10-shot "Grab and go" Remington 870!

I kept my latest creation pretty simple. Model 12 Winchester with a Poly Choke removed. Added a Hi Viz front sight to the remaining 23" barrel and ended up with fast handling six shooter. Hangs over my shop door.
 

Attachments

  • Winchester M-12 1956.jpg
    Winchester M-12 1956.jpg
    109 KB · Views: 52
tempImageesnTnP.heic

When you run out of ammo.
 
What about the rounds in the magazine and chamber? It seems to me you can carry more than 10.

You are right, but I do not choose to leave the chamber or the magazine loaded (for safety and spring over-compression reasons) for any length of time. Loading the gun is quick and easy with the ammo so readily accessible.

John
 
I have an 870 and a few others too but I am not interested in any light or electronic sights. Maybe I am in the minority here but I always want to literally remain in the dark and not give my position away at night with a light. IMHO, a bad guy will naturally shoot at the light or laser source - something I think is a bad situation. If you are aiming the gun then that means the light is right between your eyes - perfect head shot target for the bad guy!

My solution...... I have four 2 watt equivalent LED night lights strategically placed in our home. They are very very dim however because it's our home I know the layout - every square inch and my eyes would more than likely be adjusted to the dark - not his. An intruder does not know the layout and while the night lights would benefit me greatly, it would not do much for the bad guy. IMHO this is a better solution for me. Same case with a hand gun - no light or laser on it. I do have a small and powerful flashlight right next to my pistol to grab, but I would hold it out as far as my arm would go before turning it on if needed. Like police training did in the 70's and 80's.

IMHO, the light attached to a pistol is more about selling lights than self defense common sense - but I for one, am not buying all the hype! So is my theory a good one or a bad one? You decide.

Good point. That's why the light on my gun is capped so I can choose whether or not to use it or mistakenly employ it.

John
 
Got an 870 Marine that I keep a 6 rd buttstock strip (offside), but I have been toying with the idea of a Mesa 4 shot side-saddle/rail with a red dot on top....Thinking about the 4 shot saddle, as I like the stock fore-end, but more capacity would interfere with the charging action on a stock Remington. Would this be too much into the realm of "tacti-cool, but overthinking"...? As is, I would have 13 shot capacity, with one chambered....

Any opinions? Always open to experience or polite opinions!
 
I have never fired one,,
but, what about those "shorty shells" in 12 gauge,,

Does an 870 cycle them??
Wouldn't that almost double the magazine capacity??

You do not need full power rounds in a home defense situation,, do you??

(I am not a shotgun guru,, that is why I ask)
I

While not expert on anything, I have attended various combat/defensive shotgun courses along with Remington LE armorer certs for 700/870/1187 and IMO, no. The Remington shotguns won't reliably cycle the current "mini-shells" and I'm unaware of any current adapter allowing them to do so, ie; Opsol for the Mossbergs. I'm basing this on a long time ago though and 3 current brands of short ammo; Federal, Aquilla, Nobel.
IMO, my current Shockwave, the 590S is the only way to fly. It's claim to fame is ability to fire the shorter 1-3/4" interchangeably with standard 2-3/4 and 3" without mods or adapter.
 
I

While not expert on anything, I have attended various combat/defensive shotgun courses along with Remington LE armorer certs for 700/870/1187 and IMO, no. The Remington shotguns won't reliably cycle the current "mini-shells" and I'm unaware of any current adapter allowing them to do so, ie; Opsol for the Mossbergs. I'm basing this on a long time ago though and 3 current brands of short ammo; Federal, Aquilla, Nobel.
IMO, my current Shockwave, the 590S is the only way to fly. It's claim to fame is ability to fire the shorter 1-3/4" interchangeably with standard 2-3/4 and 3" without mods or adapter.

THIS! I've got the Model 590S Shockwave too. Mine also has the lasersaddle. Very nice if things go thump in the night. Plus with the shorty shells, I would think that it would be less of a problem for family members in different rooms or neighbors.
Larry
 
THIS! I've got the Model 590S Shockwave too. Mine also has the lasersaddle. Very nice if things go thump in the night. Plus with the shorty shells, I would think that it would be less of a problem for family members in different rooms or neighbors.
Larry

Absolutely, what little experience I have with the shorts, doesn't include ballistics tests, but I think in across the room distances, found within average homes, both the buck and slug rounds provide ample stopping power with significant reduced penetration. I think they're a good deal in that regard.
Along with the increased mag capacity and reduced recoil. I think there's potential for an increase in both shell development and sales if more guns could fire them reliably.
 


A number of years ago I put together a 12-gauge Model 870 that I could grab quickly to address extreme self-defense situations.

Rounds on board: 10

Lighting for dark or dim environments: on the charging grip with lights-out cap.

Quick sighting: prominent front sight.

Reliability: excellent

Warning signal: shuck-shuck

I think it would settle pretty much any situation.

Anyone else done this?

John

I put this one together in 1987 from parts bought at the LA County Gun Show. It is a copy of a USMC M870 MK1. I used it to teach Combat Shotgun courses while stationed at Naval Station Long Beach. Still have it. Saw an original USMC M870 MK 1 sell at a Morphy Auction for $16,000 a couple of years back. Will keep mine! Yes, you can mount a bayonet on it.
 

