Awhile back i decided on converting my standard 870 express with a modified choke to an all out turkey gun. Here is the gun with the tom I had harvested this year. The bird was a 19.5 pound 2 year old with an 8 1/8" beard. The gun was just a factory reminton 870 express 12 ga with a factory modified choke.
at the scene of the harvest
I had added a BSA scope and Barska rail along with a Tru Glo Gobble Stopper choke pictured here.
The gobble stopper put up great numbers at 35 yards even with high brass.
I have since shot it with my turkey shells and it throws a great pattern. I recorded 34 hits in the gobblers head and neck area at 30 yards. With a little fine tuning it should have a lot more than that.
I was going to be done here, but I got a great deal on a Blackhawk Talon Stock from eBay. This stock reduces recoil by 70 percent and has a very well placed thumbhole stock. The stock also has a storage compartment in the rear as well. I am very happy with both the looks, and the quality of the construction on this stock. I was against putting on a different stock because I assumed it would only add to the appearance to the gun. This stock does that, and a lot more. While playing with it in the living room I now see that the thumbhole stock makes it a lot easier to hold the scope steady. The recoil reduction system on the stock will also be a lot better for quicker target acquisition on follow up shots, and reducing the pounding that an 870 express can give you, even with just 3 " shells. Here is what my 870 express looks like now.
I am planning on now finding the best ammo to work for this gun and choke. I will also be fine tuning the scope. The stocks recoil reduction system is not currently working correctly because the original buy had removed a key that keeps the spring compressed until the top section of stock is put in place. I am in the process of finding out how to compress the spring to get over this issue.
I am also seriously contemplating getting a short barrel in the future. 22-24". This gun is a tad heavy right now, and a bit combersome with the 28" barrel, but will wait on the shorter barrel for a few years (maybe). Once I find the best load, and choke combo this gun will be sure to be a turkey slayer. I may get the rest of the parts dipped to match but not sure that it will be worth the $175.00 average. Many have asked why I had put so much into this 870, and why I did not just purchase a used 1187 in 3.5" or something like that. This gun was a gift to me from my cousin for graduating college at the top of my class. I harvested my first turkey with this gun, and plan on making that a yearly routine. This old girl has never been abused and will continue to get the love and respect she deserves. She may one day end up finding a permanant spot the hands of my son or grandson, but for right now, you could not give me 1,000 for this rig.
It was a lot of fun watching my standard issue 870 express go from a run of the mill shotgun, to a head turning future turkey slayer. I feel that even with all the mods that were done to this gun coming up to around $250.00 or so, the turkey I harvested this year would agree that the standard 870 express with a factory choke, and a simple bead will still do the job. This gun is now my personal favorite, and will be sure to put a lot of birds down before its retirement, which should be about the same time that I retire. Thanks for the look, and IS IT TURKEY SEASON YET??
