much into the extras. I guess everything would be easy to pull of except for the Wilson sights....

The only way the grizz is a decent deal imo is if you don't do a darn thing to it. The second you spend another dime on it its a waste of money.

600
 
^that was a great deal. i doubt many people are going to find 870Ps for $400, so they need to take that 'the difference between an 870P and a Grizzly is only $100' with a grain of salt.

the Grizzly is a better platform than the current Express models, which is what you should be comparing it to for $100 more - not 870Ps. current production Expresses are really rough.
 
600 Mohawk said:
Do yourself a favor and think longer term. Get a real 870 for a "platform". I went down the same road. Your going to end up there anyway. Find a used 870P-mag or the like and go from there.

After you up grade this and that you will wish you had spent that money on a real 870. The ONLY thing I dig (beside the SEEMINGLY initial cheap cost) of the Grizz is the short barrel.

My 12.5 grizz was $300, found a great condition used 18.5" 870p-mag for $400. Not much more money for a better made sg. I spent a lot upgrading both. (the grizz was a couple years earlier). Very happy to have spent the upgrade extras on the 870. Every time I look at the grizz I wish I had spent that upgrade money on a real one instead.

Initial difference... $100. Now, its not worth selling the grizz because of so much into the extras. I guess everything would be easy to pull of except for the Wilson sights....

The only way the grizz is a decent deal imo is if you don't do a darn thing to it. The second you spend another dime on it its a waste of money.

600
Click to expand...

I agree 100%. Finding a good condition used 870 as your starting point and then building from there is the only way to go. It ensures all the add-ons fit, the quality is there and if you wish to sell or trade you are doing so with a brand-name gun. So spend the extra $50 bucks as suggested. Down the road you won't regret it.
 
manbearpig said:
^that was a great deal. i doubt many people are going to find 870Ps for $400, so they need to take that 'the difference between an 870P and a Grizzly is only $100' with a grain of salt.

the Grizzly is a better platform than the current Express models, which is what you should be comparing it to for $100 more - not 870Ps. current production Expresses are really rough.
Click to expand...

I have no idea if that is/was a great deal or not, wasn't looking just stumbled into it and bought it.

Agreed on the Express, don't bother.

600
 
manbearpig said:
^that was a great deal. i doubt many people are going to find 870Ps for $400, so they need to take that 'the difference between an 870P and a Grizzly is only $100' with a grain of salt.

the Grizzly is a better platform than the current Express models, which is what you should be comparing it to for $100 more - not 870Ps. current production Expresses are really rough.
Click to expand...

You should be able to find a nice Wingmaster easily enough for $300-400 though.

If I had to do it all over again I would have picked up an older Wingmaster instead of a new 'P', not even so much for the cost savings {how much does a mere few hundred $ matter over years of use anyway?} but to have a much smoother, less stiffly sprung gun with a lighter barrel profile.

Of course, if I had known that much I'd have probably gone one better and went with an Ithaca. ;)
 
I have built 10 IPSC shotguns for 3 gun events. And the best platform to start with, especially since in my case I strip them down and have them parkerized and teflon coated, is the 870. I have been able to find old Wingmasters at gun shows etc for as low as $200. Nothing beats the quality of the action. Some part need replacing, but there are so many after market options, that here really is no better starting point.
 
If someone asked me to recommend the best bang for your buck 12.5-18.5" shotgun build it'd be a tossup:
A 2 3/4" Wingmaster build is hands down better than a Grizzly but its a lot of fuss, which some people dont want to get into.
You need to find an action cheap (many insist on selling the complete gun with a fancy Wingmaster stock and a 28+" plain barrel with a 2 3/4" chamber because they know once separated the stock and barrel will be difficult to sell), then find an ~18" barrel with a 3" chamber, then a stock. Optionally gunsmithing to have it upgraded to a 3" receiver. The price will add up, and you still wont have a short barrel.

As for the whole 'one receiver as a shotgun platform' idea - I disagree with it. When i first got into shotguns I was attracted by the idea of buying one single pump and swapping barrels and stocks for different purposes. But the reality is that often different applications require different stocks, barrels, sights (ghost rings complicate things), mag plugs, etc and and rather than fuss with swapping all that sh*t around you are really better off just buying a second receiver and leaving the guns in their configs.

For example, my hunting shotgun has a full 14.5" LOP stock , a 28" vent rib barrel, standard mag tube (plugged), a limbsaver recoil pad, and currently has some fiber optic turkey sights on it. The only thing that changes on this gun are the sights, so I can pick it up whenever and its already in its optimal config and ready to go.
My 'wildlife defense' gun has a short 12" LOP stock and matching forend, ghost ring sites, receiver/mag tube sling plates, a 12.5" plain barrel, an unplugged mag tube, etc. Unscrewing the rear GR and swapping all that crap off all the time to use a single receiver as a universal platform would be annoying.

The going price for an excellent condition 2 3/4" Wingmaster receiver (w/triggergroup) is around $175. IMHO just pick up a second receiver. You have the option of doing a 3" conversion down the road, or you can just leave it as is: 2 3/4" is all you need for HD/WD type stuff.
 
I purpose build all my gun. When I refer to "platform" I mean as the base of the gun I build. I do not switch options or barrels or magazine tubes etc. So if I confused the issue by using the word platform ...then I hope I have clarified.

You are right when you say there is a lot less "fuss". By starting with an 870 every aftermarket part fits wthout sandpaper. :)
 
C Broad Arrow said:
I purpose build all my gun. When I refer to "platform" I mean as the base of the gun I build. I do not switch options or barrels or magazine tubes etc. So if I confused the issue by using the word platform ...then I hope I have clarified.
Click to expand...

i was referring to the original poster's question about longer hunting barrels for a Grizzly. Receivers are not really expensive.
 
Still think C Broad Arrow's advice is good. Get a cheap Wingmaster and a short Dlask barrel, short Hogue stock.
You will be better off in the end.

600
 
^i have both of the above. IMHO a Grizzly for $300 is a much better value than a Dlask barrel alone for $300.
my 12.5" Dlask is on an 870P with a short LOP Hogue stock. i could have bought three 12.5" Grizzlies for the combined cost and still had money left over.... and its not 3x the gun.

people seem to panic that their receiver says Dominion Arms/Norinco on it instead of Remington, but i would not trade a Grizzly receiver for an Express receiver. seems i need to remind people of the difference in finish/machining:
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/5206/870finishes.jpg

perhaps people are biased against them because of the fact they were made by enslaved children in evil communist China.... but if you overlook that (or just dont give a #%@$), then they are a clear notch above the recent production Express receivers and easily worthy of a tactical/camp gun build.

of course Police/Wingmasters are better but unless you get a great deal on them expect to spend a lot more money using one for your build (or more time/fuss in the case of a 2 3/4" conversion).
 
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