Mounting a scope to an 870

dudley2112

dudley2112

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So ive got a remington 870 with a slug barrel and iron sights, i want to mount a scope to it for deer season and wondering what would be the easiest way to go about doing this? just get a chunk of pic rail drilled and tapped to the top of the receiver?

Thoughts?

dudkey
 
Use a saddle mount.... they bolt through the existing receiver holes.

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I would suggest to get cantilever rifled barrel and mount the scope on it. This way if you replace the barrel with smooth one the scope
stays sighted in all the time.

My brother in law had rifled barrel with open sights and saddle scope mount. Worked good but was dedicated to that barrel and scope.
He updated to cantilever rifled barrel with scope and said that the gun groups a little better and now can easy swap barrels if he wants with scope staying sighted in due to being attached to the barrel.

He also takes his open sights barrel hunting just in case he drops the gun and knocks scope.
 
svergas said:
I would suggest to get cantilever rifled barrel and mount the scope on it. This way if you replace the barrel with smooth one the scope
stays sighted in all the time.
Click to expand...

That's my thinking too. You can drill/tap a scope base on the receiver (make sure it's a GOOD gunsmith, as there are a couple gotchas), or a saddle mount (hopefully doesn't have much play in it before tightening.
 
I would be very tempted to install one of the little reflex sights that uses a base clamped between the buttstock and the receiver.
 
I've used saddle mounts, cantilevered barrels and have had the receiver drilled and tapped to accept a Weaver base. The latter is my preferred way of scoping an 870 but it pretty much makes the gun a dedicated scope gun. My 20 gauge is currently set up like that and it only gets used for turkey and deer.
 
The one between the receiver and buttstock is the Burris Speadbead. Apparently a pretty robust red dot. I wouldn't look for anything with magnification on a shotgun.
 
I'd suggest you purchase a cantilever barrel. Shotguns are notoriously in accurate when a scope is mounted to the receiver. The barrel to receiver mate up do not generally have tight tolerances so your sight in zero can move around a fair bit. With the cantilever the scope is mounted directly to the barrel which solves the sloppy barrel mate up issues. Now you can pin the barrel as an option but gunsmith is required.
 
cdn1canhunt said:
I'd suggest you purchase a cantilever barrel. Shotguns are notoriously in accurate when a scope is mounted to the receiver. The barrel to receiver mate up do not generally have tight tolerances so your sight in zero can move around a fair bit. With the cantilever the scope is mounted directly to the barrel which solves the sloppy barrel mate up issues. Now you can pin the barrel as an option but gunsmith is required.
Click to expand...

What is involved in pinning the barrel? I just finished putting a base on my DA grizzly and would like to try this and see how it does with slugs.
 
Had a Remington brand scope mount for years.

IMG_1879.jpg


I've ran a variety of optics on my 12.5" Grizzly...........yes I know its retarded but it sure is fun flinging slugs 150+ yards with a shorty barrel.

Fits perfectly on REMINGTON brand 870s, the Norinco/Dominion Arms receivers are a little thicker and really takes some force to get the bolts installed properly
 
To pin a barrel they generally drill and tap a hole in the top in the receiver and screw in a set screw to lock the barrel in place. Elwood epps can do it...if you are so inclined. Personally I'd rather have the cantilever barrel, but they can be kinda pricey.
Most gun sellers like sail or basspro will sell a cantilever and scope combo for the 870. It will be a a full rifled barrel so you have to shoot more pricey ammo. But the range and accuracy achieved is worth it. Imo

http://t.basspro.com/Remington-Fact...els-with-27x32-Scope-and-Rings/product/94897/

Hey and check the price for a deer shotgun, sometimes cheaper than a new barrel when they go on sale?
 
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For ease of mount (OP specification): saddle mount

For presission: cantalevered weaver rail barrel (not so ecconomical, $200+ for a NIB barrel)

For a mid road aproach: drill and tap for a weaver rail (some 870's have factory drilled & tapped receivers)

Personally for deer season I just run the iron sights. 100yds is about all you get with a slug so no need to scope. I would rather be able to see an animal that pops out of the brush @ 25yds rather than try to find the kill zone in the scope which looks like just fur (somewhere on the animal) at that distance....and since you won't be shooting 200 yds or more with your slug gun there is no need to magnify. A scope will impare your veiw for snap shot close range work which is what a shotgun is used for. But at the end of the day its your call.
 
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ciphery said:
For ease of mount (OP specification): saddle mount

For presission: cantalevered weaver rail barrel (not so ecconomical, $200+ for a NIB barrel)

For a mid road aproach: drill and tap for a weaver rail (some 870's have factory drilled & tapped receivers)

Personally for deer seasoni just run the iron sights. 100yds is about all you get with a slug so no need to scope. I would rather be able to see an animal that pops out of the brush @ 25yds rather than try to find the kill zone in the scope which looks like just fur (somewhere on the animal) at that distance.
Click to expand...

Irons are fine for short yardage. But I prefer a low powered scope. I have shot deer out to 150yrds (verified by range finder) with my mossy 500 with a 1.5x4.5 power scope. Wouldn't even attempt that with irons, at 100yrs the front sight is just too large at those ranges for accurate shots. The scope gives me a light advantage at first and last light as well. Just saying I can't hit what I can't see.

I have been able to consistently put 3-5 shot groups of SST sabots into a 6" circle from a kneeling position at 100yrd plus with my scoped mossy. Not bragging just saying, scoping a deer gun worked well for me.

In saying that I tried scoping my win 1300 and mounted to the receiver, it did not go well.. Cost me about 3 deer and about $200 bucks in ammo to figure out that the barrel didn't always point where the scope did due to loose tolerances inherent in shotguns.
Live , pay, and learn I guess.
 
Grove said:
Had a Remington brand scope mount for years.

IMG_1879.jpg


I've ran a variety of optics on my 12.5" Grizzly...........yes I know its retarded but it sure is fun flinging slugs 150+ yards with a shorty barrel.

Fits perfectly on REMINGTON brand 870s, the Norinco/Dominion Arms receivers are a little thicker and really takes some force to get the bolts installed properly
Click to expand...

What kind of accuracy do you get with the 12.5 grizzly? Thats the gun I have and I just put my holo- Sight on it last night. I'm thinking it will be a lot of fun to sling slugs if they have halfway decent accuracy out to 100 yards or so.
So many guys buy these shorties and all they fire in them is light trap loads.. I don't see the point, get the real ammo out!
 
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