Opinions on top folder for 870

J

Joe 543

New member
I'm toying with the idea of getting a top folding stock for my 870. I'd like to hear everyones opinion on the matter. It would make carrying/storing the weapon more convienent. It's carried more that It's shot. I use Fed Tactical rds so recoil is not that much of an issue.

Thanks!
 
I have the factory top folder...

and it hurts the web of my hand when I shoot it. When mounted on the shoulder, that metal buttplate (the skimpy 1/8" piece of rubber doesn't count as a buttpad) bruises the shoulder. I switched to a fixed Speedfeed (holds 4 extras) and have been happy since then.

On the other hand, if you're beefier than me, you may not notice it at all.
 
I have the Rem top folder on mine, here's a pic:

View



I like the top folding style stock. Like you, I was looking for compactness. Since this SG is not used as often as my other SG's the fact that it is not "perfect" doesn't matter to me. The stock is functional and as long as I don't shoot 3" mags in it it is not bad. I keep the Fed tactical stuff for it and it shoots fine.

Of course a fixed stock is much better as far as shootability but if size is a factor, a folder is the only way to go.
 
I'd like to know too

I've been asked about this stock a few times as well. Can one get a good cheek weld with the metal folder? TIA,

Justin
 
The early Remington factory folders were recalled due to their actually cutting some cheeks open. This was rectified, but shooting that slim metal butt feels like getting a canoe paddle hammered into one's shoulder with standard loads.

Shooting one of these with the stock extended can be done all right, but my need for compactness would have to be great before I had one...
 
Is there some way to get a thicker recoil pad to attach to a top folder's buttplate? I wonder if it is thicker than the factory buttpad, it will not stay down along the barrel and lock it in then folded position. It could be something to work on as a customizing job. And perhaps there could be a pad or rest that could be made to fit along the top of the stock, but i think one would have the same problems as with having a thicker butt pad.
 
Yes, it is possible to fit a thicker buttpad on the metal buttplate of the folder. However, examine the photo posted by Intel6 and you'll see straight away that the stock would never close completely (and therefore, never lock into the closed position). It would require some reworking of the folding stock to make it work and quite frankly, wouldn't be cost effective. Perhaps a better method would be an aftermarket :barb: side folder. Sorry, but I have strong reservations about a lot of these aftermarket firms.
 
Love Mine

Both of my 870 Wingmasters are so equipped. The compact nature of the Remington Factory folder makes me much more willing to toss it in the back seat rather than leave it at the bedside (at home). Both have the 7 shot extensions installed, one factory and the other a TacStar.

The first Wingmaster (immaculate condition) came with a Remington Factory folder that had been neglected. It had surface rust, so I purchased a new Remington factory folder from a friend. The second Wingmaster was a police issued gun with the original wood that I ended up purchasing from the same guy. It was not in as nice of a condition as the first specimen, and he had 'painted' the wood black with paint (ugh). Still it was quite serviceable.

I purchased a new Remington Factory folder for it and it became my house/carry gun, while the nicer example resides under a heavy coat of oil and is under lockup.

I have not installed the rubber pad on the house/carry gun. Just bare metal against the shoulder and no problems with recoil. It all has to do with the position the longarm is held in. When wielded properly, my girlfriend (who is quite petite) has no problem operating it with full powered loads 2 3/4" loads. She has a bigger problem holding the heavy thing up!

The pistol grip on the Remington Factory folder helps to distribute the recoil more evenly. Shot placement is more accurate also.

People that get 'hurt' when shooting such longarms do not know how to hold them correctly. If this offends someone here, I would suggest that they have someone take some photos of them firing. It may prove humorous. I see this at the range so often, it has become a private joke between my girlfriend and myself. Nothing like watching a full-grown man give it up and rubbing his shoulder after a tube-full, then having a 115 lb. little lady reloading through 3-4 tubes full. When they are astute enough to notice her, it is even funnier to watch their 'stance' attempt to mimmick hers. As if they 'knew' that already!

I learned it several years ago the hard way myself from a firearms instructor. I fired several rounds of full-on loads, and he was grinning at my discomfort. After he repositioned my stance and hold, it was an entirely new world.

But who am I but a novice? After all, I shoot the thing one-handed just to demonstrate to others how little recoil there is. The weight of the 870 fully loaded in conjunction with the pistol grip makes it possible. No, i don't hit anything that way...

