Rem 870 "do it all" Q's???

[vanfunk]

Hello Gents,
I'm not a stranger to shotguns, but I am a stranger to their use. I have been fortunate enough to have inherited a Winchester 21, two lovely L.C. Smiths, and an exemplary Fox Sterlingworth. I love these guns, as they were my grandfathers, but I'm now contemplating the addition of a more "utilitarian" piece to the battery. My local gun seller has a pre-owned Remington 870 Wingmaster for sale for $200 which comes with a 26" IC barrel and a 30" Full barrel. It's in about 90% condition and seems to be rated only for 2.75" shells.

Here's what I want to do with it:

Use it for "casual" skeet (with fiance and future father-in-law) and trap.

Use it for home defense, outfitted with 20" rifle sighted barrel and extended mag tube.

Is this realistic?

I'm assuming the one I looked at is old enough not to have the mag "dimples" that would prevent easy installation of an extended mag tube. I'd like to have 7 or 8 shots on board for defense. Are blued (not parked) 18" or 20" barrels readily available? How much $$$ are we talking here? How 'bout mag extensions? Can I put a 3" magnum barrel on it?

The stock shows a bit of use, as evidenced by scratches and dents. For purely aesthetic purposes, I'd want to replace the buttstock, at least. Are Walnut replacement stocks available?

Am I out of my mind?

Thanks in advance for any help you have to share!

 

[Gary G23]

If you have to buy a barrel, a buttstock, and a magazine tube, wouldn't it be cheaper to just buy one already configured like you want it?

 

[dfariswheel]

There's no reason at all why you can't "do it all" with a good used 870.
In fact, the Remington is one of the most adaptable shotguns ever made.

There's a good many people who have a extended magazine home defense
shotgun that also is switched out and used as a deer gun, a bird gun, or a clays gun.
Whatever you want to set it up for is limited only by what kind of barrels you have. If you stick to a standard stock, simply removing the mag extension and changing the barrel is all that's needed.

To answer your other questions:

Blued 18" to 20" barrels are plentiful, both new and used. Even Mossberg makes 18" barrels for the Remington 870.

Magazine extensions are made by 3-4 companies, in 7 to 10 shot models, blued or parkerized. Costs usually start around $35-$40.

You can put a 3" Magnum barrel on it and shoot it with 3" shells, BUT the gun will NOT eject the longer shells. However, a gunsmith can convert a 2 3/4" gun to 3" by replacing the ejector assembly. This isn't expensive.

Walnut stocks are also plentiful, new or used.

 

[mnrivrat]

For the most part there is no problem with finding all the things you mention. Barrel, Stock, Mag Extension. You might want to varify the costs of these before you make your decision however. New walnut butt stocks are not cheap and nice takeoffs can still run $35 to $50 - you might want to consider refinishing your wood. 18" barrel is about $75 to $100 . And the magazine ext. cost was already mentioned. You can get the reciever converted to use 3 inch by changing the ejector as previously mentioned. The cost will vary depending where you live but I would think at least $50 to do this with the parts, and that does not include rebluing the reciever - the pins that hold the ejecter in place can be touch up blued if your not fussy , but I suspect if your thinking about changing the butt stock purely for improvement of looks, you might not be happy unless the reciever is reblued after 3 inch conversion. Of course you don't need 3 inch for the type of shooting you have mentioned.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Yes, it's realistic.

Barrels and stocks are easy to find, but...

Many older WMs have great wood. A refinish may work out better for you, and certainly less expensive. I would look to the pad, if any and possible replace with a premium pad like the Pachmyer Decellerator.

A 26" barreled IC choke barrel will do fine for casual Skeet,and a 30" Full for Trap. That first also should work OK for 5 stand and maybe wobble.

18-20" 870 barrels in a variety of sight options, condition and finish are out there. Finding a bright blue finished extension may be harder. Stick with a two shot extension unless you're bignstrong.

The ejector can be changed to make this a 3" shotgun, but for your purposes not meeded. A 3" barrel will fit on this and work great with 2 3/4" shells.

BTW, if I DIDN't already have 6 870s, and ran across a classic WM with TWO barrels for a mere $200, I might run the risk of spraining my wrist getting out my plastic.

And also, with those lovely doubles at hand, you may want to try one of them out for skeet....

HTH....

 

[vanfunk]

Thanks for all the help, Guys!

I went back to the store today to take another look. While I was checking out the wingmaster, one of the staff showed me a used (but immaculate)Remington 1100 listed for $350. It has a plain, unribbed beaded 28" Mod. barrel. The salesman mentioned that I'd be better off with the 1100 for general use, citing the reduced recoil of gas automation. He's probably right, except that the 1100 would hardly be a natural choice for HD employment.

Hmmmm, maybe they'd take $500 for both???
Just might have to go back on Monday.

Thanks!
vanfunk

 

[Al Thompson]

Sure it would. Frankly, the 8 inch difference in barrel length is almost negligble. Get the 1100, cut the barrel to 24 or 22 inches and install choke tubes. For another 100 bucks, you'll have a nice handling, multi choked all purpose shotgun. Buddy has a Benelli with the 24 inch barrel and the length of thee barrel is a non-issue. Besides, you'll have a SG that you shoot often and know well.