The Remington 870 has sold over ten million units worldwide, so itโs not surprising that a huge aftermarket parts industry has sprung up to support it.
If youโre new to the Model 870 and want to understand which parts to upgrade first, read on to find out our top picks for upgrading this classic pump action shotgun.
Weโll look at what accessories are suited for upgrading, the pros and cons of upgrading, and then recommend some high-quality parts for your next purchase.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Accessories for Remington 870
- BEST HEAT SHIELD: Advanced Technology Heat Shield
- BEST SIGHT: Trijicon - Shotgun Sight Set
- BEST MAG EXTENSION: Scattergun Technology - Remington 870/ Ext Mag Tube
Comparison of the Best Remington 870 Accessories
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What to Look for When Buying Remington 870 Accessories
Finding upgrades for the purpose of upgrading or replacing will depend on exactly what youโll need. Regardless, itโs important to know what exactly you need to look for. Here are a few things to find:
Price
Of course, if you are on a budget thereโs a chance that price may be a factor in your decision, but donโt let the affordability be the only reason why you got it. As a rule, youโll want to think like a general planning a war, youโll want to go in with the best equipment possible. In other words, find the best quality and performance that you can afford. Cheap quality is not your friend here.
High-Quality Materials
Polymer, steel, and aluminum are just a few of the high-quality materials that youโll see in firearms and accessories that benefit them. Why are they the best of the bunch? Because they are proven to be resistant to damage and can last a good long time (assuming you take the best care of your Remington 870 shotgun). So if you want something that will give you a good deal of longevity, high-quality materials are where itโs at.
Installation
The last thing you want to do is invest in accessories that will be a major pain to install. So weโve made sure that every accessory that we review is going to be easy to install and will take no more than a few minutes. This means you wonโt have to spend money or waste time waiting on a gunsmith to do the job for you.
Is The Remington 870 a Good Gun to Customize?
The Remington 870 is well suited for customizing, due to the ease of finding parts of every description for this popular gun. It has been around for almost 70 years, so parts manufacturers are well aware of how to make the gun more effective and fun.
In addition, the accessories out there will allow you to create the perfect tactical home defense or hunting weapon, as well as trick it out for competitive shooting.
However, it is not built on a modular platform, such as the AR platform. This means that swapping out parts is definitely doable, but keep in mind that not everything can be upgraded on your own using your own workbench. There are some modifications that will need a professional gunsmith.
Quick Take - The Best Remington 870 Accessories
These are our recommendations for the best Remington 870 accessories:
Review of the Best Remington 870 Accessories
The following is a list of the six best Remington 870 accessories that you can find on the market today. Whether you are just looking for a single accessory or a few for the purpose of a complete upgrade, itโs important that you know a thing or two about these popular accessories. That way, you can get a good idea of whether or not they are worth your money.
Now that you know the advantages of using these accessories, letโs take a look at some of the best accessories you can buy for your Remington 870. These items are selected for their functionality, quality build, and ease of use. Letโs begin by taking a look at the first accessory on our list:
Best Heat Shield:
Advanced Technology Heat Shield
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Many new users said goodbye to accidental burns thanks to this heat shield. This heat shield, to their amazement, has the ability to dissipate heat fairly quickly after extended use at the range (or during a hunting application). One user said that he had no trouble installing this bad boy after only a few minutes. He added that he was able to still maintain accurate and precise shooting after install. In other words, installing this wonโt hinder the shotgunโs overall performance.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This heat shield is perhaps one of the must-have accessories that youโll need for the long-term. Especially when you donโt want to deal with the consistent overheating of a barrel. A hot barrel can really make performance a little bit off. So if you need a heat shield that will get the job done and make every shot count all while keeping it cool, this is the accessory youโll want on hand.
With repeated firing, your shotgun can get quite hot to handle. This steel formed 13-1/2" long shotgun shield comes in a matte black finish, and fits most popular 12 gauge pump guns, including the Mossberg 500, Maverick 88, Remington 870, and Winchester 1200/1300 pump shotguns.
It protects your hands from burns and provides a secure, non-slip surface for holding the gun. It is very easy to install and requires no modification to the gun.
