Chiappa 1887 Factory "Fast Load" Experience?

[Tommy Reb]

Do any of you '87 shooters have experience with the Chiappa "Fast Load" model, sku 930.004 ?  That is the factory "drop two" version.  Sharing any direct experience you may have with this model would be appreciated.

 

TR

[Jackaroo, # 29989]

Where can you buy this conversion? A fellow shooter here downunder has one and it's drop in version also fits !AC models according to him.

[Tommy Reb]

Hello Jackaroo.  As far as I know, this is not sold as a conversion.  It is a complete gun.  I have no idea about the interchangeability of parts with other brands of 87's,  You mentioned your fellow shooter has one (a Chiappa 87 with the factory "fast load".)  How well does the gun work for him?  Is he happy with it?  Thanks.

 

TR

[Preacherman]

I had one done by a Smith and stumbled into available parts from Chiappa for the fast load. It's just the right carrier. I think that it was $45. An experiment. Worked just the same. I sold it as I didn't need 3 '87s. Check out "parts" with Chiappa.

[Albinoeke]

It is just the right side carrier, you might have to file/buff down your follower as it might get stuck on the new one. Atleast mine did.

Not sure about the one ready from factory though.

[southparkslim]

I just bought one,  shot it in two matches, not as reliable or smooth as my "LASSITER drop 2 IAC" But a beautiful gun and I can get parts for it,  not sorry I bought it as I picked it up for a really good price...........needless to say its was shipped to Lassiter last week

[Painted Mohawk SASS 77785]

I've been told that the Chiappa frame is built on the Win 10g frame so is a  bigger opening  & easier to load with the drop 2 mod - is that true ?

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

9 minutes ago, Painted Mohawk SASS 77785 said:

I've been told that the Chiappa frame is built on the Win 10g frame so is a  bigger opening  & easier to load with the drop 2 mod - is that true ?

Yes.  It is bigger and heavier than an 87.

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

I know several people that shoot modified Chiappas but only one that uses the factory fast load.  That is Judah MaCabe.  I am surprised he has not responded.  His experience was the same as Albinoehe.  It was sticky and not smooth in operation until he polished the face of the follower so the fast load part would travel smoothly over it.  After doing that he has been shooting it problem free for several years.

[Judah MacAbee SASS #64095 Life]

First time back on the wire in a bit. Busy at work.

Any way the only mod I did to the factory set up was to round and polish the face of the follower and round and polish the bottom of the carrier where it engaged the follower. 

 

there was another thread with pictures but I couldn't find it and I didn't save them.

 

Now the only issues that I have with the gun come from the operator. 

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Misspelled Judah's name even though we shoot we each other at least twice a month!  Here is a photo of the follower from that old thread.

 

[Griff]

2 hours ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

Misspelled Judah's name even though we shoot we each other at least twice a month!...

If he shot me... I'd misspell his name too!😁

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

"we shoot with each other"  Auto pilot took me the wrong way.

[Lever Action Landon]

On 5/24/2025 at 7:59 PM, Painted Mohawk SASS 77785 said:

I've been told that the Chiappa frame is built on the Win 10g frame so is a  bigger opening  & easier to load with the drop 2 mod - is that true ?

Yes

[Lever Action Landon]

I have the factory fast load. It comes with the normal load parts as well. Already having a Lassiter drop 2 Chiappa I did not like the factory one and found it to not cycle clean. So that one went to Lassiter as well.

[Judah MacAbee SASS #64095 Life]

On 5/25/2025 at 11:53 AM, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

"we shoot with each other"  Auto pilot took me the wrong way.

Half the time I don't spell it right either. The other half nobody can read what I wrote on the posse sheet.  

[Tommy Reb]

Thanks to all for your input.  I decided to take a chance and purchased a Chiappa 87 with the factory "fast load".   The gun displayed the usual Chiappa high standards for fit and finish.  The carrier stop is very positive and the magazine cannot be loaded.  Out of the box, it worked, most of the time.    Of course it was very stiff (over sprung) and somewhat rough.  As the factory instructions say, if the gun is held muzzle slightly down and rotated left about 20 degrees, the "fast load" (drop two) works very well.  If not, the top round would sometimes hang up on the barrel entrance, particularly on the right side extractor cut.  The second round always fed properly since it is held in better alignment by the cartridge guides.

 

The muzzle down/20 degree left thing is not something I want to have to remember to do when trying to go fast.  So, I funneled the barrel entrance which has greatly improved the loading of the top round.  I also did the usual slick up job by polishing rubbing surfaces and lightened the hammer and trigger springs.  The gun is now very smooth and much easier to cycle.

 

I already have a Lassiter Chiappa which is and has been my main match shotgun for some time.  I also have a Cimarron 87 without drop two that I use stoked for Wild Bunch.   I wanted to have a back up for my main match gun and the prospect of being able to switch the Chiappa back and forth between "fast load" and "standard load" was appealing.  Although my gun did not come with the parts necessary to convert to standard load, I did purchase them from Chiappa.  

 

I did have to shorten the magazine follower and replace the mag spring to be able load 6 rounds with action closed, hammer down on an empty chamber when using the standard load parts.

 

I have yet to shoot a match with the new Chiappa, but I have shot it quite a bit on my range at home and all seems well.  So far, I am optimistic this is going to work out well.  I plan on continuing to use my Lassiter Chiappa as my main match shotgun, use the new Chiappa with "standard load" for Wild Bunch with the capability to convert it easily to "fast load" should I need a back up main match gun.  If that should happen, I can fall back on my Cimarron 87 for Wild Bunch.  Most likely none of that will ever happen.  Actually its just an excuse to enjoy fiddling with a new shotgun.😄

 

Thanks again for all your help and comments.

 

TR 

[Jackaroo, # 29989]

On 5/13/2025 at 8:07 AM, Tommy Reb said:

Hello Jackaroo.  As far as I know, this is not sold as a conversion.  It is a complete gun.  I have no idea about the interchangeability of parts with other brands of 87's,  You mentioned your fellow shooter has one (a Chiappa 87 with the factory "fast load".)  How well does the gun work for him?  Is he happy with it?  Thanks.

 

TR

HI TR,

Yes the gun works perfectly, he showed and I had some use with it.

H e even took it out, it basically a one piece thing and showed how it fits in an IAC I didn't have mine there, and the only difference the Chiappa has 4 mounting bolts against the IAC's 3 .