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There are a handful of friends who, when they call me about a product, I absolutely pay attention. Steve Fisher is one of those. He’s a long-time trainer, having run his own company — Sentinel Concepts, and having had a long stint at Magpul Dynamics. He pointed me to Chisel Machining and their after-market stock for the Remington 870.
Initial Impressions & Set-Up
A short time later, a very adjustable stock, machined out of aluminum, arrived in my mailbox. At first glance, I noticed several interesting details – an optics mount, the user-replaceable AR-style pistol grip, the ability to change length and height, and a Kick-Eez recoil pad.
Sitting down to install it, I made short work of the process with Allen wrenches. The stock features a full adjustable length of pull (LOP). You can make it nearly as short or as long as you want or need it. I tried several lengths of pull before deciding to set it up in the shortest position.
Working through a range session with temps in the 30s – the Viktos hoodie and trainer jersey made it comfy.
Additionally, there is a cheekpiece that adjusts vertically. It can go low and sit flush on the body of the stock, or it can be raised up a ways. It can be swapped from one side of the stock to the other, so it works for both left and right-handed shooters. A closed-cell foam pad comes with it for the cheekpiece; it comes with adhesive on the back. It is cut wide enough to clear the adjustment bolts.
After completing those adjustments, I have used it set up that way for several months.
ThunderStick Summit
During this October’s ThunderStick Summit in Las Vegas, a noticeable number of these stocks were in use. Thunderstick Summit is a three-day event that is very specifically focused on the defensive use of the shotgun. This year’s presenters included Darryl Bolke, Greg Ellifritz, Steve Fisher, Mark Fricke, the Haughts – Rob & Matt, and me.
One of six QD sling attachment points.
Chisel ships the stock with Magpul K2 AR Grip; however, any after-market AR pistol grip can be used with it. This is helpful when you have users with different hand sizes.
Optics Mount
There is an integrated mount milled for the RMR footprint. It sits over the rear of the receiver, just above where the stock connects to it. I thought this would have the optic too far back, too close to my eye. However, once I installed an optic – C&H Precision’s Competition model – and began dry practicing, I realized it was a very viable location. The base was high enough that I did not have to hunch down or drop my head down to the stock to get my eye in line with the reticle.
The optics mount sits just over the receiver. It’s machined for Trijicon’s RMR footprint and any other optic with it, like the C&H precision Competition model.
Speaking of C&H’s competition optic, while I don’t have a tremendous number of rounds – both handgun and shotgun – through it, it is holding up quite well. It has ten levels of brightness, two of which are night vision compatible. Now, you can get it with a 3 minute of angle (MOA) dot or a 36 MOA circle. For a power source, it utilizes the now common 1632 battery.
Retail pricing on the C&H Comp runs between $299.95 and $339.95, depending on the reticle’s color and the option for a multiple reticle design.
This stock comes with Magpul’s AR pistol grip, but it is user-replaceable if you want to change it.
The stock itself has QD sling swivels machined into the front and the rear of the stock on both sides of it. Regardless of whether you are right or left-handed, this gives you five different options for attaching the rear sling.
The stock’s design has evolved throughout 2023, from the first version to the current one. What is the difference? With the input of both Vang Comp’s Cody Stewart and Steve Fisher of Sentinel Concepts, they shortened the overall length of the pull and the cheekpiece. They also lowered the height of the optics mounting platform.
Recoil Mitigation
The Kick-Eez pads that come with the stock. They definitely increase the comfort; especially if you couple them with good technique. (Photo courtesy of VCS)
The stock comes with a recoil pad from Kick EEZ – these are excellent. While I have long appreciated both the Pachmayr Decelerators and the pad Magpul uses on their SGA stocks, I really like these. The pad is 1 1/8th thick and is made from two layers of Soborthane. The layers use two different levels of stiffness to mitigate the recoil impulse.
Chisel is also making quivers, think shell holders, for several of their stocks. They come in metal or nylon and velcro. However, I have not had any experience with them.
One range session included patterning of Barnes’ defensive 12ga load. Note the new Modlite replacement head on old school Surefire forearm.
In addition to their 870 stock, Chisel is involved in other projects. They have a model that will fit both of Beretta’s popular defensive shotguns – the 1301 and the A300. They also produce stocks and handguards for rifles made by Marlin and Henry.
At retail, the stock goes for between $350 and $390, depending on whether you order the shell quiver.
One law enforcement agency bought a number of these and had them coated in blaze orange for use on less lethal shotguns.
Final Thoughts
One final point: these stocks are made in America by Americans. And that is always a plus.
If you are looking for an adjustable stock, regardless of the role, for your Remington or Beretta shotguns plus Marlin and Henry rifles, I can easily recommend the offerings from Chisel Machining.
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