Who Will Use This Most
If you are in search of an accessory that will make your shotgun stand out as a good looking beast of a gun, this heat shield will certainly make it aesthetically pleasing to the eye. However, it will give it a considerable boost in performance all while it prevents you from making a stupid move and accidentally burning your hands from touching a hot barrel.
Bottom Line
The Advanced Technology Heat Shield would be an excellent accessory for a Remington 870. Especially if you are in need of something that will make your shotgun stay cool and not under perform due to the amount of heat that itโs generating. Do yourself a favor and preserve and protect the shotgun you love the most and get this.
This is a great accessory for the user who will be shooting their Remington repeatedly, as it protects the hands from hot barrels while making the gun look great.
Best Sight:
Trijicon - Shotgun Sight Set
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most users were pretty stoked to see this sight set co-witness with each other to ensure that every shot was precise and deadly accurate. As expected, many of them were hunters who wanted something that delivered devastating kill shots each and every time. One user relied on his Remington 870 for deer and varmint hunting. So far, he has yet to see an instance of where the sights will disappoint him. The sights are ridiculously visible in low-light situations, which makes it all the better for these users.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This includes front and rear sights. What a perfect combination. Without one or the other, how will you manage to make each shot hit as accurate and precise as possible? Not only that, they are made from Trijicon, a name that is perhaps best known for making reliable sights for just about any firearm imaginable, and they are known for making the sights pretty dang bright as well. Granted, these sights wonโt let you down. So if accurate shooting is what you want, youโll get it with this set of sights.
Up your hunting game with this shotgun sight set from Trijicon. All the three-dot iron sights include a luminous sapphire crystal, tritium lamps that are guaranteed to be self-illuminating for 12 years. No need for batteries or maintenance.
The blued steel body and silicone rubber cushions for the lamps make the sights tough enough to withstand the bumps and shocks of a hunting trip. It includes both front and rear sights.
Who Will Use This Most
Letโs face it: a lot of hunters wonโt be the only ones who will benefit from these sights. If you use it for the purpose of home defense or target shooting, you will definitely have a great shooting advantage over those who donโt have these puppies installed on their shotguns. Either way, youโre prepared and ready for battle with these sights on hand.
Bottom Line
The Trijicon Shotgun Sight Set is probably the best kind of sights youโll find on the market. They can be visible in low-light and can be deadly accurate around the clock. Youโd be hard-pressed to find any kind of sights anywhere else on the market. As long as you use them properly, youโll have no trouble hitting your targets with ease.
If you want to improve your accuracy and target acquisition, especially in low-light conditions, go for these shotgun sights from Tijicon.
Best Mag Extension:
Scattergun Technology - Remington 870 Extension Mag Tube
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of new users were in search of a magazine extension that would give them a few more rounds to work with, and sure enough, with the inclusion of this extension, they were not disappointed. The installation process didnโt take too long either. Soon, a lot of the new users were able to add an additional two rounds to their original capacity.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This extender has a high-quality extension that wonโt warp or fail under the pressure of added shotgun shells. So, it would make a good amount of sense to use high-quality steel to make sure it stays tough for the long run. Also included is a guide mechanism that will help you load up your shotgun much faster. This way, you wonโt have to guess how many more rounds you need to be loaded. Donโt be surprised if this extension lasts you many years before you might need to change it up for a new one.
A magazine extension will let you increase the capacity of your gun without reaching out to a gunsmith for assistance. The Mag Tube from Scattergun screws onto the end of the magazine tube of your 12 gauge Remington 870. The tube comes with a high-performance magazine spring and a nylon follower.
The extension comes in two models: the loop model which has a stationary loop that accepts direct attachment of tactical-style slings without swivels and the QD stud model that accepts slings with quick-detach swivels.
Who Will Use This Most
This is an accessory for those who are hunting or competing in shooting competitions that might require extra rounds. Either way, it will give you a couple more rounds at your disposal. How can you say no to extra shots? Plus, that means youโll have more opportunities to make up for missed shots. If you miss once, you can quickly make additional shots and finally knock your game target to the ground, or hit the bullseye.
Bottom Line
The Scattergun Technology Remington 870 Extended Magazine Tube is your go-to choice if you just simply need a solution that results in more shots. The more shots at your disposal, the better. Once you install this bad boy on your shotgun, it will perhaps be more battle-ready than you never thought possible.
