[hk lover]

if i have a older shotgun(870) that is 2 3/4 only is that change if i buy a barrel chambered for 2 3/4 and 3 inch shells or is the reciever the deciding factor

[Rshooter]

There are no dumb questions when it comes to guns.

The receiver is the deciding factor when it comes to shell length. I do not use my gun for hunting, HD and target and have no use for 3 inch or better shells. I believe their only real use is for hunting.

[hk lover]

thanks,i really wanted to keep it original its 1966 wingmaster

[Virginian]

The only differences between a 2-3/4" and a 3" 870 are the barrel, the ejector, and the rollmarking, but, on a lot of older 870s the ejector is the same as a 3" model. I think somewhere along the line Remington purposely changed it, but I do not know this. You could check yours, and if the ejector is in the 3" location (approx. 1/4" further to the rear), a 3" barrel will work fine. You can get a Magnum ejector, but it is riveted into the receiver wall and would require refinishing to look right if you changed it.

[Fred Fuller]

The receiver is the deciding factor when it comes to shell length

I beg to differ. It could be dangerous to shoot too-long shells in too-short chambers, as the crimp unfolds clear out into the forcing cone and can run up pressures to dangerous levels. The worst the receiver difference will do is make it difficult to eject the empty.

Best bet- match both receiver AND chamber length to the shell length you want to shoot.

lpl

[Rshooter]

Lee, not to start an argument with a moderator but please read the question - he was asking if he could merely change the barrel to a three inch barrel or if the receiver is what limits the shotgun to a two and three quarter inch. Yes you can get away with changing to a three inch barrel but as you say it is not a good idea.

Respectfully Rshooter

[LGswift]

+1 Rshooter, swaping out barrels allows you to safely chamber 3inch rounds, but the fact remains that the reciever of the sg was designed for 2 3/4. I have seen no proof to say its not a good idea, its your discression.

[Birdhunter1]

As far as I know the bolt is shorter and the ejection port is shorter on the 2 3/4" only receivers, other than that I believe it is the same gun. Adding a 3" barrel will not hurt anything but you can still only shoot 2 3/4" shells.

[Virginian]

Get a caliper and an electronic scale like I did and measure them; all 870 receivers within gauge and series (std or LW), excluding the Super Mags, are exactly the same size. The ejection ports are the same size. The bolts are the same size. The same kind of thing is true of 1100s. Look at the parts lists. The only things different are the barrel and the ejector on an 870, and some of those ejectors on older (like pre 76) 2-3/4" guns even have the same configuration ejector as a 3" gun.

[Rshooter]

Virginian, sounds like you put some work into this. I appreciate your input based on measurements and facts and find it very interesting.

Thanks,
Jeff Ward :D

[Fred Fuller]

Rshooter,

Respectfully, the OP (original poster) is not the only one who will be reading this thread, and all the answers to it that appear here. Others will see it too, and they might well misinterpret the outright statement that "the receiver is the deciding factor when it comes to shell length."

Example- a while back I bought a used Remington 870 Wingmaster, vintage 1976. The serial number ended in M, identifying it as having a magnum receiver capable of handling 3" shells.

But the gun was not wearing its original barrel with a 3" chamber- instead, it had a Wingmaster barrel with a 2 3/4" chamber as installed by the previous owner. If indeed "the receiver is the deciding factor when it comes to shell length," then it would be perfectly fine to shoot 3" shells in that barrel, correct? Obviously this is not the case- it would be dangerous to fire 3" shells in a 2 3/4" chamber, even though they might well function through the gun with no apparent problems.

We here at The High Road have a responsibility to our fellow members and the many guests here (looking at the main page for the Shotgun forum right now, there are 136 guests on the forum- who cannot post questions- versus the 16 members, who can ask for clarification if needed). A lot of people actually put the advice and statements they see here on THR to use in the real world. We have to be VERY careful to be as accurate and clear as possible, both in the opinions we offer and in the words we use.

I was trying to be not argumentative, but only precise and unmistakeably clear in my earlier reply. Just as I am now... I'm sorry if I fail to achieve that goal.

lpl

[Rshooter]

Lee, well spoken.

Thanks,
Jeff Ward