Older Wingmaster 870 - Barrels

[zuiko]

I picked up a used 12ga Wingmaster 870 that has a barrel marked 2.75". There are no markings having to do with shell sizes on the receiver... so am I correct in assuming this is a 2.75" gun? If I were to pick up a newer remchoke barrel in the future, would it have to be a 2.75" barrel or would any barrel work (so long as I only use 2.75" shells)? Thanks.

 

[ArmedBear]

AFAIK any WM barrel will work, as long as you use 2.75" shells. That's good news because the new Light Contour barrels are really nice, and in general barrels are easy to find on eBay.

Don't get Express barrels with no ball detent, though.

Remington has really embraced the use of the Internet for product support. Their site is worth a browse. http://www.remington.com/

They have FAQ's like yours, or you can submit a question, under Support. Their phone support is also good, in my experience. Call them with the receiver serial number, and they'll tell you with certainty if it's a 3" or 2.75" receiver.

From their website, under Original Factory Barrels:

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.

 

[Jeff F]

Any 870 barrel will work. I think all 870 receivers are the same with the only thing different between the 2 3/4 and 3 in mag is the ejector and ejector spring in the receiver.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Ah, but there ARE markings on the receiver that tell you what 'size' it was when it left the factory. The serial number is the key here- serial numbers ending in an M indicate the gun is a 12 ga. full size magnum frame set up to handle 3" shells. Serial numbers ending in V however were full size 12 ga. frames originally set up to handle 2 3/4" shells.

As with so many things in life, you just have to know the code... 8^).

Note that the only difference in receivers as far as "normal" (i.e., not 3.5" super maggie numb) receivers in 12 ga. 870s is the ejector. Non- magnum receivers can be altered to handle 3" shells by changing the ejector but this will require refinishing the receiver and is not likely worth it just to be able to use 3" shells- you should be able to accomplish 99% of your shotgunning quite successfully with 2 3/4" shells.

hth,

lpl/nc

 

[zuiko]

This is a 2.75" receiver as the S/N does end in V. Thanks for all the info.