Drill and Tap 870

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hobbes

Drill and Tap 870

Post by hobbes »

So I went by the local gunshop/gunsmith and they are unwilling to drill and tap my 870. They said the metal is too thin.
Ive had these guys do some work a few times so believe that they are competent gunsmiths. I will say that drilling and tapping a shotgun probably isnt as common here as back east. There's probably not too many dedicated turkey guns or slug guns in MT.

I'm assuming that other folks have ran into this before???
I may just go with a saddle for now.
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CamoMan4025
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by CamoMan4025 »

I have a 20 gauge 870 SPS - Turkey gun. I had a guy in WV drill and tap it for me. He never mentioned the metal being too thin. I have a scope mounted on a rail on it and have had no problems. I would maybe get a second opinion.

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turkeyinstrut
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by turkeyinstrut »

I have had several 870's D&T over the years and never once had a problem with them but If you were going to use a FF II, III or Vortex Venom Burris makes the Speed Bead Mount, with the SB the sight sits low enough you can use your bead if you want.
reminex
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by reminex »

I drilled and tapped one probably 20 years ago in my teens. Shot a bunch of heavy loads through it and never had a problem. Still carry it about once a year. Didnt use fine thread screws either. 8-32 i believe.
yella yelper
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by yella yelper »

William at Sumtoy did a fantastic job on mine. I removed barrel and stock, mailed him the receiver, he installed his mount and shipped back to me for a very reasonable amount of time and money. Highly recommendedImageImageImage
BumbleFoot
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by BumbleFoot »

The receiver thins out in its forward section where the barrel flange inserts into the receiver. If you were to mount a full-length picatinny or Weaver rail, the 2 forward screws would likely fall in that thin part of the receiver and arguably not have sufficient “meat” to withstand the recoil of hot shells and long-term use. However, a 336 or Sumtoy mount can easily be positioned aft of the thin section and secured with 2 screws. Worry free.
hobbes

Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by hobbes »

I may look into the Sumtoy route
phutch30
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by phutch30 »

I just had 20ga 870 drilled and tapped here local and had a sumtoy mount put on. Didn't say a word about being too thin. That combo is slick
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joey46
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by joey46 »

They still make cantilever barrels? Bought one at least 15 years ago for my 12 gauge 870.
hobbes

Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by hobbes »

joey46 wrote: February 28th, 2018, 10:29 pm They still make cantilever barrels? Bought one at least 15 years ago for my 12 gauge 870.
I have a Hastings cantilever barrel, but it's a rifled barrel. I dont know if they made them for anything but slug guns.
sasquatch
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by sasquatch »

It's easy to do yourself man. Just make sure you get the two holes inline


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turkeyinstrut
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by turkeyinstrut »

hobbes wrote: February 28th, 2018, 11:06 pm
joey46 wrote: February 28th, 2018, 10:29 pm They still make cantilever barrels? Bought one at least 15 years ago for my 12 gauge 870.
I have a Hastings cantilever barrel, but it's a rifled barrel. I dont know if they made them for anything but slug guns.
Remington does (did) make a smooth bore cantilever barrel for a 870 that accepts Rem chokes, my brother had one in a 870 SP and it came with a rifled choke tube.
SumToy
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by SumToy »

The 870 IS NOT THIN. Plus it is Steel so you will be fine. Now keep in mind the big heavy set ups are harder on the mounts then the light weight stuff is all.
Fatmo
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by Fatmo »

Have several youth and regular 870, 1100 and 11-87 All are tapped and never had a problem with that in 35 years..
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Splittoe
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by Splittoe »

I drilled and tapped a youth 870 20 gauge. Plenty of metal there. Not to hard to do yourself especially if you have a drill press.
mrlongbeard
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by mrlongbeard »

I have drilled and tapped several 870’s with zero issues there is plenty of material and plenty strong . I use full length picatinny EGW rails. No problem
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TN Hunter
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by TN Hunter »

I have a 12 and 20g 870. Both are drilled/tapped. No issues with either one.


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Thumper
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by Thumper »

I`ve drilled and tapped 5 of my personal guns over the years. The 870 works great. I think the thin metal on the front screw is why they are not wanting to do the job. It does usually require you remove the protruding threads with dremel tool. The other 3 screws I use longer aftermarket 5/16" screws from Brownells in 6/48, no threads exposed at all.
2Shooter
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by 2Shooter »

turkeyinstrut wrote: March 1st, 2018, 9:04 am
hobbes wrote: February 28th, 2018, 11:06 pm
joey46 wrote: February 28th, 2018, 10:29 pm They still make cantilever barrels? Bought one at least 15 years ago for my 12 gauge 870.
I have a Hastings cantilever barrel, but it's a rifled barrel. I dont know if they made them for anything but slug guns.
Remington does (did) make a smooth bore cantilever barrel for a 870 that accepts Rem chokes, my brother had one in a 870 SP and it came with a rifled choke tube.
I've got one of the 870 SP with a 20" cantilever barrel with Rem chokes. Bought that gun in 1995, and mounted a Leupold VX II 2x7x32 heavy duplex scope on it. Called it black death, and it accounted for it's fair share of long beards!!!
hobbes

Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by hobbes »

I bought the gun Im working on, an 870 Turkey Special w/21" barrel, in 91 or 92. I killed a fair number of birds with it before switching to an 870 supermag. My oldest son killed almost a dozen birds with it before he started shooting my supermag and now Ive killed a few more birds with it the last few years.

Ive installed a shurshot stock now and think Ive convinced myself to drill and tap it myself. I may also duracoat the receiver and barrel.
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Grumpy
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by Grumpy »

Ya got 5 weeks before opening day in Montana, better get after it if you plan on it for this 2018 spring season
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MeadowCreekMounts
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by MeadowCreekMounts »

Even on a 20 gauge there is an insane amount of metal on the top of the receiver. In fact, my mount screws only go about half way through and they torque up just fine.

Those guys are nuts.
hobbes

Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by hobbes »

Grumpy wrote: March 7th, 2018, 4:29 pm Ya got 5 weeks before opening day in Montana, better get after it if you plan on it for this 2018 spring season
I've got other options if necessary and I can still hunt with it the way it is for that matter, although I'd probably go back to the old cheap wooden stock if I don't get the sights installed. I'm beginning to wonder if we will be hunting in the snow on the opener this year.

I'll be driving through your area next week on the way to and from Glasgow and Nashua for work.
jmercmon
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by jmercmon »

Anyone have a link to the Picatinny Rail they used on their 870 20ga?

I found this one on mesa tactical https://mesatactical.com/picatinny-rail ... gton-5-in/ but I am unsure if it will fit on a 20ga. Will a rail that fits a 12ga also fit a 20ga?

Thanks
J
Hobbes
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Re: Drill and Tap 870

Post by Hobbes »

Some of the guys here will be able to help you, but I ended up just using a saddle mount. It worked well last year, so I'm leaving well enough alone.
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