For those who want to upgrade their shotgun for home defense or tactical uses, it makes a lot of sense to have a higher capacity magazine in the gun. This extension will let you keep shooting without having to reload after just 3-4 shots.
Best Barrel:
Rem 870 18" Barrel Cylinder Bore Bead Sight
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
New buyers were able to easily install this barrel in a matter of minutes. Once installed, they managed to shoot off as many as 20 rounds to test for reliability, accuracy, and whether or it has no malfunctions. Sure enough, they were pretty happy to see it work when it needed to and tighten shot groups in the process. One user even said that the tightness in shooting groups has lead to him making seriously accurate and clean kill shots.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This barrel is measured at 18 inches in length, which is pretty decent for most shotguns that are used for the purpose of hunting and target shooting. At this length, itโs perhaps one of the most popular lengths simply due to its extreme accuracy at ranges up to 300 yards. Itโs the kind of barrel that is solid in construction and can last you a long time provided that you take the best care of it.
This 18" barrel is made by Remington to the exact same specifications, tolerances and manufacturing materials as the original parts.
This ensures a perfect fit and reliability. The barrel fits 12 Gauge Remington 870 3" shotguns and has a bead sight.
Who Will Use This Most
This will be perfect for the Remington 870 user that is looking for a barrel that will provide superior accuracy and unrivaled reliability compared to any barrel that is compatible with the shotgun. Youโll install this in a matter of minutes and get the benefits almost instantly. So if you want tighter shooting groups, this barrel will certainly give it to you. It will be like Christmas morning once you fire off a few shots at the range.
Bottom Line
This barrel will in all likelihood be a popular choice for those who want to upgrade their barrels from the under performing default version to something that will be more solid in quality and reliable in the situations where you need your Remington 870 the most. Donโt be surprised if this comes through in the clutch better than your old barrel.
If your existing shotgun barrel is worn out and is not performing like it used to, it may be time to replace it for this Remington barrel that uses the same materials and tools as the original. This upgrade will ensure smooth and accurate shots from your 870.
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This sling was a hit with many users and for a few good reasons. Most of them were able to attach this to their shotguns in nearly no-time. They also said that it hangs well and doesnโt allow the shotgun to hit the ground. Quality-wise, they were pretty happy with how it was unable to wear and tear quite easily compared to some low-quality slings.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The sling is made from high-quality nylon, which is proven to be one of the most popular materials for slings. The reason being is that itโs comfortable and even difficult to damage. So, if you donโt want any frays or tears in your sling, this just might be the one youโll want to have on hand. Besides, you donโt want a sling to break apart on you halfway through your hunting day, right? This adjusts easily to fit all kinds of shooters. So, if you are tall or short, all you have to do is make the easy adjustments before you head out and search for the next hunting target.
This single-point sling from Blackhawk Industries uses heavy-duty 1ยผ" nylon webbing and a 1" elastic high-density bungee cord for optimum performance and stealth.
It is covered in compressed tubular nylon sheathing for minimizing noise and bounce and weather resistance.
The sling comes with a quick detach clip that connects to any single point sling adapter for easy carrying. This clip can be covered by an elastic sleeve to prevent rattling. It has a heavy duty buckle for quick adjustment and a nylon buckle that can instantly open the sling for weapon release.
The sling is available in black and is 1ยผโ (3.2cm) wide and varies from 46" (117 cm) to 64" (163 cm) in diameter.
Who Will Use This Most
This will be a great sling for those who are planning on going hunting and tend to walk around for a while. Sure, youโll need something that will hang off your shoulders while you use your hands for other tasks (like dragging a freshly killed deer back to the truck). This sling has its purposes and youโre missing out on making it easier on yourself if you donโt get this. Hands-free carrying of a Remington 870 has never been easier.
Bottom Line
The Blackhawk Industries Storm Single-Point Tactical Sling is probably your best possible option when it comes to slings. Itโs tough, adjustable, and will certainly give you a good opportunity to carry your shotgun hands-free. You cannot find a sling quite like it, especially for shooters of any size.
Every shotgun needs a sling to carry it around and what better way to carry your Remington 870 than this comfortable, stretchy sling that is both stealthy and functional.
