It's pretty simple these days to adjust patterns in even CYL bore barrels. It calls for some patterning with a variety of ammunition, but it's IMHO nothing short of amazing the difference modern ammo can make in shotgun patterning.
If you want tight patterns, use any of the Federal buckshot loads with the FliteControl wad, or likewise either of the Hornady TAP buckshot loads that feature this same wad. The 18" 870P CYL bore barrel I put on the 1987 Express gun I'm playing with right now will pattern Federal LE127 00 (9 pellets, 1325FPS) into less than 4" at 25 yards.
Conversely, loads like S&B 00 or RIO Royal 00 (soft lead pellets, unplated and unbuffered) will distribute 00 pellets all over the same IPSC cardboard target at 25 yards and even miss with a pellet or three out of each load.
There is a VAST variety of buckshot loads out there and a huge range of difference in performance is possible just by changing loads. Everyone who is serious about knowing what their shotgun will actually do at various ranges simply has to pattern various loads to see how they perform. It's the only way to know.
In the case of this particular 870 Express project, it'll be getting a set of MMC ghost ring sights as soon as I can swing the $$ for them. On the next visit to our retired family gunsmith, yours truly will be getting lessons in drilling and tapping and silver soldering to install these sights. With patterns that small, sights will come in handy...
lpl/nc