Crow Busters Forum

AnthroHunter · Newbie

Is my 870 enough?

Bob · Guru

Welcome.

It's not the bow or arrow, it's the Indian behind it. Nothing wrong at all with the 870 Remington, in fact it's it's a wonderful crow gun. A modified choke is a very good all around choke for crows. I would choose either a 26 or 28 inch barrel length on your 870.

Here are two 870 Remington's that I use on crows.

Bob A.

AnthroHunter · Newbie

Thank you sir.

Yeah my question was more about barrel length and choke set ups. I was also curious to as what the average distance of wing shooting crows was - although I am guessing that varies by location, season, weather and a host of other variables.

Guess I have to look into getting my hands on a better suited barrel. (or just go overkill and borrow my friend's dad's old bps 10 goose gun)

Lone Star Phil · Senior Member

Anthro:

Bob has put more crows on the ground than the rest of us ne-er-do-wells and his suggestion is as good as his reputation.

Every family should have at least one home defense gun and you're there already. Find another barrel of one of the lengths like Bob suggested that will accommodate screw-in chokes and you're good to go for dove, duck, pheasant, grouse, turkey and coyote.

Love the pumps!!

Bob · Guru

Anthro,

In regard to the average yardage crows are killed at around the country varies. But the greater bulk of them (field hunting, run & gun or flyway hunting) are killed inside of 40 yards.

I hunt crows for several months because all the crows that I hunt are all migrants out of Canada. During that three month stretch I would say that the greater bulk of the crows I shoot are shot between 20 to 40 yards. In that time period perhaps 500 might be shot at 50 yards and beyond during the season.

Bob A.

Mainehunt · Guru

Hey Man, Welcome to Crowbusters!

I agree with Bob on the barrels and choke. I hunt with Modified, Full and one of my double barrels is I/C in both barrels. It's my favorite.

I have been in many gun shops that had a box or barrel full of shotgun barrels. I have seen 870 barrels for as little as $40.

Kev

nhcrowshooter · Guru

870's are great guns, that's why over 10 million of them have been sold. Does your home defense 870 have a "normal" stock or is it a tactical short pistol grip style? A tactical stock is not as well suited for wing shooting. Like the barrels 870 stocks and forends are inexpensive and plentiful. Forget about using the 10ga BPS for crows unless you reload, there are no suitable factory loads in 10ga for crow hunting, they are either heavy goose loads using non-toxic shot or heavy turkey loads with lead. Both are very expensive and will kick you silly leaving you sore after a few rounds.

AnthroHunter · Newbie

@nhcrow

Ha. No, got a hogue youth overmolded on it. I got them little alligator arms and a wide chest so I enjoy the 12" lop on it.

They only thing I would have to do is make the spacer for behind the barrel ring in order to fit a normal remington. Remington started making the 6+1 guns with a full 6 shot tube vs the older style 4 tube with a +2 extension. Nothing a short piece of aluminum conduit cut to length and hit with a rattle can wouldn't fix.

Related note. I was trying to see about picking up an h&r pardner barrel. One way pardner clone differs from the 870 is the barrel ring is moved forward. I wanted to see if it matched closer to the new "tactical" (that word drives me nuts some times) model 870.But I can't find used barrel and the guns go for around 180 on sale.

Big Honkers · Guru

Im no ballistics expert but I would think an 18 inch barrel could put plenty of crows on the ground. It may take a bit to get used to though...

Can any of you fellers see a reason why a guy should not hunt with an 18 inch barrel?

The only point of caution that comes to mind is if hunting with a partner....you'd want to stand a good ways apart. If standing together in a blind the shorter barrel would be bringing the muzzle blast a lot closer to your buddy.

