Converting 870 to Left-hand

diananike

diananike

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
117   0   0
Location
The Pas MB
I've owned a HP-9 14" for a couple of years and don't have any problems shooting it left-handed with the standard stock. When I fire other 870s that have pistol grip type stocks I inadvertantly press the safety ON during recoil.
I would like to install a Knoxx telescoping stock but then I wouldnt be able to use the gun.

Is there a way to convert a 870 type shotgun to left-handed safety?
Is there a gunsmith in Manitoba who will do this conversion?
How much would it cost?
 
Claybuster said:
The old style (pre J-lock) Remington 870 safety can be removed and flipped around making it lefty. Here's how it's done.

Knock out the two pins that hold the trigger assembly in the receiver and
remove it.

Directly above the safety you will see a small (about 3/32") pin
running horizontally. Use a punch to push this pin out. WARNING! This pin
retains the detent ball and spring for the safety. You will see the vertical hole
for them above the pin. Hold your finger over the hole or you'll be looking
for the spring.

Once the pin is out, remove the spring and detent ball. The
safety should now be able to be removed, flipped around, the detent ball and
spring replaced and pin re-inserted.
Click to expand...

Good to know. I will give this a try this weekend.
 
Correct me if I am wrong but as a fellow lefty don't you have the ability to disengage the saftey with your left thumb while your hand is on the grip? If you switch it around wont disengaging the saftey be as akward as it is for right handers with a right hand saftey? i.e you will need to slide your hand way back or off the grip and use your index finger?

If you are trying to improve the "tacticalness" of it I say having a non pistol grip stock with a saftey that can be actuated with your hand in the fireing position makes more sense.

(Maybe I am on crack and my 870 has a lefty trigger group but as a lefty I thought the saftey was perfection, I have a regular stock though)
 
For hunting/clay shooting with a RH 870, I just flick the safety off with my thumb as I'm shouldering the gun, and flick it back on with my trigger finger when bringing it back off the shoulder.

I've practised so much, it's automatic and feels very natural.
 
Claybuster said:
The old style (pre J-lock) Remington 870 safety can be removed and flipped around making it lefty. Here's how it's done.

Knock out the two pins that hold the trigger assembly in the receiver and
remove it.

Directly above the safety you will see a small (about 3/32") pin
running horizontally. Use a punch to push this pin out. WARNING! This pin
retains the detent ball and spring for the safety. You will see the vertical hole
for them above the pin. Hold your finger over the hole or you'll be looking
for the spring.

Once the pin is out, remove the spring and detent ball. The
safety should now be able to be removed, flipped around, the detent ball and
spring replaced and pin re-inserted.
Click to expand...

It's not quite that simple. If you look carefully at the hole where the safety detent ball and spring go in, it is drilled offset to the right of centre. If you just reverse the safety, the detent will not be in the correct position. The Remington service manual has a drawing of what needs to be done; plug the existing detent hole with a aluminum plug, drill a new hole offset to the left and then drill the safety detent retaining pin hole and the safety hole. I have done them before; not difficult, just a little work.

Remington sells a left hand trigger plate assemble with the hole in the right place and safety installed for left hand use.

There is also an aftermarket left hand safety available from a company where no modifications are required for use in a right hand trigger plate assembly. The aftermarket source is here somewhere in a CGN thread.
 
ARWEN ACE said:
It's not quite that simple. If you look carefully at the hole where the safety detent ball and spring go in, it is drilled offset to the right of centre. If you just reverse the safety, the detent will not be in the correct position. The Remington service manual has a drawing of what needs to be done; plug the existing detent hole with a aluminum plug, drill a new hole offset to the left and then drill the safety detent retaining pin hole and the safety hole. I have done them before; not difficult, just a little work.

Remington sells a left hand trigger plate assemble with the hole in the right place and safety installed for left hand use.

There is also an aftermarket left hand safety available from a company where no modifications are required for use in a right hand trigger plate assembly. The aftermarket source is here somewhere in a CGN thread.
Click to expand...
You are correct. The bulk of my earlier post was from instructions I'd taken from a website years ago but never had a need to do it. My apologies and today's lesson is not to post advice until you've actually tried it yourself.:redface:
 
david doyle said:
Correct me if I am wrong but as a fellow lefty don't you have the ability to disengage the saftey with your left thumb while your hand is on the grip? If you switch it around wont disengaging the saftey be as akward as it is for right handers with a right hand saftey? i.e you will need to slide your hand way back or off the grip and use your index finger?

If you are trying to improve the "tacticalness" of it I say having a non pistol grip stock with a saftey that can be actuated with your hand in the fireing position makes more sense.

(Maybe I am on crack and my 870 has a lefty trigger group but as a lefty I thought the saftey was perfection, I have a regular stock though)[/QUOTE/]

With the right hand safety I cannot reach it with my thumb to disengage it unless the gun is turned sideways. And besides I really want a Knoxx collabsible stock in which case the recoil will cause my trigger finger to engage the safety.
I'm having trouble finding the thread for aftermarket safety plates. Any suggestions??
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom