remington 870 question, 2 3/4 vs 3 inch
- Thread starter twitch57
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There are different kinds of 870s.
Get 3" (aka Magnum) if you ever want to hunt ducks or geese with it. All new 870s have been 3" for years now (they shoot 2 3/4" and 3" shells). You will never shoot a 3" shell unless it's for waterfowl or turkey, or just for the hell of it. 2 3/4" holds plenty of buckshot or birdshot for home defense or hunting around here; the reason you want 3" for waterfowl is that non-toxic steel shot takes up more room in the shell, and denser non-toxic shot is expensive.
Super Magnums are 3.5", and if you don't already know what you want one for, you don't want a Super Magnum.
$345 is upper-end for an Express here IMO. You can probably do better. Are you looking for a hunting/all-around shotgun? A HD gun?
If an HD gun, look here: http://big5sportinggoods.shoplocal....504028&rapid=0&listingid=-2091572338&offerid=
7-shot extension, $319.
$319 is around what I'd pay for an Express hunting gun, too. Be patient, check Turner's and Big 5 sales on line.
Get 3" (aka Magnum) if you ever want to hunt ducks or geese with it. All new 870s have been 3" for years now (they shoot 2 3/4" and 3" shells). You will never shoot a 3" shell unless it's for waterfowl or turkey, or just for the hell of it. 2 3/4" holds plenty of buckshot or birdshot for home defense or hunting around here; the reason you want 3" for waterfowl is that non-toxic steel shot takes up more room in the shell, and denser non-toxic shot is expensive.
Super Magnums are 3.5", and if you don't already know what you want one for, you don't want a Super Magnum.
$345 is upper-end for an Express here IMO. You can probably do better. Are you looking for a hunting/all-around shotgun? A HD gun?
If an HD gun, look here: http://big5sportinggoods.shoplocal....504028&rapid=0&listingid=-2091572338&offerid=
7-shot extension, $319.
$319 is around what I'd pay for an Express hunting gun, too. Be patient, check Turner's and Big 5 sales on line.
41magsnub
Member
Can't speak for the pricing in CA, but as for the sizes:
3" and magnum are the same thing
There is also a 3.5" super magnum model
All of them will shoot 2 3/4" just fine
All other things being equal if you had to choose get the 3" magnum model for flexibility even if you only intend to shoot 2 3/4"
Edit: if you are talking about a new gun they are all 3" or 3.5"
3" and magnum are the same thing
There is also a 3.5" super magnum model
All of them will shoot 2 3/4" just fine
All other things being equal if you had to choose get the 3" magnum model for flexibility even if you only intend to shoot 2 3/4"
Edit: if you are talking about a new gun they are all 3" or 3.5"
Jacka L Ope
Member
That pretty well sums it up. The longer chamberings allow greater flexibility with regard to your choice of loads.
Gord
Member
Ex-Californian here.
Big 5 regularly has 870s on sale for $290-320. If Remington is still doing the $30 rebate thing, that brings you down to $260-290.
Check the pawnshops, too. Used 870s are usually plentiful, and as long as they look well cared for, you should be fine. Just consider the previous ownership its "breaking in" period.
Big 5 regularly has 870s on sale for $290-320. If Remington is still doing the $30 rebate thing, that brings you down to $260-290.
Check the pawnshops, too. Used 870s are usually plentiful, and as long as they look well cared for, you should be fine. Just consider the previous ownership its "breaking in" period.
3.5" isn't worth getting, though. It's a more complicated mechanism and rougher to work the action.
A regular 3" 870 is really reliable, simple and easy to clean, and it will shoot anything that you really want to shoot. (3.5" doesn't offer much in steel shot since range is limited, and if you use Hevi-Shot for geese or something you don't need the longer shell. You don't want to use 3.5" buckshot loads for HD. Too much recoil and blast. I'd rather use 2 3/4" and have the option of a quicker followup shot.)
A regular 3" 870 is really reliable, simple and easy to clean, and it will shoot anything that you really want to shoot. (3.5" doesn't offer much in steel shot since range is limited, and if you use Hevi-Shot for geese or something you don't need the longer shell. You don't want to use 3.5" buckshot loads for HD. Too much recoil and blast. I'd rather use 2 3/4" and have the option of a quicker followup shot.)
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