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870 Project Ideas?

PostPosted: Fri Sep 27, 2019 10:30 am
by Scorpion8
I was bored, and perusing GB online..... ALWAYS a bad combination. Anyway, I now find myself a proud soon-to-be owner of a nice 870 Express stripped receiver for a project. But what project? I don't do 3-gun, so have no need for anything tacti-cool. I have another 870 with a waterfowl and slug barrels, so perhaps make one dedicated to each? Actually I have both rifled and smoothbore slug barrels, so was thinking of making one "permanent" for the grabbing since I live in black bear territory (one hit a garbage can right down the street Tuesday night, and I know they cruise thru my backyard at times, the dogs let me know).

Any other cool ideas for a winter build project?

Re: 870 Project Ideas?

PostPosted: Fri Sep 27, 2019 11:57 am
by John A.
Where did you find a stripped receiver? PM me a link please.

I know a place where you can buy demilled 870 parts kits in various stages of completion. pretty cheap too, but the kits can be anywhere from rusty as crap to very pristine.

Re: 870 Project Ideas?

PostPosted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 8:56 pm
by Scorpion8
Check PM's.

Re: 870 Project Ideas?

PostPosted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 7:44 am
by John A.
I got the PM. Thanks.

You'll have no problem building that gun back up. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on how it turns out.

It'll have no problems keeping the bears away.

Re: 870 Project Ideas?

PostPosted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 11:20 pm
by Scorpion8
The only problem that I foresee is the time it takes to do the build may be …. too short.

Re: 870 Project Ideas?

PostPosted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 5:53 am
by John A.
True, but when you get halfway finished with it, stop and fix a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and admire what you've done so far while you're eating your lunch.

Re: 870 Project Ideas?

PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 2:21 pm
by Scorpion8
Well, to start, I got in the Volquartsen exact-edge extractor and some marine magnum 870 bolt parts to make sure the bolt is super reliable in this climate. Step 1 complete, but itching for the parts and receiver to all arrive....

Re: 870 Project Ideas?

PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 3:04 pm
by John A.
volquartsen makes good stuff. I would swear by their stuff.

I had a P22 that would extract perfectly as long as you shot the gun. I guess the blowback helped extract the empty case, but it would not extract a live round 0% of the time.

Since I used that handgun to teach my sons how to shoot a semiauto with, obviously, I wanted it to work right, so I bought the Volquartsen extractor and it's worked ever since.

Re: 870 Project Ideas?

PostPosted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 10:10 am
by Scorpion8
John A. wrote:volquartsen makes good stuff. I had a P22 that would extract perfectly ...


I may have to look into that for my P-22. Mine functions perfectly, except for not getting shot enough.

Re: 870 Project Ideas?

PostPosted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 10:43 am
by John A.
I have 3 sons. Who are all grown men now, who learned how to shoot a semiauto handgun with that old p22.

It has been fired more than probably all of my other 22's combined. I wouldn't be surprised if that gun hasnt' put 4000 through it in the years that I have owned it.

All 3 of my sons have claimed it. I would probably need to sell it sometime before I die so they don't fight over it or maybe just tell my wife to slip it in my hand right before they close my casket lid and just take it with me LOL

I don't want to hijack your build topic and this is the last thing I'm going to say about the p22 parts, but there is a company named nic taylor who has upgrade mag springs and followers that are a must have. And another company who makes a captured guide rod and spring that makes it a lot easier to take apart and clean. Here are the links. For a few dollars, these upgrades have been well worth it.

https://www.taylor-tactical-supply.com/ ... pgrade.htm

https://gallowayprecision.com/walther/p ... lther-p22/

Re: 870 Project Ideas?

PostPosted: Thu Oct 03, 2019 10:30 am
by Scorpion8
I already have the captured guide rod, and ordered the Volquartsen parts from MidwayUSA. I'll look into Taylor Tactical too....

Re: 870 Project Ideas?

PostPosted: Fri Oct 18, 2019 9:17 pm
by Scorpion8
Okay, back home from travel and much to my chagrin, the assembly project took less than an hour. Drove to the range and function-tested the new 870 Express with some assorted shot loads, and everything functioned 100%. I will need to take it apart again and add the Volquartsen extractor and some Marine Magnum bolt parts, the magazine cap needs to be replaced with one that has a sling swivel, and I may/may not refinish or replace the stock. Put my spare slug barrel on it and will try that out tomorrow with some slugs.

Re: 870 Project Ideas?

PostPosted: Sat Oct 19, 2019 10:38 am
by John A.
Awesome.

I recently saw about a dozen stripped Mossberg 500 receivers on gunbroker.

Would be nice to build up a shockwave type FIREARM for throwing over my shoulder in the woods or strapped onto the front handlebars of my ATV.

Re: 870 Project Ideas?

PostPosted: Sat Oct 19, 2019 10:37 pm
by Scorpion8
That was one idea that I had for this build, but I have to think those are highly inaccurate at anything over spitting distances due to that hand-held short "buttstock". It's too easy to move it just a smidge left/right or up/down and then the critter you're aiming at just gets a passing breeze.

Re: 870 Project Ideas?

PostPosted: Sun Oct 20, 2019 9:35 am
by John A.
You're probably right, especially if you're being charged, but I look at it like this.

I can use 7-9 pellets of double ought in one shot, or have 7 shots with my 357 magnum. If I'm stressed and rushing my shots, I think I prefer the odds of the 12 gauge where sheer bullets being launched downrange and in the magazine.

Re: 870 Project Ideas?

PostPosted: Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:15 am
by Scorpion8
Project shotgun shot just fine at the range without a single hiccup. Added the new Volquartsen extractor, a marine magnum magazine spring, a second d-ring on the front action pin, and an S&J Hardware magazine follower. Cleaned and lubed. Now just waiting for a new magazine cap that has the sling swivel stud and uses the internal ratcheting system of retention.

Thinking about drilling and tapping the receiver for a scope mount, perhaps to make this a dedicated deer/slug gun. I'm not a fan of those mounts that saddle the receiver. May also consider a Mossberg barrel with the cantilever scope mount.

Oh, so much to entertain....

Re: 870 Project Ideas?

PostPosted: Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:41 am
by John A.
I know you said you weren't a big fan of the receiver mounted shell holders. I understand. I feel the same way.

Though the ones that I have been using lately have been really good quality though. And use the existing trigger/hammer hole and come with the extended bolts to replace them with. No drilling, no glue or adhesive that will come off. And you can quickly convert it back to factory in less than 2 minutes. I gave less than $10 for them on ebay and they're aluminum.

Probably not really as necessary on a hunting gun, but I tend to keep some buckshot and slugs on the side of mine because I usually am on security detail for bears and things while the younger kids are squirrel hunting so it's more for piece of mind and a ease than anything.