BH

needmorebacon · Veteran Member

Im not certain honkers but I know some of the 18in barrels are fixed and come in "cyl" barrel which would make it a bit tough I would think. Id just think for 50-10 bucks a guy would be better off and have more options choke wise.

mshelton · Member

AH, I use an 870 as well and am like most a run and gun crow hunter. The gun originally came with a 30" barrel and did the job but wasn't the best when trying to jam hide up under a tree or some brush then pop out and take a shot. Ended up finding a 21" with screw in chokes that is about as perfect for me as I could want, way less hang up issue when trying to get a swing on things. I don't know how much velocity I'm giving up compared to the 30" but it seems to do the trick.

billboytx · Member

I think one of your options and probably the least expensive would be to have your 18 inch barrel threaded for screw in chokes. If you like the way the 18 inch barrel points and swings, go for it. Some folks like longer barrels - I used to shoot short barrel guns, but have moved to longer barrels over the years. I shot a Remington 1100 Special Field for several years (they don't make it any more) 20 gauge, straight stock, 21 inch barrel, fixed choke / Improved Cylinder - would hold three shells plus one in the chamber for a total of four - made for a great quail gun, fast pointing. I have shot everything with that gun - crows, pigeons, quail, dove, ducks, turkey, a couple of geese and one curlew by mistake. Shot ten teal one morning down by the coast back when Texas was on the point system in the mid 80's - limit on ducks was 100 points and teal were worth ten points each- made some nice gumbo that afternoon. Current bird gun is 30 inch, choked full and full - normally shoot doves and crows with it using Remington Nitro 27 Gold, I don't shoot steel through it as the gun was made in the 20's - I have shot quail with it on a real windy day, it's deadly.

billboytx

KenCrow · Senior Member

Anthro

Welcome to the most exciting sport in the galaxy!

Your Rem. 870 is a great gun, but for crow hunting, I always use an automatic. Why? Because it recycles quicker than a pump, and the motion of reloading a new shell into the chamber is eliminated, compared to a pump. The auto does this for you. Also when using a pump, the question often arises...did I pump the gun after that last shot, so a new shell is in the chamber? Easy to check for a new shell, but a loss of time also, when you should be looking for your next victim!

I always use a 26" barrel, that uses screw-in chokes. Screw chokes allow versatility, so that I can select the choke that I need, in order to get the pattern density that I want, WITH THE SHELL THAT I AM USING! You should ALWAYS pattern your gun with the shell you are going to use, as NOT all shells shoot the same with the same choke. Very often, promotional, less expensive shells will not shoot, for example, full choke pattern, even with a full or extra full choke. And always use NO. 7.5 or 8 shot. Crows are not very tenacious of life, and you don't need buckshot to kill them!

Kencrow

nhcrowshooter · Guru

KenCrow wrote:
And always use NO. 7.5 or 8 shot. Crows are not very tenacious of life, and you don't need buckshot to kill them!
Kencrow

After you have shot a few boxes of 7.5 and 8 try some 5's or 6's and you'll see the difference a little larger shot size makes. A number of people on here have done that and found significantly improved performance when the range gets out to 35 yards and beyond with 5's and 6's. Don't take my word for it, try it yourself and you'll see the difference real quick.

motiondecoy · Guru

I have used one like that-it was an ex-police "riot" shotgun and the way i shoot crows i just couldn't MISS! But understand this;I do not shoot my crows long range at all. The idea is to get them in close enough so that if i miss I won't the second time! So that is my style. If you shoot pass style as with ducks or geese it might not be ideal but what you have there is very very ideal indeed!

(yes it was remington)

motiondecoy · Guru

I can do long range and close range myself but i prefer them in really close as this is where the doubles and triples come in

motiondecoy · Guru

I love the 18 inch shotgun barrel-very very deadly for me on crows. but I want to emphasize I am well aware of the different shotguns people use and shot-that is great as the best shotgun? The one you have ! The best loads? the one you use!

wingmaster · Senior Member

I have use my 870 in 20ga and 16ga works fine 8 shot in Winchester AA and 8 shot Federal 1oz load. Got under trees in lows top of trees use mod choke in both.

chip · Guru

I will stay away from this one wink Been down this road tooooo many times!!

crow187 · Veteran Member

I use a Mod 870 as a back-up to my Mod. 1100. If I could get a belt fed 1100, I wouldn't need a back-up.