[Butt Ugly Chuck]

Originally Posted by wob

The only thing to consider is if anyone else ever uses that gun, they would not be aware that the safety positions were reversed.

Originally Posted by '74 UA FJ

I would just have him get used to the regular safety. He'll be using right-handed stuff for years to come. It's not that big of a deal.

Thanks for chiming in. It'll be a gun only he (and occasionally I) will use. We're both right-handed, but left eye dominant so shoot left handed. I hunted with a righty Winchester Model 12 for years so I know one can "just get used to it". But overcoming that is challenge enough for a new shooter so I'm just searching for ways to make it feel as natural for him as possible. If this is an easy and inexpensive fix I figure "why not?". If he ever needs to sell it years down the road or has a righty-shooting kid to pass it on to, then presumably it can be converted back?

Originally Posted by CruiserStuff

Is your heart set on the 870? When I started hunting, my dad bought me a Winchester 120 pump in a youth model. It came with a proportionally shorter stock and a magazine plug to make it a single shot (sections of the plug can be cut off when he's ready for multiple shots). It was a 20 guage with a 3" chamber and the 3 choke tubes. It even came with a certificate to get the full-sized adult stock for free when I outgrew the youth size. I shot everything from dove to ducks with it - great, reliable gun. I still hunt dove and quail with it today, 24 years later (yikes). And...about the lefty thing...the safety can be flipped around to the other side (I'm pretty sure...I'll take a look at it if you're interested). Lemme know...

Thanks. I'm pretty sure the Winchester 120 is out of production though. I'm attracted to the 870 for several reasons: it seems you can't find a more universal pump shotgun out there and parts are readily available; they're relatively inexpensive; an additional $30 rebate from Remington's current promotion; and I can get them less than retail through a friend. The 870 is available in a youth model too, though I'm looking to have the stock of an adult model custom fit so when he grows into needing the stock replaced, he'll have a full size gun with 28" barrel. If I had the bones, I'd probably look at the Browning BPS, but I don't - maybe when he's ready for a 12 guage.

Thanks for input guys! Anyone out there tried the safety conversion?

Butt