Modding an 870 for trap

[L]

Just thought Y'all might be interested in what i am up to.... and I am planning to get an actual trap model 870 eventually i am just trying
to do small (read cheap/affordable) mods until i can find/get a nice trap model.



As the topic states I am currently thinking of/ am modding a Rem 870 for the purpose of shooting Trap.

The firearm I am starting with is a basic Remington 870 Express Magnum, with a 28inch barrel.
and It currently wears the factory field stock, which is wood.

The first modifications I did was put on a limbsaver recoil pad. ($35) and a full choke $35ish)
I Then i went and shot 5 rounds of trap with it, that was rather painful, not only did the thing kick the snot out of you, it also had a terribly front heavy weight bias. which hampered comfortable mounting and holding of the gun.

The next modification i did, was adding weight to the buttstock. This was accomplished with #7&1/2 shot, i simply
filled the bolt hole in the stock with it, then i put some cotton ball stuff in behind it to prevent it rattling, and
put a piece of black duct tape over the end to hold it all in, cut the tape to be flush with the stock contours. and reinstalled
the limbsaver.

this added weight and balanced the gun out quite a bit better, (though it is still a bit front heavy) and then i went and shot
8 rounds of trap (aka 200 shots).

the result? it halved the felt recoil, and while a bit sore i wasn't in agony at the end of it. 

now for the next problem.

i got a blister on my trigger finger. yes you read that right i shot so much i got a blister on my finger.(can't recommend it it is painful!)

If you look at a factory remington 870 trigger, you will notice that they have a rater skinny trigger to start with, and it has a "step"
in it, which makes it narrower than it would otherwise be.  this also creates a rather sharp little edge to encounter every time you
shoot.

the above problem (so far) was solved by taking a round knife stone and getting rather brutal with the trigger, and smoothing the
edges out. (so far so good)


next i hope to find a trap stock for it, preferably already with an adjustable comb and buttplate already on it, though all i have found so
far are like $300. (which is about what a new gun costs) I don't mind purchasing one of these because as i stated at the top i plan to get the trap version later. So once i get the trap i can simply switch stocks and go.


keep shooting

L

[dougk]

That looks like an interesting project. 

I remember 870 trap stocks being in the $400 range http://bumpbuster.blogspot.com/2011/01/jack-west-pro-combo-stock-set.html
this is with the recoil system.

[Graybeard]

If you are shooting from the 16 yard line and not shooting handicap yardages you'll break more targets with a modified choke than full choke. You can also stop getting beat up by using one ounce rather than 1-1/8 oz and an ounce is all you need from the 16 yard line.

I've done a lot of trap shooting as well as a lot of skeet shooting. I used to own a trap/skeet range back in the mid 70s. We played a lot of money games at my range including one where we shot from 37 yards behind the house a full ten yards more than max handicap range. Now that game required full choke and a darn good load.

When I used a Model 870 it was Remington's standard B grade trap gun with the monte carlo stock. I never saw a reason for more. A longer barrel is better than a shorter one at trap in my experience. Mine was a 30" one of them was a full choke and the other had screw in choke tubes but was also 30". When I shot an O/U it was a Browning also with MC stock and 32" barrels I believe. I had a Kreighoff with the adjustable stock once and never bothered adjusting it. I had it set about as low as it would go and for me that was best.

It's your gun and your money but I'd not waste money on a multi adjustable stock. Just figure out what dimensions work for you and get a stock with them. My build is such that most standard factory stock dimensions pretty much are ideal for me. I do prefer an MC stock on a trap gun and you do want a forward bias balance on any target gun whether used for skeet, trap or sporting clays. You don't want them butt heavy as the forward weight bias helps keep you swinging and if you ain't swinging you ain't hitting.

[L]

Yeah, when i went looking i couldn't believe the prices on the adjustable stocks.

i was thinking more like $150-200...

that i could live with.

L

[George Foster]

As Graybeard has suggested to you, get a Mod choke tube to shoot from 16yds with and use a 1oz load.  A lot of your top competitors are using all 1oz loads for 16yd singles, doubles and handicap.
 
Here is a spot you should be able to find a trap stock and forend if you want for your gun.  Believe us you will be better off and shoot better with a proper stock on the gun.
 
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Products.aspx?catid=11944