Well, I am pretty much done with my Remington 870 I got for $260, sold off the long barrel, with that money it was exactly the same for the 20 inch smooth barrel I did buy. I bought sling studs and a new cap, swivels and a sling. All told with those parts it was $300 altogether.
One thing I am doing is replacing the shell carrier with the newer slotted version which meant getting a new bolt and slide, all of which is on order. I have a guy who wants to buy those parts for an older gun so I think I will do ok. If I can get $50-$60 for the old parts I will do alright. Shot it already, patterns nice with 00 buckshot. If the temps ever get above "Colder than a well digger's butt" I will try some slugs and play around some more.

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Vaya con Dios

Nice looking shoty. I did similar with mine but its not as purdy. I camo painted it and kept the original barrel. It does double duty, home defense and turkeys.

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“Look life in its iron face”

That is a sweat looking shotgun. Did you convert it from a bird gun?

David ... I think your project worked out beautifully. Even if the cost came out a few $ above budget, you have what you want and are ready to defend house and hearth.

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I'm with the banned ...

Yes the gun originally had a 30 inch full choke vent rib barrel. I put the barrel up for sale and got $125 for it, then I found the 20 inch barrel and it cost me $125 almost exactly. So replacing the barrel cost nothing. Plus if I want to hunt deer with it, the rifle sight smooth barrel will work well.

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Vaya con Dios

Looking good. Some people like to switch out the standard carrier dog follower spring to the heavy one on defense 870s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1G4...yer_detailpage

And if your new bolt has a MIM extractor and you want to switch to forged: https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=zPR7_GJkyeM

Is that glare on the stock and forearm or does it need refinishing?

This is precisely what I'd want for a HD shotgun that can also fill many requirements of a field gun.

The only rub is that you can't use a five-shot or more gun to hunt species that require no more than three rounds in the gun, like many migratory birds. And installing and removing a plug is a big nuisance.

For that reason, I'd want a std. shotgun with 26-28-inch bbl. for hunting and that slug gun for deer and such other animals as it's legal for.

Nice looking 870! I picked up two 870 Express models in the late '80s from co-workers at the end of deer season for $150 each. Kept one stock and my 21 year old son has "claimed" it for his own. The other one was converted to a "riot" gun with a 20" rifle sight barrel, a factory magazine extension, and a factory 870P synthetic stock and forend set. I used this for work when I went on the road in the early '90s until my employer finally bought enough shotguns for the road staff in 1996.
Both of the old Expresses work very well, but my modified one is finish challenged due to a leaky 1989 Caprice squad car trunk..

The finish is how I got it, the gun was pretty well taken care of by the original owner who I met at the shop where I got it. He bought it for hunting by never used it much.

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Vaya con Dios

"Shoty"??????????

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Forum consigliere

Nice looking 870 sir. They are certainly fun to build and give excellent service.

A LGS had a nice collection of HP trade in 870s with 20 inch barrels, 3 inch magnum receivers for $199. I grabbed the nicest they had and am in the process of converting it to a turkey gun. Already added a 28" barrel and wrapped in camo tape. Waiting on a new laminated stock set to arrive now.

I dispatched an armadillo with it yesterday.