870 all purpose barrel

[olmedic]

Hi all,
New member here and I was fortunate enough this past Christmas to get a 12 ga 870 Express with a 26-27" barrel vent rib RC, synthetic stock . I set it up for Turkey season with clamped on Tru glo rifle type sights and patterned it using 2 /different const. Carlson's turkey chokes. I love how it shoots but would like to loose about 6-7" of weight/barrel and make it less cumbersome with an option of using it as my HD weapon and keep the versatility of the RC so I have options of Deer hunting with slugs, Buckshot for home defense, Turkey hunting, and poppin a few squirels just by changing choke tubes and ammo. I couldn't find anything that would match the Express reciever til I seen a post here saying this would fit...24549 Special Purpose Deer - with Rifle Sights 20" RS and it has a RC, Cabela's has em on sell for 169.00. Would this be a good choice, and if I decided to add a magazine extension would it present any problems besides grinding off the existing magazine dimples? Also would a new sturdier follower be recommended? Sorry this was so long, will keepem shorter here on out :^D

 

[Badger Arms]

I pondered this long and hard years ago. I ended up buying an Express Turkey model with 21" Remchoke barrel. I've left the Skeet choke in it and I put a 3-round Choate tube on it. You can grind or drill the dimples out, but with the right tool you can also swage them out. You need to make a mandrel and put the barrel on, when you ram the mandrel down the mag tube, it pushes the dimples out against the mounting ring of the barrel. I didn't do this, I just drilled them.

Anyway, 21" vent rib Remchoke barrel was my idea of perfect, all-around. Home defense, Turkey, Skeet, Deer. Maybe not ideal, but Trap, Duck and Goose in a pinch.

 

[olmedic]

Thank's BA, I did look at that Express Turkey gun at Wally world and thought that was the ticket as well, since it had the 21" barrel. I tried finding where I could buy the barrel by itself and could not find it offered anywhere by itself after searching hours on the web and Remington site, so I thought it must be a package deal with the gun. Figured this might be my other option since I can't find the 21" express vent rib. Thanks for the advice about the dimples on Mag tube, Didn't want to hurt the wifes feelings buying the the whole Turkey gun at Wally world . Might get away with just a new barrel as just an addition.

 

[jmr40]

I think the 26" barrel length is the best all around for hunting. If you buy the 20" barrel with rifle sights you will have a very good SD and deer hunting barrel. I would keep the longer barrel and buy a second, shorter one just like what you have in mind.