remington 870 express questions

[yongxingfreesty]

finally found a picture online of a rem 870 express with 18" barrel.

i plan on buying one soon from academy with 26" or 28" barrel then selling it to buy an 18 or 18.5" barrel.

1. will this barrel fit? 100% drop in?

http://cgi.ebay.com/REMINGTON-12GA-...ryZ73955QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

2. is there any kind of tube extension (dont know what it's called) I can use to match up with the barrel length? (see second picture)

would like to shorten the overall length by shortening the barrel and the stock.
3. anyone know if the stock on a junior model will fit on the full size stock?

4. which barrel is more popular? I dont know what to do with the 26" or 28" barrel, but sell it on here for a fair price.


thanks!

 

[Fred Fuller]

In short, you CAN do it that way. But it might not be the best/least expensive approach.

A better bet for you if you insist on buying new is to get the 'home defense' version of the Express that comes with an 18.5" barrel and a factory Remington magazine extension (the 7-shot version). It might cost a bit more up front but it'll save you money and hassle in the long run, I promise. And if you want wood furniture, that's easy enough to swap out to replace the synthetic.

See the pic and specs at http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/95077 , Remington has had a serious attack of stupids in their 2007 online product catalog and shows only a generic 870 pic for different models. If this is a sign of things to come with the new owner... well, let's hope not.

If you want to do the Lego thing on your own, your best bet is to find a good condition (inside, no need to worry about the outside) OLD Express on the used rack at your favorite FFL's establishment and buy that. Chances are it'll be cheaper in the long run too. See, if you buy the Express you're talking about, new, then you have to remove those pain-in-the-tuckus magazine tube dimples to put on a magazine extension. But the 7-shot factory version doesn't have dimples to start with- thus one more PITA hassle avoided.

The old Express guns were designed just like Wingmasters and Police guns, no magazine tube dimples and a spring-loaded detent in the barrel ring to retain the magazine cap. Newer Expresses have a plastic piece that is a combination magazine spring retainer and magazine cap retainer. Start unscrewing the cap on a newer Express and you hear clack clack clack, no such noise on an older one. Best bet is to pull the barrel and check for dimples, as long as the proprietor doesn't mind. Could be some enterprising soul already drilled them out.

You want the whole dimple story, go to the SEARCH THIS FORUM block and type in 'express dimples'- you'll get a boatload.

Anyway, you asked, there's an answer, FWIW. If you have any further questions don't hesitate to ask...

lpl/nc

 

[sm]

What Lee Said.

Alternative:

Buy the Express Combo, meaning the gun comes with 26" or 26" smooth-bore barrel AND rifle sighted short smooth-bore barrel for deer/turkey.

Lots of folks buy these, and leave bone stock.

Short rifle sighted -smooth-bore is great for Serious Use, along with deer with slugs/ Turkey with Turkey loads.

Longer barrel for dove, ducks, Skeet , Trap, 5 Stand, Sporting clays.

Oh, some ranges have rules that NO barrels shorter than 23", or 21" are allowed on the range.
Having a longer barrel allows one to attend these ranges for above clay games, and the more one uses a gun, the more the gun becomes and extension of them.

 

[yongxingfreesty]

thanks for the advice, i've thought about going that way too.

but I plan on buying the shotgun from academy because I have a gift card and they only have 26/28" in stock.

I found out that the minimum barrel length is 20" to have the magazine entension. i will keep it stock at 4rounds see how I like it.

is the barrel 100% drop in fit? easy to install? The only shotgun I owned was a winchester 1300 defender, shot maybe 50rounds and sold it.

 

[B. Adams]

I'm confused as to why you sold your Defender, only to buy a Remington with the same features. It seems like you want your Defender back.

To answer your questions, yes the barrel will fit, yes it will be very easy to install, yes you can buy magazine extensions in any length you like. You will have to file off the dimples on the inside of the stock magazine tube, which is not difficult but will require tools and moderate skill.