Attachments

  • USMC Remington M870 Mk 1.jpg
    USMC Remington M870 Mk 1.jpg
    34.8 KB · Views: 36
  • Combat Shotgun Instructor Cert..jpg
    Combat Shotgun Instructor Cert..jpg
    156.7 KB · Views: 25
Last edited:
I spent a few of my young years hunting deer with a 12ga pump but never considered it the ideal defense long gun . I would rather have a model 12 winny over the remmy even with less cartridges . What you might hear would be shuck - sh-bang with the trigger held back or a !!

Today like a few others here my defensive "long gun " will be a AR15 with back to back 30 round mags , ether my carbine or braced 10.5" pistol . My reply to hearing that first "shuck " would be bang bang bang bang and so on and the forword shuck motion might not be heard !
 
The need for a light on the platform will vary by your circumstances. We are older adults and do not have kids, just two dogs. The odds of a mistaken ID issue occurring are so close to zero as to be a non-issue. The house is surrounded by a 6' chain link fence and the garage has a mounted pair of floodlights. The likelihood of a stupid/drunk college kid or someone else of that nature making an error are also close to zero. One has to make come conscious decisions to present the appearance of a threat.
Admittedly as I get older I do prefer my AR (BCM Pat Rogers specifications with light and RDS). If I find it necessary to consider firing any weapon in the house, the first issue has to be adequate penetration. Small shot (less than #4) has been shown to be inadequate, especially with larger or heavily dressed offenders. I actually prefer 000 and slugs most of the time. The research indicates the the low recoil Federal #1 has the best combination of penetration and total damage, but it hard to get so I got stuff I can buy in bulk.

Once gain, as I regularly say: the best investment are those that make someone go elsewhere and will also show that the invader has really had to work to get to the point where they might need to be shot. Fences, lights, and protective dogs having to be overcome is good evidence that the offender is a real threat. (BTW - if one creates the impression that they are a threat, but it turns out they are not, should not be a legal issue. Example: idiots with AirSoft or other plausible replicas.)
 
I have a couple of choices nearby if needed quickly. One is the Remington 870 TAC 14 Hardwood with 5+1 round mag, but my favorite choice is my Sig MPX SBR in 9mm. I've recently removed the light, put a forward grip on it and put a folding AK type stock on it. With the red dot it's really easy to hit your target. I also have an AR-15 nearby if needed.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_8551.jpg
    IMG_8551.jpg
    93.8 KB · Views: 15
  • IMG_7177.jpg
    IMG_7177.jpg
    108.4 KB · Views: 12
Last edited:
I prefer to use a shotgun in the house. Bird shot, followed by 00 buck shot. I have the 870 shown above and a Winchester Model 12 with an 18.25 inch barrel also. Yes, have AR's and several handguns available. Slugs of any kind tend to penetrate to many walls and maybe the neighbors houses.
 
I also have this option; loaded magazine quickly available.



John



Just an FYI.
I loaded two dozen first gen magpul pmags the day obuma was elected and this year fired those mags/ammo in competition. They are now replaced with 3rd gen p-mags and more modern ammo.
So at least AR mags I'm certain they can go 1.5 decades and since they are $10 to $12 just toss them after that time and buy the newest generations or replace the spring for $4.
 
I prefer to use a shotgun in the house. Bird shot, followed by 00 buck shot. I have the 870 shown above and a Winchester Model 12 with an 18.25 inch barrel also. Yes, have AR's and several handguns available. Slugs of any kind tend to penetrate to many walls and maybe the neighbors houses.
I agree. At normal inside house distances, a good old cheap low brass #8 can ruin someone's day. IIRC and my in vast pile of info I've kept over the years, it seems I had read an FBI ballistics report on this subject. I think the test had #4 Buck as a good all-around load for effectiveness without over penetration.
ETA:
The real test may be finding #4 these days?
 
Last edited:
I've said this before, I simply don't like lights attached to firearms. YMMV and it does, considerably. I have a sweet pitbull terrier asleep in my bedroom but that might change for an intruder. I won't know until she decides to get defensive. And I've seen her defensive. A 3" M686+ is within the reach of my hand when I'm in bed and a loaded Ithaca Model 37 (#7 birdshot is all that I ever use) stands ready in my closet. As Clint Smith has said, you use your handgun to fight your way to your long arms. No lights on guns, there are nightlights scattered around the house so it's never 100% dark. There are five more handguns positioned where I can get to them easily depending on where I am. No lights are attached, and even the hidden, standard-capacity pistols sleep without lights attached. YMMV as noted.
 
While I typically have other defensive firearms that I gravitate towards, I do seem to always have an 870 somewhere nearby. Just too many years behind one and have much respect for what it can accomplish. Mine's outfitted much like the first picture that Paladin posted, but I do also keep a couple Brenneke slugs in the side saddle as an option.
 
Tac 14 with a +1 and a brace. No light on this one. I kinda miss my KSG, but even though it never malfunctioned on me I didn't have full confidence in it like I do with an 870.

I do wish it could eat the mini shells though. Those little 00buck rounds are neat!
 
Back
Top