870 barrel length ?

[357phase]

Did remington ever make an 18" barrel?I purchased an older wingmaster that had a metal plate on the stock marked State of Texas with some number under that.I took a small tape measure and stuck down the barrel and got exactly 18".I got a dowel rod and marked it and still got same length.I've used three different tapes and can't get another 1/32 of an inch out of it.I guess this was an old border patrol or police gun.Barrel looks like original but the fact there's no room for error kinda makes me worry about my tape readings and one from an ATF.Gun was bought from FFL but still.Am I worrying to much about this?Thanks:confused:

[mossberg]

Worrying to much? I don't know, that depends on where you live. Mine is 18.5" though...

[357phase]

I know the new barrels are 18.5".I thought the older barrels were 18 1/8".Where I'm at,18" is legal but 17 15/16" is not.Or for that matter,1/32" to short would really smart.

[Husker1911]

It sounds like you're measuring properly, but just to make sure, I hope you're closing the breech into firing position, and then measuring to the muzzle. If your barrel is 18", you're golden.

[dfariswheel]

For years Remington 18" barrels were EXACTLY 18".
Since the barrel is a factory barrel, you won't have any problems.

[357phase]

Thanks for the replies.Dfariswheel,that makes my day.:)

[MAKster]

I think one reason they changed from 18" to 18.5" barrels was because the magazine extension was longer than the barrel when using 18". It didn't look good.

[Toyoland66]

The way I understand it is that you likely have a 870 Police

The older 870P's with the gloss blued finish were labeled on the gun as a wingmaster, my father owns one and the barrel is also just barely over 18" - the one he bought was a police trade-in

[Husker1911]

For years Remington 18" barrels were EXACTLY 18".
Since the barrel is a factory barrel, you won't have any problems.I had my gunsmith professionally shorten a sporting Remington factory barrel. What if the same had been done to the original poster's barrel? And what if it were a smidge too short?

If it were me, I'd sleep better knowing the barrel were legal length.

[357phase]

With gun ready to fire,from breech face to barrel end is exactly 18".Wear on the barrel seems to match wear on gun and it is an older barrel chambered for 2 3/4" only.I'm sure dfariswheel has it right but an extra 1/8" would make me feel better.There's nearly that much play in the hook on my tape.Barrel fits really tight so I hate to change barrels.Wonder if a gunsmith would measure and sign the receipt?Wonder if all this is worth the $175.00 I paid for the gun?I do have an extra 18 1/2 " parkerized barrel that would look odd on a blued receiver.:p

[Husker1911]

Hey, I think you're good to go! And that was a dandy price for the gun, too.

Shoot straight!

[Robert Hairless]

Current police magnums are sold by Remington's law enforcement department with an 18" barrel. The 18" factory barrels are also available from Brownells.

It's cruel to make someone worry needlessly when it takes only a moment to check.