Used 870 Express "renovation"

**Swamp Rat** · 12-23-2009, 07:41 PM

Okay, so I ne'er replaced the 870 Express that got stolen from my truck a couple of years back. I wasn't really missing it, but I still wanted one. Well, I finally found what I was looking for.... a project gun.

I have no idea where the thing came from. I found it at a local gun shop, used, sitting in the rack. Nobody was gonna bite on it, at least, it didn't appear so. The gun was a police department trade-in, some evidence in some long disposed case - it was a basic 870 Express (12 gauge) that someone had rattle-can painted. Not well, either. GLOSSY brown paint with some GLOSSY green leaves stenciled on.

No more.

Close examination showed NO mechanical issues... a bright clean bore. Paid $170 for it and walked out.

I wanted to make this gun about a twin of the one that, so I pecked around and found a new (I think) synthetic stock on eBay. Remington brand, with the Limbsavr pad already installed. Bought it.

Today, I took it apart and stripped the paint off the metal parts. With some good spray paint remover, it was like wiping butter off. Easy, just a it messy. Degreased it, and sprayed the first coat of NEW rattle-can on it... a base of matte dark green. The rest will go on tomorrow. Then I will await the arrival of the "add-ons":

Briley extended light modified choke tube
Truglo front sight
Replacement magazine cap with pre-installed sling swivel stud
High vis orange magazine follower
Magazine plug (could have made it, but decided to go "stock")
New neoprene sling with swivels

Get all that in and installed, and it's gonna be put to work killin' stuff. If I'd waited around, I probably could have bought a new one for close to what I have in this one, but this will be "original".

Realize I should have posted some pics, but I will put up the "end product" when it's ready.

**Glenn** · 12-23-2009, 08:06 PM

Sounds nice man.

Thanks for saving one from the scrap pile.

**Wing Nut** · 12-23-2009, 08:07 PM

Swampy you are getting bad about the pics. JK, sounds like a cool project show us some pics of the final product.

tradorion · 12-23-2009, 08:09 PM

what a pal

any luck on a spare choke for the Finder's Fee??

**Swamp Rat** · 12-23-2009, 08:19 PM

You need a full choke tube? I have that, and, SOMEWHERE, a modified one. I'm putting together, over time, a five-tube kit for all purposes.

Improved cylinder for GP "over decoys" and doves
Light modified (on order already) for jump shooting and such
Light Full for buckshot
Turkey Full for, well.... turkeys.
Fifth position to be debated....

tradorion · 12-23-2009, 08:24 PM

tryin to steal your spare Mod choke

**Swamp Rat** · 12-23-2009, 08:25 PM

It's yers. No problemo. I just need to find it. I may actually have two.

**Rebel Yell** · 12-23-2009, 09:19 PM

sounds like the ultimate "tool box" gun - that one would be a good candidate for a duracoat job

**FLS** · 12-24-2009, 01:23 PM

Cool project. I did pretty much the same ting except for the paint. I had a beater 870 I upgraded. New stocks, new sling, new magazine components, Calsons steel shot chokes and a Hi Vis bead. My youngest shoots it. Damn fine "cheap" shotgun. Did the same thing with a 1300 turkey gun that was given to my eldest. Found a 28" barrel on Gunbroker, added a sling and some Carlsons chokes and its a duck slayin machine. If I wasnt so attached to my old 390, I'd build another one to hunt with.