The porting reduces the muzzle jump a lot, not much difference for the recoil.
Thinking about building a tac shotgun
- Thread starter Moose308
- Start date
"...tactical shotgun..." No such thing as a 'tactical' anything, but all the aftermarket bits and pieces will fit. An 870 is an 870. It can get expensive. Hard to tell whether the 870 or 10/22 has more aftermarket stuff available.
"...New barrel..." Rifle sights, no rib. You don't have to buy a Remington made barrel either. Bought an aftermarket, black phosphated, 20", rifle sighted, barrel, a few years back, for a bit over $200, taxes included. Same barrel with Remington stamped on it was about $100 more.
"...Covert it from 2 3/4" to 3"..." You can't do that. It's not the barrel. It's the receiver. Magnum receivers are built heavier. There's no advantage to a 3" anyway. Too much felt recoil. A 2 3/4" slug can be astoundingly accurate at 100. Even out of a smooth bore.
"...a 12-1/2" 870 barrel..." Useless marketing things.
"...differences between the Wingmaster and the Police..." Wingmasters are high end shotguns now. I think, but am not absolutely sure, that 'Police' guns are on Express actions.
"...New barrel..." Rifle sights, no rib. You don't have to buy a Remington made barrel either. Bought an aftermarket, black phosphated, 20", rifle sighted, barrel, a few years back, for a bit over $200, taxes included. Same barrel with Remington stamped on it was about $100 more.
"...Covert it from 2 3/4" to 3"..." You can't do that. It's not the barrel. It's the receiver. Magnum receivers are built heavier. There's no advantage to a 3" anyway. Too much felt recoil. A 2 3/4" slug can be astoundingly accurate at 100. Even out of a smooth bore.
"...a 12-1/2" 870 barrel..." Useless marketing things.
"...differences between the Wingmaster and the Police..." Wingmasters are high end shotguns now. I think, but am not absolutely sure, that 'Police' guns are on Express actions.
If you want the maximum benefit from porting go Vang Comp. The way they back bore the barrel along with the porting really keeps your pattern tighter at longer ranges as well as reducing muzzle jump and recoil.
However, it's really loud. I don't recommend it if you plan on shooting it indoors.
Well, let just call it "tactial styling" then
Any idea what this aftermarket barrel was? Who sold it? I would like to keep the barrel around 21" to properly exploit a +3 extension. I am going to go ahead and disagree on the rifle sights though. For me a shotgun shouldn't be "aimed" but "pointed", if you get my meaning. Sighting down a rib is very easy and quick, and you don't get caught up with "aiming". My ideal barrel would be the one Remington is currently putting on their Sure-shot stocked turkey 870. It's 21", vented ribbed, rem-choked. However, I can't find that barrel as an aftermarket.
Of course you can do it. It's all about replacing the 2 3/4" ejector with a 3" ejector. Gunsmithing required mind you. Riviting will need to be done. Wilson Combat does it in their 870 tactical-upgrade package. I agree, 2 3/4" makes sense from an actual use perspective, but having a 3" capable gun makes tonnes of sense from a practicality perspective. If you are in a pinch and only have 3" ammo laying around, and a 2 3/4" only gun....
The police model shotguns are made in a separate workshop from all the other 870 shotguns. They have more quality control inspections and are held to greater tolerances than their other guns. The police models feel much more substantial than any of the other 870 shotguns.
The wingmaster is also a very nice gun but is one step down from the police in quality. If you handle both back to back you will be able to tell but it's also not a huge difference.
Also if you get an older police model like mine it will have metal trigger group instead of a plastic one. Police models are very plain and wingmaster have more of a sporting appearance.
The factory "Tactical" shotguns are not the same quality as police guns. They are just a normal 870 with some add on stuff. Only the 870P is special among the family. I'm not sure if the MCS 870 is made on the police line or the normal line. Would be interesting to know.
C Broad Arrow
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Casey at Tactical Ordnance is the only VangComp facility outside of the US if you want that added to you gun. He is also the armourer for one of the police services. You should speak to him or PM him with your plans before proceeding. He is here on CGN as Arwen Ace and his web is w ww.tacord.com .
Keep or sell the long barrel then,
I'd start with a 20 inch rem barrel with rifle sights ( try the e.e. I bought one for $120 a while back)
You can get the barrel threaded for chokes if you want
If you want 3 inch you just need a new ejector. If you are considering refinishing the gun then a new ejector makes sense because the finish is effected when you change the ejector. 3 inch is not necessary but if you are refinishing it makes sense to upgrade.
I'd start with a 20 inch rem barrel with rifle sights ( try the e.e. I bought one for $120 a while back)
You can get the barrel threaded for chokes if you want
If you want 3 inch you just need a new ejector. If you are considering refinishing the gun then a new ejector makes sense because the finish is effected when you change the ejector. 3 inch is not necessary but if you are refinishing it makes sense to upgrade.
OP, to get useful answers, what is your budget and expectations? Everyone has an opinion based off their preferences and they vary greatly from a cheap simple truck gun to full on top shelf builds. From what I understand, the Vang Comp system is very expensive and wouldnt fit a budget build, but it may be just the mod youre looking for and worth every penny. But thats up to you. For cheap you can chop the barrel and add a handful of accessories to suit your needs/wants. Or you can send your gun out to a reputable gunsmith and go crazy. What direction did you have in mind?
The top shotgun I built complete. It started off as a 30" barrel which I chopped to 18". I added Vang comp ghost ring sights which I bought off Casey and installed myself. I ported the barrel myself, sandblasted the whole works and then parkerised them in the garage I then added the mag extension and made a titanium shell follower. Since I took this picture I have tefloned all 3 shotguns and am very happy with all of them. The pistol grip was just for a photo op and the gun now has the same style wood stock that the middle one has. I find I like the look and feel of the wood more than the synthetic. I find the porting helps felt recoil and keeps the muzzle down. I will say that the 14" barrel is my favorite, but the longer one with the ghost rings is good to 100 yds with slugs. And I honestly don't feel short changed by not having an 870p.
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