Good evening, SF.

I recently picked up an 18" Remington 870 for The Lovely Girlfriend to learn with. The problem we have is that the length of pull is too long for her. It's a standard stock, so LOP is something like 14". The compact/junior models are more like 12". (Remington's 81161 is what I'm really after, but can't find it anywhere.)

I'd like to keep the wooden stock and forend on this one, rather than switching to synthetic or an adjustable. So my questions are, 1) is it possible to shorten the original stock and reshape the butt pad to match it (takes greater skill than I have), or does someone (Boyd's, for instance) offer a short-LOP replacement walnut stock?

I did check Boyd's, and didn't find what I'm after, but I figure there are other companies that have similar offerings.

Thanks, all.

Search the net for a factory "Youth" stock. There are a few on ebay right now, although synthetic is likely going to be easier to find than wood.

Or you could just tell her to grow. My wife is 5'3" (I'm 6'5")...she really appreciates it when I say that .

You're trying to get me smacked, aren't ya?

Besides a youth or bantam stock, what about Magpul with all the spacers removed? LOP range is ~12.3-14.3 in.

The slightly more vertical grip may help with comfort for a smaller person, too.

Hogue makes a youth stock also.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:

You're trying to get me smacked, aren't ya?

Maybe, lol. But you could also go the other way and tell her the "youth" stock is due to her youthful appearance and beauty...might score you some points !

I know you said you are looking for a wood stock, but I've heard great things about the magpul stock that flesheatingvirus mentioned above. I know they look kinda goofy, but that are supposed to provide excellent ergonomics for operating the gun, especially for folks who need a shorter LOP.

Yes, the Magul 870 stock is great, due to both the adjustable LOP and the ergonomics. Looks weird; works great.

But if you want to retain the wood stock look, the easiest route will be to replace it with a wooden Youth stock. Cutting down your current stock and custom fitting a new buttpad is doable, but it sounds like it would require sending it off, so it could end up being more expensive than just buying and installing a used Youth stock.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
tell her the "youth" stock is due to her youthful appearance and beauty...might score you some points !

Now we're on the right path!

I'm totally down for the Magpul -- on my gun. Heck, I'd like that "tacky" rubber Hougue unit, too. TLG is not such a fan of those, though.

I'll have to keep looking for the youth stock for her gun. Last night's web search didn't return great results. I did, however, find a couple of Fieldmaster compact 870s. I'm such an 870 nerd, I'm half tempted to get one of those too.

("New gun? What new gun, sweetness?")

Put a pistol grip on it, have her shoot a box or two of 2.75” slugs and the LOP problem will sailor itself.

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:
Put a pistol grip on it, have her shoot a box or two of 2.75” slugs and the LOP problem will sailor itself.

Yeah, a gal who's probably 5 foot nothin and never used a shotgun. Give her some of the stiffest shooting 2 3/4 inch 12 gauge shells made and turn her loose. That will solve the problem, she will never ever touch a shotgun again.

Note, I shoot Skeet to the tune of 11,000 rounds last year. Also work as a Shotgun RSO. Last year at the State Skeet Championships my 4 man squad was assigned a floater because 5 man squads are required. Our floater was a fine young lady of about 10 years of age, about 4 foot 7" and all of perhaps 85 pounds. She handled the 12 gauge event quite well with a score of 87 hits out of 100 targets. So tiny little women can handle a 12 gauge shotgun if they are PROPERLY trained.

First you start with a proper mount and an emphasis on the how and why pulling the gun into the shoulder is critical. Next up is a proper cheek weld to the stock that places their shooting eye perfectly in line with the rib. If you aren't knowledgeable about how to mount a shotgun properly go to almost any shotgun specific range and ask for assistance. Shotgun ranges are very much in need to new customers and free instruction for newer shooters is Standard Operating Procedure. As for ammo, start with Low Recoil target loads, something like a 1 ounce load at 1100 fps.

PS; Occasionally I'll take a break from my Over/Unders and will take my 870 out for a round or 3 of Skeet. For those interested in becoming highly skilled with a Pump Action shotgun there is no finer means to gain those skills than by shooting Skeet. It will teach you point shooting at moving targets and how to cycle a pump fast enough to hit 2 separate targets launched at the same time.

Is it a 12ga? I’ve not had much luck finding a wood youth stock for a 12ga 870. They make synthetic youth stocks but the wood ones are hard, or impossible to find.

Here’s a comparison pic that might help.

Left to right:

- 20ga 870 express magnum with a factory wood youth stock and slide, which is extended to help with the reach.

- 12ga 870 Police with factory full size wood stock and slide.

- 12ga 870 express magnum with Hogue youth synthetic stock and extended slide

- 12ga 590 (which started life as a shockwave) with the MagPul SGA stock and no spacers.

Don’t discount the extra length slide. It makes a huge difference and I’d highly recommend getting one along with the shorter stock.

Magpul makes some great stuff and they're adjustable.

Or "Option B" is get a wood stock off the internet somewhere and start sawing. The rubber but plate will need to be trimmed, and the long bolt will need to be modified, but I think that will be pretty easy depending on how handy you are.

Don’t get those hollow Remington branded plastic stocks. Not enough weight. If you trying shooting 3” Mag buckshoot with that stock, you’ll wish you didn’t.

Another vote for the Magpul 870 stock. I replaced my folding stock and pistol grip on the 870 with it. Agree, the Magpul stock compared to the wood one looks weird but it works and holds great.

If it's going to be her shotgun and she wants a wood stock, I'd recomend taking it to a gunsmith and having it cut down and fitted with a nice recoil pad.

If you are not sure about keeping her, I'd get a used 870 stock off ebay and have it cut down.

The easy button as mention above is the Houge over molded 12" LOP stock for $79. Just make sure you read the instructions. Some of the old 870s had a steel plate that goes in front of the wooden stock, that the hogue doesn't require IIRC. I've had one on my 870 for around a decade and it's been fine with OO buck.

quote:

I'd get a used 870 stock off ebay and have it cut down.

Buy a used stock and forearm and have the stocked fitted to her with a limbsaver buttpad. You can refinish the set if need be (an easy job). And you retain the factory stock set in case you want to sell the gun down the line. You could probably sell the fitted set pretty easily if that becomes the case. Trust me give her what she wants. It will give her an investment in the gun and make her feel more involved in the process (always a good thing).

I see what you guys are doing now!
I'm going to have to buy another wooden-stocked 870 that I know I'll convert to Hogue or Magpul, and then have that stock and forend worked to fit her gun.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
I see what you guys are doing now!
I'm going to have to buy another wooden-stocked 870 that I know I'll convert to Hogue or Magpul, and then have that stock and forend worked to fit her gun.

Gunbroker has a couple used 870 police models advertised. His and Hers, just saying.

You're a pusher, man.

(Though I do like the "look what I bought us" aspect of the His and Hers plan.)

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
You're a pusher, man.

(Though I do like the "look what I bought us" aspect of the His and Hers plan.)

That way yours dosen't become hers.

I did similar a couple years ago with some used 870s from Summit gun broker. It turned into a fun project.