Can an Express barrel be modified for use on a Wingmaster?

[Preacherman]

I've managed to find a rifle-sighted smoothbore IC barrel for a Remington 870 Express. It's got the hole for the ball-bearing detent in the retaining ring, but of course has no ball in it. Is it possible to insert a ball bearing into this socket, so that the barrel can be used with the magazine cap of a standard 870 Wingmaster? If so, how does one insert the ball - in other words, is it a job I can do at home, or is a gunsmith required?

[45Badger]

You can buy the detent balls and springs at Brownell's. Also check eBay.

Not sure if this is really matters. I've got a couple Hastings aftermarket barrels without the detent balls. Also an older WM barrel that is missing the detent ball. All seem to work fine.

[dfariswheel]

To install the detent and spring, you'll need a special staking punch.

This punch both inserts and holds the detent and spring, and stakes it in place.

It's available from Brownell's:

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=18749&title=SHOTGUN+TOOLS

Detent Staking Punch #080-870-205

[texagun]

I have used an Express barrel on a Wingmaster with no problems. The magazine caps for both guns look identical to me. I think you can use the barrel without the ball bearing without any problem. Just screw the magazine cap down tightly.

[TrapperReady]

Dadgumit Preacherman, you made me go down and look in the safe. :D

I spent a good chunk of this past season hunting with an 870 SuperMag SPS (full camo synthetic). It came with the 28" ribbed barrel and I also purchased a rifle-sighted Express barrel for deer hunting (although the short tube and relatively open choke made it OK for grouse hunting as well).

In any event, I just checked both barrels. The 28" barrel does not have the ball-detent (not even the hole), but the rifle-sighted Express does. Both work just fine with the gun. I would be surprised if it were an issue at all.