[PJR]

A few days ago I posted my problems with a Remington replacement barrel. I had purchased a replacement vent rib barrel so I could use my 20" rifle sighted predator control gun for clay practice. However, it lacked the ball detent and couldn't be used with an older style 870 without the magazine cap coming loose every five rounds.

Remington customer service suggested that a detent could be installed by a "reputable gunsmith" so I contacted the nearest Remington authorized service center to get the job done.

The gunsmith explained that the detents in the older Remington barrels were drilled into the barrel ring and then soldered onto the barrel. He said there was no way he could drill a straight hole for the detent with the ring attached to the barrel.

His compromise suggestion was to convert the magazine tube by installing magazine dimples and switching to the newer, grooved plastic magazine retention cap. The problem with this is that it would rule out a magazine extension. I agreed to the compromise having concluded that if I couldn't solve any potential problem with five rounds of 12 gauge and a loaded side saddle that a couple extra probably wouldn't be of much use.

I remain very unhappy with Remington and post this as a warning that newly made replacement barrels will not work on the majority of Remington 870s.

Paul

[sm]

Paul,

I hear you. Sigh...

Older I get - the more I want OLDER firearms; be it shotguns, handguns or rifles
.
Besides " ain't got the same soul - gimme that old fashioned Rock & Roll" [ Seger] -

Craftsmanship, metallurgy, finish , fit...etc., was just plain better IMO.

Granted I have always preferred older stuff - just really moreso as I age.

[Old Fuff]

I agree. If one shops around they can usually find an excellent condition used Remington 870 for less or slightly more then the curent production. A quick eyeball inspection will reveal that the old-timer was built - while the new one was ... well ... lets say "put together."

The same applies to current handguns, especially what is supposed to pass for a model 1911 these days. It's to the point where the polymer-whatever is starting to look good.

Unfortunately one of these days people are going to wake up if things don't change. Then those reasonably priced used guns won't be reasonable anymore ... :cuss: :banghead:

[sm]

*ahem*

Why do you think I highly recommend folks buy new stuff. I especially recommend folks sell to an individiual their "old guns" . I am defined as an "individual" btw. This way they don't have to wait to save up money, and/or go through all "that" paperwork with trade-ins and all.

With CCW and cash in hand they can take that "new" puppy home right then. :D

Yeah I know <blush> I'm such a nice guy.

[Old Fuff]

Well it's people like you that make things so hard for crooks .. ah ... I mean people like me. Now if you get a chance to skin an old lady out of a near-new Wingmaster I might look the other way, but if it's a nice ol' Colt, S&W or Ruger I expect to get in the first offer - like the full new price straight out of my Blue Book (1950 issue). :evil: :uhoh:

After all, this is The High Road ... :D :D

[BluesBear]

Besides " ain't got the same soul - gimme that old fashioned Rock & Roll" [ Seger] - :cuss:

Geeesh you'd think a highly respected oldster such as s&m would at least get the words right even if he can't carry a tune in a dump truck!

:neener:

[sm]

Hey - one of the perks of getting older is when you goof up - folks just figure you forgot - the memory is going .
I just happened to get a earlier start than some. :uhoh: :D

Yes I am a big Seger fan. I am brain dead from college homework and exams.

I can take an 870 apart and back together without looking. My truck key won't open my front door - I tried it twice tonight when arrived home from taking an exam - just to make sure. I guess GM don't make dead-bolts - huh? :uhoh:

Don't ask me why I put my TI30X Calc in the Fridge tonight either - I got up from doing calcs, to get coffee, sat back down no calc. Must be Gremlins... :scrutiny:

[moorerwc]

Wait a minute folks. I thought that the current "Wingmaster" bbls. come with the detent ball? I know that my recent blued 870P did.

I had also heard that the Express and Special Purpose barrels came with the drilled bbl. ring.

Double check your bbl. for the detent hole, look around for an older bbl., or pony up for a new "Wingmaster" grade barrel.

-Chad

[PJR]

Chad:

Did all of the above. The 870P that I bought recently does have the detent as well.

The barrel I purchased was a 26" Wingmaster Light Contour barrel. No detent and no hole for a detent. Remington customer service acknowledged they have stopped installing the detent or drilling the barrel ring and anything with the detent is older stock.

I have seen the Express barrels both drilled for a detent and undrilled. I guess it just matters when the barrel was made.

The first shotgun I ever owned was an 870 and I've always had at least one over the years . My now jury-rigged 870 will soldier on in its assigned role and I am supremely confident it will get the job done.

But anything new from Remington? Forget it.

Paul

[rockstar.esq]

Sorry to hear about your struggle. For what it's worth, even the "put together" Remingtons cycle fine, shoot any and all ammo brands and in general fit an average guy. I know that things changing can be a real pain, I used to work in a gun shop and there was this group of guys who came around once a week looking for a "pre 64 model 70". One time I had one to show them, all of them told me that the controlled round feeding and the beautiful bolt shroud were a sign of incredible quality from a time long passed. On some level, I have to agree with them. Yet as unassuming as my 870 express is, I regularly break clays just as well as my peers shooting "classic " stackbarrels from Europe. Given the durability of the 870 compared to it's cost, I still believe I'm getting a good deal.

[Bix]

Paul,

I've been looking for a solution to the same problem for some time. Here's what I've found:

According to their catalog, Tank's Rifle Shop will install the detent ball for $25. I have not tried them, but I might look into that once I finish up a couple other gun projects :)

Here's Tanks' webpage: http://www.tanksrifleshop.com/ [See p. 35 of the current catalog]

Also, I ran into a front sling attachment plate very cheap. An example can be seen here:

http://www.gggaz.com/products/shotgun_slingatt.php

Note that the plate includes a detent ball. My suspicion is that the plate is designed to be used with a barrel that already has a detent ball in place - - but I think it might be made to work in our situation. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to shoot my shotgun since acquiring the plate.

The ball is held loosely in place in the plate, but there is no spring. If the ball is backed with some sort of flexible, resilient material (foam, rubber, etc.), I think it would serve the intended purpose. Note that if you don't like the sling attachement, it could be easily ground off.

As soon as I get around to testing one or both of these potential solutions, I'll post the results here.

[Fred Fuller]

Paul,

I hope you are telling Remington this too, and not just members of this forum... can't blame you for feeling the way you do but Big Green needs to know that the current business model is affecting the bottom line.

Other side of that problem is, how much more are you willing to pay for an 870 or a spare barrel to get things back the way they used to be?

lpl/nc

[PJR]

Lee:

I will most definitely send a letter to Remington explaining my dissatisfaction with their products.

As it stands now I have an 870 that will get the job done with both a 20" rifle sighted barrel for predator control and a 26" vent rib barrel for clay target practice. I have what I need although not precisely what I wanted because I can't use a magazine extension. The status quo is acceptable because I think the clay target practice is more important than the couple of extra rounds.

Paul

[Mannlicher]

It does not seem like that big a problem. Just buy a new 870. I had some issues a few years back when I wanted to buy an extra barrel for my Browning A5. Wound up with a Hastings barrel, not a Browning one, due to 'fit' problems that Browning advised me on.

[BluesBear]

It looks like the GG&Z sling attachment would solve the problem.

http://www.gggaz.com/images/Shotgun_SlingAtt.jpg

Your magazine cap would operate just as if it was snugging up to a ball-detent barrel.