I've managed to find a rifle-sighted smoothbore IC barrel for a Remington 870 Express. It's got the hole for the ball-bearing detent in the retaining ring, but of course has no ball in it. Is it possible to insert a ball bearing into this socket, so that the barrel can be used with the magazine cap of a standard 870 Wingmaster? If so, how does one insert the ball - in other words, is it a job I can do at home, or is a gunsmith required?
Can an Express barrel be modified for use on a Wingmaster?
- Thread starter Preacherman
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You can buy the detent balls and springs at Brownell's. Also check eBay.
Not sure if this is really matters. I've got a couple Hastings aftermarket barrels without the detent balls. Also an older WM barrel that is missing the detent ball. All seem to work fine.
Not sure if this is really matters. I've got a couple Hastings aftermarket barrels without the detent balls. Also an older WM barrel that is missing the detent ball. All seem to work fine.
To install the detent and spring, you'll need a special staking punch.
This punch both inserts and holds the detent and spring, and stakes it in place.
It's available from Brownell's:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=18749&title=SHOTGUN+TOOLS
Detent Staking Punch #080-870-205
This punch both inserts and holds the detent and spring, and stakes it in place.
It's available from Brownell's:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=18749&title=SHOTGUN+TOOLS
Detent Staking Punch #080-870-205
texagun
Member
I have used an Express barrel on a Wingmaster with no problems. The magazine caps for both guns look identical to me. I think you can use the barrel without the ball bearing without any problem. Just screw the magazine cap down tightly.
Dadgumit Preacherman, you made me go down and look in the safe. 
I spent a good chunk of this past season hunting with an 870 SuperMag SPS (full camo synthetic). It came with the 28" ribbed barrel and I also purchased a rifle-sighted Express barrel for deer hunting (although the short tube and relatively open choke made it OK for grouse hunting as well).
In any event, I just checked both barrels. The 28" barrel does not have the ball-detent (not even the hole), but the rifle-sighted Express does. Both work just fine with the gun. I would be surprised if it were an issue at all.
I spent a good chunk of this past season hunting with an 870 SuperMag SPS (full camo synthetic). It came with the 28" ribbed barrel and I also purchased a rifle-sighted Express barrel for deer hunting (although the short tube and relatively open choke made it OK for grouse hunting as well).
In any event, I just checked both barrels. The 28" barrel does not have the ball-detent (not even the hole), but the rifle-sighted Express does. Both work just fine with the gun. I would be surprised if it were an issue at all.
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