Remington 870 20 Gauge 18 1/2 inch barrel

[fmcdave]

I was thinking about using my Remington 870 20 gauge as a self defense shotgun as my wife would feel more comfortable with that rather than the 12 gauge Mossberg 500a.

Has anyone made such a change, if so, where did you get the barrel. I've done a little looking for a 18 1/2 inch OC barrel with no luck so far.

Also, I like to ask if folks on this forum think this would be a bad idea. I haven't done anything yet but would like some wisdom from the forum members before I do anything.
Dave

 

[TLL]

Thats a great gun for what you want. You will have to shop around a little but you`ll find a barrel even if you have to cut it down. I have a 870 yute (youth if you havent seen My Cousin Vinny)mdl 20ga loaded with #4buck close by. Not nearly as heavy or as hard kicking as a 12. Your mileage may vary.....

 

[Bud Tugly]

+1 on the idea of buying a barrel and cutting it down. Factory 18 1/2" barrels are rare, and rare usually means expensive.

 

[oneounceload]

Has your wife fired both your 12 and 20 to see what she thinks of them? Many times, the lighter weight of the 20 means more recoil than a heavier 12. You might want to do that before buying and cutting barrels

Just an idea..............

 

[Rshooter]

You can get 20 inch slug barrels with no rifling for about $160 on gunbroker. I have to agree with oneounceload about her shooting the 12 gauge. Get some reduced recoil loads in 2 3/4 for her to try out.

 

[BBroadside]

My first thought was: 20"! There are plenty of 20-gauge 20" 870 barrels I've seen; would another inch and a half of barrel mess things up?
I personally like the idea of a 20-gauge for HD for family members of various size, because the lighter weight should make the gun faster to point. I got a 12-gauge anyway, so I get the benefit not just of finding a 20" barrel, but a rifle-sighted, variable choked one. So it's pretty versatile.

 

[Rich223]

I'd rather have a 20 gauge handy than a 45, 10mm, or 44 magnum handy if somethin went bump in the night. 12 gauge is just icing on the icing already there, on the cake.

 

[gamestalker]

Midway shows them in their inventory. They have them with and without the Rem Choke.

 

[MAKster]

Remington sells a 20 gauge model with 18.5" barrel and synthetic stock, so such a barrel exists. They probably don't list the barrel for sale on their website because it is a low volume item. I'm sure if you called them you could buy one.

 

[springfield30-06]

Midway shows them in their inventory. They have them with and without the Rem Choke.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=128102
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=665100

I got a 20 GA 18.5" barrel a few years ago but I don't remember what site I ordered from.

 

[JNewell]

Has your wife fired both your 12 and 20 to see what she thinks of them? Many times, the lighter weight of the 20 means more recoil than a heavier 12. You might want to do that before buying and cutting barrels

^^^ What he wrote. Found this years ago when I thought a 20 would be a better introduction for my kids...not.

 

[nipsip]

The Remington 870 Express has an 18.5" barrel.