870 Mount?!?!?!!?

Robbie

I want to mount a dot scope my 870 shotgun, but I don't want to remove my sidesaddle. Does any make a mount that I can use both together?

Der Gebirgsjager

There are a couple of ways you could go on this. (1) Most shotgun scope mounts are made from formed sheet metal that attaches to the left side of the receiver and utilizes the receiver's own pins or supplied longer pins to secure the mount to the receiver. The side saddle also attaches with longer pins, so you need to create a "sandwich" with the receiver, mount, and side saddle using longer pins yet. The problem is more where to get the pins than the mount, as there are several on the market. You might be able to fudge a little by recessing the pin heads into the side saddle. All in all, probably a job for your local gunsmith, who may have to make custom pins. (2) You could go with a mount that clamps around the barrel forward of the receiver, which would require a scope with a longer eye relief. (3) I believe that a good custom 'smith could mount a Weaver-type one piece scope mount on top of your receiver using a combination of drilling and tapping and epoxy. You should view such an installation as permanent.

Robbie

Thanks for the reply. The "sandwich" idea is what I had in mind, but I can't find a mount that is flat on the left side to mount the sidesaddle over it, does any one make something like that? Or is there a way to mount it on the right side only?

Der Gebirgsjager

I don't believe that the right side idea would be an easy one to accomplish, as you have the ejection port to contend with. Certainly, any such project would be a one-of-a-kind custom job with a specially made mount. Back to the left side, there are several on the market. I don't know off-hand if they make one specifically for the 870, but Advanced Technologies makes the type that I have in mind for other guns. I'll research it a little when I get the time (later today).

Der Gebirgsjager

Here are two good candidates for your project:
(1) Millett, Mfg. #SE00020
(2) Weaver, Mfg. #48870
Several other manufacurers make mounts which might be modified; but the above look like they would work "out of the box".

Robbie

Ok, I Bought the weaver (#48870) off line because it "looked" flat on the left side from the pics on the internet, but it has 2 big screws on the left side, so I can't mount the sidesaddle and the scope together. I also know about the Millett mounts but as far Is I know they are a "saddle" mount witch requires both side of the receiver to work properly. Thanks for the help. The only other thing I can think of it to take a b-square mount and cut the left side off so it doesn't interfere with the sidesaddle. If any one has any info PLEASE post!!!

Guns & Glass

There are clamp rings that will clamp onto the scope tube(must be quality scope), and then allow mounting other small optics.
Designed for rifles, not shotguns.

You will experience a few problems. It's worse on shot guns;
>Center lines of barrel vs optics is way too high,
>Slug/shot trajectory too much of a bell curve,
>Will run out of adjustments, or strain internals,
>Felt Recoil greatly increased,
>Strength, stability will be limited unless heavily made,
>Receiver will bend inward if side mount is too tight, and it must
be tight. Smooth operation of action now affected.
>As you raise the OAH, recoil force increases tremendously. Has a
tendency to shear, and break mounts, fasteners.

Happy Bullet Holes!

Der Gebirgsjager

Looks like you're a candidate for option #3(above). I'm not too sure why the Millett would be unsatisfactory for your purposes. Perhaps you should eliminate the sidesaddle ammo holder and go to one that slips onto the buttstock, or a speedfeed buttstock. Then a scope mount would be no problem. In any event, it sounds like your project is moving more toward the "custom" than the "do-it-yourself". I'm sure that most gunsmiths could make you a one-of-a-kind left side mount if you're willing to pay for their time. Afterall, about all it would involve is a piece of sheetmetal of suitable thickness with the pin holes in the right location, bent at a 90 degree angle with a Weaver-style bar affixed to the top. Isn't the back of your sidesaddle thick enough that you can create some recesses in it for the screw heads, or maybe use a file or a grinder to reduce the size of the screw heads, or a combination of both? This job is not impossible.