Rem. 870 Magnum Receiver & 2 ¾” Barrel with Rifle Sights for 3” shells?

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2@low8

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I want to shoot 3” magnum shells out of a Rem. 870 Magnum Receiver using a 2¾” barrel with rifle sights.

If it can be done what do I have to do to accomplish this?
 
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Buy a barrel with a 3" chamber...

Seriously, don't shoot 3" shells in a barrel not chambered for them. Even though the receiver is set up to handle them (it's just a matter of where the ejector is located), the chamber isn't.

Stick to 2.75" shells with the barrel you have at present.
 
Fred Fuller - Can't the chamber be reemed to 3" and maybe something done with the ejector if necessary?
 
The ejector is OK as is, for 3" shells in a magnum receiver. (Last character in the serial number is a letter M, in a 12 gauge 3" receiver)

The chamber can be opened up if there is enough metal there to allow it. That would depend on barrel age and contour. Personally, I wouldn't do it - 870 barrels are far too widely available and inexpensive for me to want to do that alteration.
 
Most anything can be done with enough time and money. In this case it would be easier and probably cheaper to just buy another barrel. Or even trade guns.
 
Fred Fuller - The serial number has the "M" you mentioned. I bought the barrel new in 1980, but I have no idea what the barrel contour would be. An opinion of a shotgun-smith would probably be a good idea.

oneounceload - I am going to price used barrels and see what I come up with. Just in case I feel that the prices are too high, can you recommend a reputable shotgun-smith that would give me an honest opinion of the chamber reaming in my barrel and a fair price for the conversion?
 
Fred Fuller - The serial number has the "M" you mentioned. I bought the barrel new in 1980, but I have no idea what the barrel contour would be. An opinion of a shotgun-smith would probably be a good idea.

oneounceload - I am going to price used barrels and see what I come up with. Just in case I feel that the prices are too high, can you recommend a reputable shotgun-smith that would give me an honest opinion of the chamber reaming in my barrel and a fair price for the conversion?
It will cost you more to ream the old barrel than it would to buy one new direct from Remington. I believe that's what others have already said, in different words.
 
In the mid 60's I bought a 20 ga 3 in with a full choke. Even with "spreader" loads it was too tough on ruffed grouse. (I like to eat them) I bought an Improved cyl barrel but the only thing I could get it in was 2 3/4. In those days all I shot was paper. The 3 in barrel ironed out 2 3/4 shells completely. Left a slight taper on the 3 in. Then I noticed that the IC barrel ironed out the 2 3/4 shells also. Using an improvised gauge I found that the IC barrel had the same chamber as the full choke. Of course Remington denied it but it made me feel better knowing it. Never did shoot 3 inch in it.
 
There are a lot of good folks, depending on where you live....the issue, as previously mentioned, is whether there is enough metal in that area to safely remove. Also, as mentioned, I would be surprised if you could get this work done for less than the price of a used barrel - they tend to be around $100
 
although I selected a Remington spare barrel, if finances are really tight look into Mossberg 870 replacement barrels:

As said, you can probably get a spare barrel for less than the gunsmithing fees to lengthen your chamber....if someone would do it at all.
 
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