Rem 870 Express Questions

[Zepo]

Hi All..........Happy Easter!

I have just picked up a nib rem 870 express 18" smooth bore W/ synthetic pistol grip stock. This is my first shotgun which I plan on using for mostly home defense. My questions are, can I shoot slugs through it or do I need a Rifled barrel? if I do decide to hunt deer or bird with it do I need a bigger barrel? as it is can I hunt with it? I paid 399 with the tactical stock and I have the original stock, also has the plus 2 mag extension was this too much? Thanks in advance Zepo

 

[MountainBear]

If you're happy its not too much.

The short barrel will shoot slugs just fine. If you want to hunt birds, try to find a longer barrel. People sell them around here all the time. Also you might want to see about finding a plug, and factory non-extension cap for hunting. 3 round (including the chambered round) limit in many areas for bird hunting.

 

[Zepo]

thanks for the reply, I do already have the plug but can you tell me what the advantage of having a rifled barrel is?

 

[Rshooter]

I will suggest oiling the gun well with Remington oil as the manual suggests. Then personally I myself would invest in ammunition, slugs and buckshot, and a few trips to the range to learn to handle the gun like an extension of myself. HD guns tend to get lonely and gather dust and rust if left to themselves.

 

[MountainBear]

The rifled barrel is really for states (a lot in the Midwest) that limit deer hunting to shotgun only. I use rifled slugs rather than a rifled barrel. The benefit of using your smooth bore barrel vs. a slug barrel is what you can shoot out it. You can shoot rifled slugs, buckshot, and bird shot/target loads out of your smooth bore. A rifled barrel should be limited to just slugs.

Like the gentleman above posted, you should run plenty of rounds through your new gun and see how they perform. This would include sighting in slugs and patterning buckshot and bird shot. Try varying distances to figure out how fast various loads open (pattern) after they leave the barrel.

I've hunted deer with a shotgun once. I used a smooth bore barrel with rifled slugs. They performed just fine. For your multi-use needs, I would see no advantage for buying a rifled barrel. If you find a longer vent-rib barrel, you should have a fine multi-use firearm. I may suggest getting it powdercoated or duracoated, as the Remington metal does seem to be prone to rust if not kept dry and well oiled (something that may be difficult in South Florida).

 

[Snarlingiron]

can I shoot slugs through it

Yes.

do I need a Rifled barrel?

Need? No. If you want to shoot sabots (which will give you a little better accuracy), then you need a rifled barrel

if I do decide to hunt deer or bird with it do I need a bigger barrel?

Again, need? No. Will it swing better with a longer barrel? Yes. Would changeable chokes be nice for hunting birds? Yes. Will the short barrel work well with slugs? Yes.

as it is can I hunt with it?

Yes.

I paid 399 with the tactical stock and I have the original stock, also has the plus 2 mag extension was this too much?

Sounds like a good deal to me.

 

[jdh]

You do not have to have a rifled barrel to shoot sabot slugs. I shoot them all the time in my smooth bore. Take the full choke tube out and put the rifled choke tube in. Accuracy is as good as in a fully rifled barrel.