I prefer a 26" barrel for pheasant hunting, which is all the hunting I do. Personally, I would keep the longer barrel around in case you ever want to go hunting or shoot clay pigeons. It's very easy to swap them out at will, and it's a lot more fun to shoot at moving objects than paper targets. A box of clay pigeons is less than $10 and can entertain you for hours. I think you'll want the flexibility of having both barrels.

In that same vein, I would keep the standard length stock around and buy a youth stock, again in case you ever want to use a full-size gun. Standard recoil pads won't fit on a cut-down stock anyway.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Unless Texas is different, the Federal minimum barrel length for shotguns is 18", and Remington most definitely offers factory 2-shot magazine extensions on guns with 18 1/2" barrels as per the link I posted. There are several 870s here with Remington 2-shot extensions and 18" or 18.5" barrels.

There is a 3-shot extension available from several manufacturers which will be even with the muzzle on a 20" barrel- it may be that's what someone had in mind when they told you the 20" barrel stuff.

Anyway, your time, your $$$, your gun... have fun, stay safe.

lpl/nc

 

[yongxingfreesty]

i liked the synthetic stock back then, now I like the wood furniture. adding the extension seems too complicated, ill keep stock tube and just get shorter barrel. thanks guys

 

[19-3Ben]

http://www.wilsoncombat.com/sa_mag_extensions.asp

Mag extensions. You do not need a 20" bbl. Look around their sight for even more equipment for your 870.

 

[DiggityBiggity]

I personally own a Remington 870 Express Magnum. Yes, the barrel drops right in, however, what I did was look for a used police barrel. Why, you ask? Tritium night sights. I got the barrel with the sights for under $150, in GREAT condition, and am still able to go clay shooting with the longer barrel the gun came with.

Best of luck

 

[yongxingfreesty]

thanks guy, ill keep lookout for the police barrel on ebay.
ill settle with the stock 4round capacity for a while and upgrade.

thanks everyone!

 

[50caliber123]

does the wilson combat tactical mag extension require removing the dimples on an 870?

 

[aubie515]

If you plan on purchasing a new 870, I'd recommend refinishing the shotgun. Remington's finish is horrible and cheap because a lot of the 870s are rusting a lot faster now. Try KG Gunkote or Norrell's and your shotgun will be rust free.

As far as extensions go...Choate and Wilson Combat make them for the 870. The Choate extensions offer more shots...I believe up to 5 extra shots for the 870. Wilson only offers 1 or 2 extra shots. I put the +2 Wilson on my Wingmaster.

 

[wdlsguy]

does the wilson combat tactical mag extension require removing the dimples on an 870?

The spring or follower will hang up if you don't remove the dimples.

 

[budmen1]

I just purchase a Rem 870 Exp super Mag Camo Turkey shotgun and would like to know if the barrel on this gun in interchangable with other barrels.......a freind of mine you cannot on the super Mags.....anyone know if this is true?

thanks
K

 

[Dave McCracken]

It's interchangeable, K. Both barrel and receiver have to be 3.5" to use those shells, but the shorter stuff works also. In your case, whatever the new barrel says you can use is OK.

 

[Nick5182]

Quote:
does the wilson combat tactical mag extension require removing the dimples on an 870?
The spring or follower will hang up if you don't remove the dimples.

You also have to make sure the inside of the tube is finely filed where you drill out the dimples. When I added my extension, I didn't file them well enough on the inside, and they burrs chewed up my follower and it would snag.

 

[chas08]

Budmen1
Welcome to the Highroad.
I have a 3" chambered 18.5 riot barrel on an 870 Supermag as we speak. It's 100% drop in and works just fine. Just don't shoot any ammo that is longer than the barrel is marked for.

 

[MAKster]

You can buy an 18.5" barrel directly from Remington's website. The fixed cylinder barrel is $134 and the one with screw in choke is $150. They even have one with rifle sights for $116.