Field Do-All Remington

[bratch]

I'm thinking about picking up a second 870 (first is set up for HD) and retiring the old Winchester.

I'd like to get the same manual of arms so I'll always be familarizing myself whether I'm working with the HD or shooting clays. I'm sticking with a 12 for now.

Whats a good do all barrel length? I shoot some clays but its just for fun. Do a little dove hunting, my cousin is a big duck hunter so thats always a possibility, and I've went after a turkey or 2 but not with any regularity. Do the new Express models have removable chokes? I figure for such a wide range of uses a couple chokes would be useful

 

[Preacherman]

For an all-round, do-anything gun that's also a bit shorter than full-length for ease of use indoors (HD), look at the 22"-24" barrel range. These are often referred to as "turkey barrels", and usually have screw-in chokes as standard. Very versatile length, IMHO. An example (Remington turkey gun):

 

[Dave McCracken]

Yes, the Expresses all have choke tubes. In 12 gauge anyway, there's some 28s and 410s out there with fixed chokes.

The 23" turkey barrel Remington makes is the shortest I'd use for all around stuff, and I find myself liking the longer ones more and more. I do shoot the 30" LC barrel written about here in the past better than its 26" cousin. That one packs so nice, though....

But, what works best for me may not for others. See if you can try out a couple at the range before plunking down your money. If you're close to Md, you could try mine out at PGC.

Be advised that while 870s do not breed, they do multiply. That's how I have 6....

 

[bratch]

An indoor weapon isn't too important. I've got an 18" 870 I set-up for anything around the house.

Now if the 22" barrel can also do everything well in the field that may be a good idea as a secondary HD weapon.

 

[bratch]

This will be #2 for me. I'm in OK so MD would be a bit of a trip I may just go to the store and swing a couple of them and see what works.

Anything 24" and longer should be a good hunter/ clay blaster?

 

[Fred Fuller]

Most of the 'standard' Express barrels I run across while looking for deals on spare barrels are 28" VR types with RemChokes. There are a few 26" ones around (also with vent ribs and choke tubes from the factory), you might want to look for one of those. But either one should do nicely for what you want.

Were I you I'd shop around for a good used Express gun, one of the older ones from the pre- magazine tube dimple, pre- plastic trigger plate days. You should find them pretty regularly for less than $200, unless used gun prices are higher in your area than they are hereabouts.

If you are just looking for spare barrels, note that as the Express model morphed into its current peecee mode, barrels changed a bit in one important detail. The detent ball and spring, mounted in the front of the barrel ring to engage the magazine cap, (as used on Wingmasters) was present on early Express guns. When the magazine tube dimples arrived, the mode of retaining the magazine spring changed as well and the ball detent on the barrel ring went away (tho they still drilled the hole in the ring). The design of the magazine cap changed as well, from having 'teeth' on the outer margin of the cap to having them on the inner surface where they engaged the plastic detent sticking up out of the end of the magazine tube. Nowadays Remington doesn't even drill the hole in the barrel ring of new Express gun barrels (save for the HD models with factory magazine extensions). So be sure, if you go barrel shopping, to get a barrel compatible with your gun.

Stay safe,

lpl/nc

 

[bratch]

I'd thought about an extra barrel but the Surefire forend and side saddle might make dove hunting difficult.

Thanks for the help

 

[Rupestris]

Check with your local trap/skeet/sc ranges. The one I shoot at here in MI has a minimum length of 26" due to noise regulations. (the people that complain are the ones that built houses and sub's where an existing range was)

 

[bratch]

Most of my shooting is done on private land but I will check into it.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Hey Bratch...

Swing by my place this Saturday and I'll let you swing my 28 ga 870.

Seriously, I like 26-28" in an o/u and 28-30" in a single barrel gun. Helps that swing from stopping (I need all the help I can get).

 

[bratch]

Larry

If I was still in town I would but I'm back in Oklahoma. Last thing I need to do is play with something that gets away from the streamlining calibers I'm going for.

How'd the gardening season treat you at the end?

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

How'd the gardening season treat you at the end?

Except for a microburst that came through and did some minor damage, the garden is doing better than ever before. The guests at the get together this Saturday will be treated to some home grown tomatoes the likes of which they have never tasted before.

The green beans are just now starting to overwhelm us (31 pints last Saturday).

I hope to do some major clay-bustin' this Saturday! The place is ready.

How did sis do? (Bratch's sis was in the Lil Britches Finals here recently.)

 

[bratch]

Not as well as expected.

Unknown to me she had hurt her knee in track and got thrown from a horse the week before the Finals and spent a couple of days in the hospital so she wasn't at top speed.

They had a pretty good time though and really enjoyed the dinner.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Sorry to hear that, but she's young, and a little adversity will make her stronger. sounds cruel, but trust me, I know (I have two daughters).

On the original question; my 11-48 28" modified barrel always did anything I asked of it, although sometimes I wished for a full choke, especially on waterfowl. I finally went with a Citori with Invectors. That shotgun does everything, I ordered it with 26" barrels. If I had it to do over again, I would order 28" barrels, they seem to swing a bit better.