New Shotgun - 870

[CZSteve]

First let me admit that I can be fickle at times.

In another thread I mentioned that I had found a Winchester 1300 in Excellent condition for $130.00 cash.
Went back w/ a decent home stereo and 5-disc changer that I had replaced when we re-did our tv/home entertainment.
Applied a $55.00 credit towards the gun = $75.00 out of pocket for me and I don't have to mess w/ selling the stereo in the classifieds (would have been happy making $80-90.00 w/ effort).

The 'fickle' part

Thought I had decided the 1300 seemed to fit me best between the 1300, 870, & 500a.
While here at home I also had my brothers 870 Express. The more I compared the 1300 w/ the 870, the more I liked the feel of the 870.
So, back to the pawn shop and was able to do a straight swap for an Express Magnum w/ a 26" barrel, also in great shape.

Question:
Plan on using for a Dove hunt next month and trap shooting and possibly skeet or clays.
How detrimental is the 26" barrel as opposed to a 28"?
What about the after market chokes that extend beyond the barrel? I'd imagine they give the effect of a longer barrel.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Wouldn't worry about the fickle part. You did a great deal there.

There shouldn't be a lot of difference between the 26" and 28" barrels. I like the 26" better myself but ymmv. Wouldn't worry about extended aftermarket choke tubes, just a couple of standard RemChoke tubes (ImpCyl and Mod) are a good starting place. You would't be able to see the extended choke tubes with the gun mounted anyway, just the rib. And 26" is plenty of length to burn the full powder charge.

Learn how to field strip your new 870, give it a good cleaning, and lay in plenty of shells. Then it's doves, look out! (Don't forget to plug the magazine to limit it to two shells, if the factory plug is not in place... .)

Stay safe,

lpl/nc

 

[Dave McCracken]

Good deal. I doubt there's any real or imagined advantage for the average shotgunner of a 26" or 28" barrel for most shooting. I recently bought both a 30" LC barrel and a 26" one. Little if any difference.

Skip the extended chokes. Get an IC tube and a Full. These, with the Mod tube in it will cover all the bases.

Next BA/UU/R.