sent my 870 Express HD to AIPPI...

[roar]

and I am thoroughly happy and impressed with the work he did on my shotgun. This shotgun was the very first firearm that I ever purchased, so I have always wanted to hang on to it. This isn't supposed to be an advertisement for J.D., but I just want to let people know how happy I am with the work done on my 870. All of the work done is solid.

It did come with the crappy bead blasted finish, and had some finicky extraction issues. I read that the extraction issue is easily solved by polishing the chamber. I could have done this polishing job, and perhaps the installation of some of the other gear myself, but the refinishing job performed by AIPPI along with the fact that an 870 armorer would be going over the weapon himself sold me on the idea of sending it off. I had heard great things about AIPPIs shotguns so I figured what the hell.

The extraction issue is resolved, and I will show additional pictures in a second post of how accurate you can be with the Big Dot. I still need to smooth out the action some more (after the refinishing) by blasting away at some more targets.

I had J.D. carry out the following work:

Refinish the entire shotgun
Replace the extractor and carrier dog spring with Police versions
Install a Mesa Tactical 6 shell side saddle
Install a Wilson Combat oversized safety
Install an XS Big Dot as a replacement of the original tiny brass bead
Replace the Express sporting forend with a Speedfeed LE forend, to accomodate the new side saddle.

The new parkerized finish feels tough, looks tough, and takes a real nice black shade when oiled. Much better than the original finish.

Apart from the standard cool additions, I really think the XS Big Dot is a great improvement and upgrade from the brass bead.

Here are some pictures

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r260/cheeselbucket/IMG_4952.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r260/cheeselbucket/IMG_4959.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r260/cheeselbucket/IMG_4960.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r260/cheeselbucket/IMG_4963.jpg

[roar]

Here is a picture to give you a rough estimate of the range I was shooting at:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r260/cheeselbucket/03d6035c.jpg

Here is a picture of some 1 ounce slugs put on target with the big dot, along with some holes made by a standard Federal power-shok 00 buck shell.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r260/cheeselbucket/77646259.jpg

Here is a picture of how some Federal Tactical 00 buck with the flight control wad patterned at that same distance. A pretty good improvement I think.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r260/cheeselbucket/3496e948.jpg

[Berto]

NICE!! It looks all business now.:cool:

People underestimate what an SG with slugs can do, even at 100yrds...

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/8125/shotgun004.jpg

Gotta love the cookie holes they make too, especially with brennekes.:supergrin:

[roar]

Nice shooting! I need to pick up more Brennekes myself. Nasty slugs.

[Berto]

I like your sling set up, need one of them for my 870.

[roar]

The sling set up along with the stock shell holder is from spectregear.com. I have the 3-point CQB sling, but I usually just use it in a 2-point fashion when I have it on. I keep the sling off while it's in the house, and then I also removed the stock shell holder for now as well. Six additional shells adds a bit of weight, so I will only add it back on if a situation like "The Road" ever happens.

[B Coyote]

I really like that XS bead.

bc

[byf43]

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r260/cheeselbucket/IMG_4963.jpg

VERY nice!!!!!


Nice job, J.D.!!!!

[sgt-spam]

Great timing - I'm getting ready to send mine out to be refinished soon.

Your weapon looks great!

[roar]

Thank you!

[sciolist]

Cool. I'll probably send mine in too, but may have to buy another 870 from him first, lol.

I thought the HD's all came with cobb forends. That Speedfeed looks just like the OE piece on my HD.

[WhiskeyUnicorn]

Nice 870! I'm in the slow process (Buying a house -.-) of refinishing my 870. Hopefully it'll be as nice as yours! Great SG man.

[dc2integra]

Came out real nice.

[speedsix]

The Rem 870 is a great shotgun but not perfect. The finish does nothing to protect it against rust. Also the internals can be a little rough. I bought a new Rem 870 HD about 10 years ago and only recently decided to go over it.

I replaced the brass bead with a fiber optic sight but after seeing your night sight, I wish I had gone that way instead. It looks ideal.

I took it apart and deburred everything and polished and generally cleaned up what was needed to improve the action. It has never malfunctioned but it doesn't hurt to make sure there are no burrs. After a decade of neglect and hard shooting it is just getting broken in. The best shotguns are old shotguns because they are smooth and broken in.

[roar]

Cool. I'll probably send mine in too, but may have to buy another 870 from him first, lol.

I thought the HD's all came with cobb forends. That Speedfeed looks just like the OE piece on my HD.

Mine is from a few years ago. It came with the longer sporting style forend.

Nice 870! I'm in the slow process (Buying a house -.-) of refinishing my 870. Hopefully it'll be as nice as yours! Great SG man.

thanks!

Came out real nice.

I think it did for sure.

The Rem 870 is a great shotgun but not perfect. The finish does nothing to protect it against rust. Also the internals can be a little rough. I bought a new Rem 870 HD about 10 years ago and only recently decided to go over it.

I replaced the brass bead with a fiber optic sight but after seeing your night sight, I wish I had gone that way instead. It looks ideal.

I took it apart and deburred everything and polished and generally cleaned up what was needed to improve the action. It has never malfunctioned but it doesn't hurt to make sure there are no burrs. After a decade of neglect and hard shooting it is just getting broken in. The best shotguns are old shotguns because they are smooth and broken in.

The original finish definitely sucked. Hopefully I can go out shooting again to break in the shotgun some more. You make an interesting point about old shotguns.

After shooting with it, and playing around in different light settings, i definitely love the big dot I chose.

[bsg1]

looks very nice and businesslike. congratulations on a great shotgun.