Got this Remington LT-20 back in 91 for the wife to shoot trap with. Original config had a 23” barrel but I also purchased a 28” Remington tube for it. She put maybe 200 target rounds thru it but she did not like the recoil and gave up on it. It’s been sitting in my safe lovingly maintained. It looks almost BNIB. The stock LOP is 13”, way to short for me and a full size replacement is non existent. Bee think of investing on a Gracoil adjustable butt pad on it to mechanically extend the stock to a 14.25” LOP and still have the ability to downsize to 13.25. Cost installed and shipped both ways is $350.
My concern is if I do this will the value decrease with the modification? In its factory condition I can get about $1300 ( the LT-20 youth is very desirable and sought after nowadays since there’s not to many around anymore) so I’m somewhat concerned.
Would appreciate your thoughts….
Thanks
Gil

From my perspective, once a gun has been permanently modified it is almost never worth as much as it would be if left unmodified.  What are you planning to do with this shotgun?  If you want to use it regularly then spend the $ and enjoy your customized gun.  If you are looking for maximum ROI then sell it as is.  Look at the auction sites and see what brings the most $ on comparable examples.  I think you'll find that after the overall condition of the firearm that original boxes, paperwork and factory-supplied accessories bring the most money.

I think that part of the premium paid on a bone-stock firearm is due to the potential new owner's anticipation of customizing the gun to his/her needs or desires--you can probably find more than a few examples in this forum where someone is selling a lightly-used gun with a lengthy and highly specific list of mods and/or parts that have been added to their firearm.  I would venture to guess that they will never recoup their "investment" if or when they sell it.  Instead, they have enjoyed shopping for the parts and accessories for their new toy.
 

After re-reading your post I think the short answer is that you'll never recoup the cost of almost any gunsmithing unless the smith is widely acknowledged as a master (and the actual work performed proves to be of top quality), you have provenance of the work and the modifications are highly sought after.

In general, if the mod you add is easily removed back to OEM condition, then there's always the option of selling the gun in factory configuration and trying to sell the add-on parts separately.

Once the gun and new parts are "used", you aren't going to recoup the cost of either 100% unless the market places a premium on them -- like if they are no longer available new.

It really comes down to (1) can you find a buyer who wants, appreciates and values the mod knowing it cost you $X to upgrade it, and (2) whether the mod is permanent or can easily be reverted to the original config.

For some, they might not want to pay more than market value just because it has mods they can live without. 

If the gun is worth $800, and the mod would cost $200 current market cost, then you really have a $1,000 item.  I wouldn't negotiate much less than that unless I really needed to make the sale knowing someone willing to meet my price might be around the corner.

Just my 2 cents.  There's no real rule when it comes to asking prices for anything.  Just ask yourself whether you would be willing to pay what you're asking compared to similar items available from other sellers.

Thanks for all the advice….
Attached is a picture of the device. Gracoil will have to make permanent mods to the end of the stock. Once made, can’t go back. I’ve had a recoil reducer installed on my Citori 725 trap and Beretta A400 trap. The work is absolutely impeccable on both.
Looks like I’ve got some thinking to do….
Thanks again
Gil

Ok imma give this a shot. I'm not quite sure what an lt20 is. But after googling it, its an 1100?

Just replace the stock. I think boyds make some. ~200 bucks or so. No permanent modification. Most ive seen was for 12 ga tho. So youll need an adapter if thats the case.

Depending on the year, it may or may not have a smaller receiever since you referenced it as an LT-20, it might have the smaller receiever. Also being a 20ga. I forget what year they stopped using the whole LT name.. Mesa tactical makes an adapter called "lucy" and I have a remington 870 in 20ga. Made sometime in 2015-2017... (I forget) but all I know is that it has a smaller receiever. So I am using that with a magpul 870 buttstock. Had to cause magpul sga stock only fits 12ga. Sure theres kinda a big gap or hump but it works and functionally I got no problem. Aesthetically , depending on how anal ya wanna be, it might bother you.  You'll have to google the prefix or suffix of your serial number to find out if it does or does not have a smaller receiever. From there, if the Lucy adapter works buy a cheapo stock 12ga buttstock or whatever and that'll increase your LOP.

Option 2, buy a limbsaver slip on recoil pad. It'll add about an inch or so. Every inch makes a difference (or so she said  )

Edit: after pondering it i think i have an LT as well. So I friggin googled it and I was thinking LW in lieu of LT. I'm an idiot. I'm 99 percent sure you got a smaller receiver like me.

https://www.mesatactical.com/amp/products/lucy-adapter-for-20-ga-shotguns-rem-870.html

If its the smaller reciever, get this then buy a hogue stock or adjustable or whatever floats your boat. Then when its time to sell ya can sell it all together lol


If you ebay it, you may find it a bit cheaper.

Also stumbled upon this

https://www.trapshooters.com/threads/adjustable-trap-stock-remington-1100-20-gauge.838681/

https://www.mesatactical.com/amp/products/lucy-adapter-for-20-ga-shotguns-rem-870.html

If its the smaller reciever, get this then buy a hogue stock or adjustable or whatever floats your boat. Then when its time to sell ya can sell it all together lol


If you ebay it, you may find it a bit cheaper.

Also stumbled upon this

https://www.trapshooters.com/threads/adjustable-trap-stock-remington-1100-20-gauge.838681/

Thanks for all the info….
My serial number does not end with an “X” so it’s a small receiver….. I think I’m just going to go with the Gracoil. This way I can adjust as needed for youth/woman shooters and go anywhere in between to 14 1/4”. Don’t expect to get anymore for the mod if I sell it in the future…it will probably remain a keeper…..
Thanks again
Gil

Thanks for all the info….
My serial number does not end with an “X” so it’s a small receiver….. I think I’m just going to go with the Gracoil. This way I can adjust as needed for youth/woman shooters and go anywhere in between to 14 1/4”. Don’t expect to get anymore for the mod if I sell it in the future…it will probably remain a keeper…..
Thanks again
Gil

Ah I see I see. Yea if its a keeper then I would prob do the same.