First Tactical 12ga. Build! Suggestions?

[LongArmoftheLaw]

Alright so I'm looking at building up an 870 to use for home defense primarily along with the random 3-Gun match I can afford. Looking for suggestions on stocks, sights, mag tubes, and forend stuff! Let me know what ya all think!

Thanks!

[nisils14]

Mesa tactical has some neat stuff for the 870.

[JohnTRourke]

a good home defense shotgun and a good 3 gun shotgun are not really the same thing IMO.

home defense, your ranges are inside 30 feet (probably inside 20), 3 gun shoots a lot of slugs out to 100 yards. You're not ever doing either one of those things in your home.

Most 3 gun shotguns are semi-auto's (benelli's).
most home defense shotguns are pumps.

home defense: KISS

3 gun: go wild baby.

[Goodburbon]

agreed, KISS.

Weapon light for target id, everything else works as is for home defense.

[blacklabel]

I have to agree that you should keep things nice and simple for a home defense gun. 3 gun and home defense don't really jive.

[bellavite1]

SureFire light forend, best one improvement for any shotgun!

[BPTactical]

Huge difference between "Practical" and "Tactical"
HD shotty is the former
3 gun the latter

[LongArmoftheLaw]

Thanks everyone for the input! Glad I could get the suggestions about keeping a home defense and 3-gun separate! Guess I will just have to get another shotgun! haha fine by me!

[JohnTRourke]

so for home defense
simple
extended magazine. (reloading a shotgun is by far the slowest operation)
a LIGHT. the best ones just function as the forearm and when you squeeze it it goes on. automatic.
short length of pull. (clearing corners, etc),
short barrel (18.5"),
wide open choke. (cylinder) (inside of the 20 to 30 feet in a house, it's not going to open up more than an inch or two.)
simple bead sight.
if it's a pump, add a shell carrier on it, if it's a semi-auto, don't(tends to jam up with the weight, esp on a benelli)
pumps run, like a revolver, you just keep pumping if it jams. semi-autos work with less manual of arms, in worse positions (try shooting a pump under your bed), but they jam. all semi-auto's jam at some point, usually the worst possible time.

test test test. go shoot some trap and some skeet, make sure it runs well and it fits you.
teach others in your household how it works. make them practice with it.

leave it easily accessible and loaded. (I like to leave mine, hammer down on a empty chamber, i.e. cruiser ready. one pump and away we go, but nobody can just pull a trigger accidentally).

[LongArmoftheLaw]

Sounds good! Thanks again for all the input! It has helped out a lot already!