Go for the folder. If you don't like it, there is always a market out there for them. If I pick up another Remington, I'll be in the market for one!
 
A coupla things...

First, any place where carrying a folding stock 870 as a sidearm is a good idea is way too dangerous for my family, and possibly myself.IMO,you're either overreacting or need to move.

Second, I've seen hundreds of folks use the Remington factory folder. NONE shot it as well as a standard stock when extended, and NONE shot it from the hip as well as from the shoulder. Try it,and see.

And I'm no novice. During my instruction days, I'd fire off either a trap load or 00 from the old dueling stance and get hits. When an instructor does a demo,he/she HAS to get hits.

And, back when I instructed, I never smiled because a rookie was in pain.
 
LEO Only?

I have a Remington factory folding stock on my 870 Express Magnum. I use the gun as a bedside gun and keep the stock extended. A question I have is regarding the words "Law Enforcement Only" on the side of the stock. Am I going to get any crap over that if I ever have to use my gun for self-defense? It is always kept in the house except for when I test fire it. I know its legal to have a folding stock on a pump, but I was wondering about the LEO only markings.
 
Greg, I was a college kid when I bought my 870 with the LEO folding stock. I wouldn't worry about it unless there is some law in your state prohibiting folding stocks.
 
Gary,
I guess they have been around a while. I'm not going to sweat it then. By the way, I have fired the gun several times with the stock extended with the only padding being the thin rubber that came with it. If I keep it tucked up pretty tight, it has been no problem to me. I'm not that big a guy either.
 
Dave McC

From your tone, I sense some disapproval?

I see from your profile that you live in Maryland. A fine state I might add, although it has gone quite socialist in recent years. I grew up there, and my father recently passed away there. Alas, that is another topic.

First, my life and occupation have me traveling in some bad areas throughout the country. Certainly you are not being presumptuous regarding what I should select to defend myself or my family when away from my home? The world is chock full of bad things that can happen, and I prefer to have a long gun handy. Better to have it and not need it...
Additionally, I consider a "sidearm" a handgun. I do not carry an 870 on my hip.

My life experiences differ from yours. Surely you can appreciate that.

Your tone is a bit condescending. With that being said, I must be the first exception to your 'rule'. My accuracy after replacement of the factory wood is better. I sincerely doubt many people shoot better from the hip than from the shoulder. I don't remember claiming anything of the sort. But maybe I am unorthodox. You see, I can actually AIM and fire the shotgun with a reasonable degree of accuracy with the stock folded. Follow up shots are more awkward than with the stock extended, I admit, but they are quite possible. May I suggest you try it sometime? I do prefer the stock extended, however, and deploy it as often as possible.

The folding stock has it's merits and it's demerits, and I thought that was the gist of this discussion. I see the shotgun as the single most effective and versatile tool that a person can have at there disposal in a defensive situation (outside of encounters at very close ranges). Why I should not opt to have one when I sense the need to is a lofty assertion. I have done quite well thus far. Pardon me if I continue to do so.

I know the instructor had a point to make, and humor can be quite the effective instructional tool. I didn't mind it a bit.
 
Greg, I'm retired from the Md Prison system. For more than ten years there, my duties included firearms instruction. I was picked to be an instructor because I was about the best shot around, and knew oneheckuva lot more than most everybody else about firearms in general and shotguns in particular. I taught hundreds of Correctional Officers to shot, including many unmotivated, inexperienced,stupid or getting their input on weapons from action movies, or all of the above.During that period,I was also on the weapons squad of the regional tac unit,and wrote some of the techniques,procedures,and regs for the Division concerning firearms and their use.

Before that, there was a war on,and I got a little piece of the farm. Have a shoulder that lets me know when it'll rain and some pretty ribbons.

I regard a shotgun in TRAINED hands as one of the best self defense tools possible, for the massive amounts of energy that one can dump into a target. I do not regard a folder as a good choice, from long experience.

As for a travel gun, I'd go with a 30-30 Winchester or even a lever action in a pistol caliber. Shots may run longer than the 25 yards or so where the shotgun shines, and stray pellets are more likely than stray bullets.

Also, this has come up a few times before. I suggest doing a search, and note that few serious WIHTF types either use or advocate the use of folders.

Finally, it's your life on the line, use what you think is best. All I can do is tell you what I've found to work, and why....
 
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