kamagong,
Now this is jut between you and me, no one else should read it because they'll just get all argumentative and stuff, and I wouldn't want that to happen.
Number one, older Express guns- the ones made before they started using plastic trigger plates, before the magazine tube dimples came along- are mechanically as good as Wingmasters. Heresy? Hardly. Call it experience instead.
Barrels hard to get? Remington will happily sell you any barrel they have in stock and deliver it to you by mail. Doesn't matter what gun it's for, long as it's over 18" there won't be any problem. Basic 18" parkerized CYL bore was $96 last time I checked, but that was a while ago and as I said earlier, inflation has been at work. Oh, and the world is awash with good used 870 barrels, too- you just need to make sure they match the magazine cap retention system used on your gun (detent and spring on older Expresses, all WMs and 870Ps, the toothed plastic magazine spring retainer/magazine cap detent on Expresses with mag tube dimples). I just bought a 21" vent ribbed Express turkey barrel, dual beads, set up for RemChokes, from the Buy/Sell/Trade Accessories forum here for $100 delivered. It's the third? fourth? fifth? 870 barrel I've bought from a fellow THR member.
Matching finishes? Get serious. This is a $250- 350 working gun, not some kinda showpiece. What, it won't shoot if the finish on the barrel doesn't match the finish on the rest of the gun? C'mon, be real. There are more mismatched 870s here than not, and no one laughs at them.
Worry about getting the basic gun first. Look for a good solid used gun- older WM, LE trade-in either WM or 870P, or a good older Express gun. While you're looking, keep an eye out for a deal on a good used 18", 18.5" or 20" RS smoothbore barrel, with a barrel ring mag cap detent just to be on the safe side. If you find a deal on a barrel, nab it first, then keep looking for the gun you want.
Don't worry if it's just chambered for 2 3/4" shells, that's all you need anyway.
Don't worry if it's beat up/worn on the outside, you can fix appearance stuff later. As long as it is mechanically sound, it's OK. It would be a good idea to get some dummy shells to check functon with- ask first of course before you start stuffing shells into a shotgun in a gunstore (Brownells sells Action Proving Dummies) or a friend who reloads can make you up some- just be sure they are made up with a fired primer, no powder and are clearly marked DUMMY).
If you have a relative or friend who already has an 870, get them to teach you how to field strip it, and show you what to look for as far as function is concerned.
Not a lot goes wrong with 870s as a rule, even 50-year old guns that have been shot a lot, most of what you need to watch out for buying used 870s is kitchen table "gunsmithing" efforts from people who think they need to detail strip every gun they own, or who are sure they can improve on the factory design somehow. You need to learn what 'normal' wear looks like, and what gunbutchery looks like, to be a smart shopper for a used 870. If you want help in locating a good one to get transferred to your dealer, I'll be happy to help look for one for you. Just PM me. Finding a good deal takes time, but it's worth it.
I've had good dealings with these folks in the past-
http://www.robertsontradingpost.com/remsg.htm . Look through what they have in stock and see if any prices appeal to you, if they do give them a call and talk it over. No one else on the web I have dealt with before has anything in the way of 870s at decent prices right now.
Good luck and happy shopping,
lpl
Unless the gun is late production and like new, no way.