Best Recoil Pad:
Limbsaver - Remington 870 Synthetic Stock
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Many new buyers were pretty stoked to see this puppy reduce as much as 70 percent recoil. Letโs repeat that again: 70 percent recoil reduction. A lot of people were seriously impressed by that and it showed by the way they had complete control over their shotguns. One user even said that there seemed to be no recoil at all after firing off as many as 10 rounds. It was comfortable for the shoulders and didnโt lead to any bruises or abrasions.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This recoil pad is not thick in the slightest, but it absorbs so much shock and recoil, itโs not even funny. You can install this sucker in about a minute flat and youโll instantly notice the changes. You cannot make this up. You are literally getting the results right before your eyes in a matter of minutes, and best of all, you will no longer have to deal with your shoulder getting beat up over and over again due to the heavy-hitting recoil. Simply put, itโs pretty darn comfortable when it comes to shooting it.
The Limbsaver recoil pads are made from NAVCOM synthetic material that reduces up to 70% of felt recoil. You can install it in seconds without any extra work needed.
They can withstand tough weather conditions and fit synthetic stocks. The recoil pads come in black color and have ribbed faces.
Who Will Use This Most
This will be an ideal recoil pad for those who are getting sick and tired of being beaten up by recoil. Itโs the recoil pad that will rid of that once and for all. Install this on your Remington 870 shotgun and we promise you that it will end up being the best thing youโve ever invested in. By the way, itโs affordable for most budgets so you are getting a pretty good deal here.
Bottom Line
The Limbsaver Synthetic Stock is the go-to choice for those who want something that will get rid of so much recoil and absorb shock in the process. Youโd be crazy to pass up the opportunity to give this any consideration. If you hate recoil and shoulder abuse associated with it, the choice is a no-brainer.
If youโre tired of being bruised and sore after every shooting session, itโs time to upgrade the stock with a recoil pad.
This recoil pad from Limbsaver really does what the name suggests, it reduces the felt recoil and saves your limbs from pain!
Which Accessories Are Best For Home Defense?
Let's find out:
Sling
Slings will create comfort when carrying a heavy gun and at the same time will prevent others from taking them away from you in a fight.
They're also the easiest way to carry a gun around when youโre out in a hunt or shooting. slings come in various types, depending on the number of attachment points to the gun, e.g. a one-point, two-point, and three-point sling.
Magazine Extension
One downside of shotguns is they donโt hold very many shells at one time. Fortunately, you can buy a Remington 870 magazine extension upgrade to improve the shell capacity of your shotgun or the majority of the other firearms you might have.
You would add a tubular magazine extension to the magazine tube of your weapon. Therefore, you will be able to fire more than normal, before having to manually reload your weapon.
It's worth paying for it only if you use your weapon with frequency and have a reason to fire a lot of ammunition in a short time. Police and military officers, for example, may find Remington 870 magazine extensions to be worth buying.
Sights
Better sights are very important because you use them every time you shoot. It is a good idea to go get Tritium sights because they glow in the dark for years.
Recoil Pads
Every Remington 870 comes with factory fitted recoil pads. A recoil pad is a piece of soft material such as rubber, foam, leather, etc. that is attached to the buttstock of a rifle or shotgun.
It is meant to provide additional padding between the hard buttstock surface and the shooterโs shoulder. This prevents the pain and discomfort associated with the recoil from the gun.
In addition, it prevents the gun from slipping on the shooterโs clothing and helps the shooter not to foul up the second shot.
Why You Should Upgrade Your Remington 870
You may be asking yourself why you should upgrade a shotgun that is already working perfectly fine. The answer being you have access to a variety of parts that can enhance accuracy.
Every factory Remington 870 is identical, but each shooter has different physiques, shooting styles and techniques.
In order to make your gun suit your exacting requirements, you should customize the gun to fit comfortably, improving accuracy and ease of carrying. After all, the gun should make your life convenient and not the other way around.
A customized shotgun can aid you in your professional and recreational shooting, both for hunting and home defense purposes.
Conclusion
If you own a Remington 870, you now know how easy it is to find aftermarket parts and accessories for it.
While the stock 870 shotgun is a well-built weapon, you may find that tweaking it to your particular needs will improve your shooting and maximize your enjoyment of the gun.
From improving the accuracy to reducing felt recoil, keep our accessory selection advice in mind when you go shopping for parts and youโll be just fine.
Also, do check out our list of accessories above for top-notch items that will take your Remington 870 to the next level.