870 Magnum?
- Thread starter tmg57
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41magsnub
Member
A 3" 870 will run 2 3/4" shells happily. Most folks are more than fine with 2 3/4" shells for HD. I have a 3" chamber 870 and the only time I have ever fired 3" shells through it has been out waterfowl hunting with steel shot.
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Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
Most of the 12 ga. 870s here are magnums (serial number ending in M, for 12 ga.). We've never had any problem with them handling 2.75" shells, that's mostly all they get fed anyway.
lpl/nc
lpl/nc
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
2 3/4 and 2 1/2" shells feed well through 3" 870s.
The four 12 gauge 870s here are split between 2 3/4" and 3" receivers. ALL work with the shorter shells.
The four 12 gauge 870s here are split between 2 3/4" and 3" receivers. ALL work with the shorter shells.
chas08
Member
Even the 870 Supermag chambered for 3 1/2 magnums will run 2 3/4 inch ammo without any problems. Mine serves as both a HD weapon with a 18.5 inch cyl bore 3 inch chambered barrel made by Mossberg. And in the rice prairies and marshes for Ducks and Geese. Though there are many good choices, its hard to go wrong with an 870 in any chambering. Just never shoot shells that are any longer than the barrel is rated for. 
Virginian
Member
Get your calipers out. The Magnum and non-magnum 12 gauge 870 receivers are exactly the same. 1100s are the same way, but the springs and carriers differ on the 1100s.
41magsnub
Member
Most of us know what you are saying Virginian that the barrel is the only part with a size difference between them, but it could be misconstrued by somebody who does not know better. To be clear if it is magnum it will happily shoot 2 3/4 or 3", non magnum is 2 3/4"
See the below thread about why it would be possible to mix them up and cause a problem:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=364587
Virginian
Member
Understood. I was making the point that the feeding characteristics between a standard and a magnum are the same, because the components are the same. But, the main thing is to read what it says on the barrel and heed it.
Remington posts this message on ts web site:
NOTE: Model 870 Extra Barrels with 3" chambers will fit Super Magnum, Magnum, and 2-3/4" receivers. These barrels will handle both 2-3/4" and 3" shells when used on Magnum receivers. Use only 2-3/4" shells when these barrels are used on 2-3/4" receivers.
Why can't you shoot 3" shells from a standard receiver with a 3" barrel?
NOTE: Model 870 Extra Barrels with 3" chambers will fit Super Magnum, Magnum, and 2-3/4" receivers. These barrels will handle both 2-3/4" and 3" shells when used on Magnum receivers. Use only 2-3/4" shells when these barrels are used on 2-3/4" receivers.
Why can't you shoot 3" shells from a standard receiver with a 3" barrel?
Virginian
Member
"Use only 2-3/4" shells when these barrels are used on 2-3/4" receivers."
"Why can't you shoot 3" shells from a standard receiver with a 3" barrel?"
Note, it does not say you can't do it, it instructs you not to do it. A fine point. The instructor manufactures 3" magnum and 2-3/4" non-magnum shotguns. I know what I think their motivation is, but you can draw your own conclusions.
On the 1100 3" chambered "Steel Shot" barrels the instructions are to not fire any 3" loads, but steel. I have been shooting Bismuth, Tungsten, and what all thru mine for years, but I never mention it in front of the gun, because I don't want it to know.
"Why can't you shoot 3" shells from a standard receiver with a 3" barrel?"
Note, it does not say you can't do it, it instructs you not to do it. A fine point. The instructor manufactures 3" magnum and 2-3/4" non-magnum shotguns. I know what I think their motivation is, but you can draw your own conclusions.
On the 1100 3" chambered "Steel Shot" barrels the instructions are to not fire any 3" loads, but steel. I have been shooting Bismuth, Tungsten, and what all thru mine for years, but I never mention it in front of the gun, because I don't want it to know.
chas08
Member
]QUOTE]"Why can't you shoot 3" shells from a standard receiver with a 3" barrel?"[/QUOTE]
Years ago , when the 3" barrel started becoming more popular, many people did this. I once read an article in a G&A type magazine about this very thing, and for a long while it was perfectly fine. I'm not sure why it changed. Maybe "Big Green" was loosing too much in gun sales. I used to hunt with a goose guide who had bought a 3" barrel for his 2 3/4 " Wingmaster and used it for more than ten years with no ill effects on the reciever or barrel. I personally feel its Remingtons way of covering their A**.
Years ago , when the 3" barrel started becoming more popular, many people did this. I once read an article in a G&A type magazine about this very thing, and for a long while it was perfectly fine. I'm not sure why it changed. Maybe "Big Green" was loosing too much in gun sales. I used to hunt with a goose guide who had bought a 3" barrel for his 2 3/4 " Wingmaster and used it for more than ten years with no ill effects on the reciever or barrel. I personally feel its Remingtons way of covering their A**.
telecaster1981
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Of course it's an advantage! Anything that increases the versatility of your weapon is an advantage. As others have said, reliability will be the same as a standard 2 3/4 chamber. I like to buy the 3" Magnum 00 Buck value packs that Wal-Mart sells. Same capacity as the 2 3/4 shells, but 6 more pellets! It's kind of cool to know that one pull of the trigger from my 870 is roughly the same as dumping the entire 15rd (MecGar) mag in my Hi-Power...like a poor man's sub machine gun!
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
Telecaster, try timing the effective second shot from those elephant stompers. Betcha it's a lot longer than with 9 pellet loads, which are NOT puny.....
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telecaster1981
Member
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- Jan 8, 2006
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Dave,
I agree that my second shot will suffer. However, it's important to note one thing...I'm not exactly a ball of fire with either load! Ha! I'll have to do some rapid fire drills with those magnum loads vs. the standard 9 pellet loads. Will report back!
I agree that my second shot will suffer. However, it's important to note one thing...I'm not exactly a ball of fire with either load! Ha! I'll have to do some rapid fire drills with those magnum loads vs. the standard 9 pellet loads. Will report back!
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
Good idea. I like practicing with light loads, but a certain amount of training HAS to be done with "Duty" ammo.
Timing yourself with divers loads is a good thing.
Timing yourself with divers loads is a good thing.
Jeff F
Member
You can. It just may not eject 3 inch shells properly.
The 2.75 and 3 inch receivers are the same except for the ejector and I believe the ejector spring. The 3 inch receivers use a shorter ejector-ejector spring that lets the bolt move further to the rear before the fired shell hits and is kicked out of the ejection port.
I have two 2.75 Wingmasters that will not eject 3 inch shell fired out of 3 in barrels. Remington told me they would install the shorter ejectors in a standard receiver but it would also require a re blue of the receiver. I won't be doing that upgrade unless an ejector breaks.
HD the 2.75 inch shells will work just fine. Most of my duck hunting is done with short mags. A few 3 in goose loads get shot every once in awhile. If my shotgun was going to be used for wilderness defense and the possibility of big bears it would be loaded with 3 in Brenneke's.
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