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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 8, 2013 15:47:36 GMT -5
I've got an older Remington 870 Wingmaster 2 3/4" bore that has the smooth bore slug barrel on it. I'm wanting to get a ribbed barrel for it to maybe bird hunt with. Since it is a 2 3/4" receiver can I put a 3" barrel on it? Where is the best place to buy one ?
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Post by dbd870 on Dec 8, 2013 15:57:58 GMT -5
You have to have a magnum receiver for 3" shells so a 3" chambered barrel is kind of pointless. I'd look around the usual on line spots and hit gunbroker etc as well
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 8, 2013 16:07:50 GMT -5
Dave,
Aren't 2 3/4" barrels hard to find. Especially with screw in chokes?
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Post by dbd870 on Dec 8, 2013 16:16:25 GMT -5
You know I haven't tried - both my 870's are Magnums. If a 3" barrel is all you can find, use it It will work fine; just thinking a used 2 3/4 might be picked up on the cheap
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Post by bullseye on Dec 8, 2013 20:22:17 GMT -5
You can use a 3" barrel on a 2 3/4" gun. The instructions that come with barrels even say you can, they just tell you not to use 3" shells in a non-magnum gun. Actaully there our only a couple of parts different between a magnum and non-magnum gun if you check the parts list, they have to do with the extractor.
I am not sure they ever made barrels with Remchokes in 2 3/4" only for the 870. I think they switched to all guns being magnums before the Remchokes were introduced. Not sure about that.
You do need to be careful about the barrel contour. They have the light contour that come on the wingmasters and the standards that come on express and early 870 barrels after the Remchoke introduction. You can use a light contour barrel on a gun that had a regular barrel, there just will be more room around the forend. If you use a heavy barrel on a light contour gun you might need to open up the forend.
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 8, 2013 21:03:24 GMT -5
You can use a 3" barrel on a 2 3/4" gun. The instructions that come with barrels even say you can, they just tell you not to use 3" shells in a non-magnum gun. Actaully there our only a couple of parts different between a magnum and non-magnum gun if you check the parts list, they have to do with the extractor. I am not sure they ever made barrels with Remchokes in 2 3/4" only for the 870. I think they switched to all guns being magnums before the Remchokes were introduced. Not sure about that. You do need to be careful about the barrel contour. They have the light contour that come on the wingmasters and the standards that come on express and early 870 barrels after the Remchoke introduction. You can use a light contour barrel on a gun that had a regular barrel, there just will be more room around the forend. If you use a heavy barrel on a light contour gun you might need to open up the forend. Hmmm... Do I need to forget about the screw in chokes and try and find an older modified or improved cylinder barrel? The gun is blue and not the parkerized finish. The gun is probably a late 60s gun.. best I can recall,I don't have the original barrel so it is hard to date. |
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Post by tenring on Dec 9, 2013 5:55:35 GMT -5
Google "Hastings Barrels" and see what you come up with. Picked up an older 870 a number of years ago just to have, and by luck found one of their barrels with screw in chokes at a local gun show.
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Post by steve46511 on Dec 9, 2013 8:14:17 GMT -5
Just a thought. There are a few around with chokes. Some were added and a very few were factory. Ive had a couple.
I'm assuming this is a 12 ga.
Age wise here is the serial number prefix codes to help age it and IF the barrel is original there should be a 2 or three letter code on the barrel, left side, right next to the receiver. Google "Remington barrel codes" and that will pop up to place the exact year and month the barrel (at least) was made.
VERY early ones had the serial number on the barrel as well as the receiver that matched, of course.
Remington 870 Serial Number Prefix Codes
1950 - 1967
No Prefix
1968 - 1973
"S" Prefix
1974 - 1977
"T" Prefix
1978 - 1983
"V" Prefix
1984 - 1989
"W" Prefix
1990
"X" Prefix
1991 - 1993
"A" Prefix
1994 - 1996
"B" Prefix
1997 - 2000
"C" Prefix
2001
"D" Prefix
This is a generalization. There are "cross over" prefixes some years at years end. Remington don't start and stop everything exactly Jan 1 (or so it seems). This also does NOT apply to those made now. It all changed a few years back.
12 gauge Wingmasters are around, all over. I'd guess that if one looked one could find the entire gun within 150 bucks (or less) of barrel only and keep both or sell the stocked receiver on gunbroker. They sell easy, especially the no prefix and S (and some T series) shotguns.
Sitting in the corner of the room is the EARLIEST factory ribbed wingmaster I've ever seen. Matching serial number on barrel and receiver, barrel code of 1953. 20 gauge, 12 gauge frame, ribbed SKEET barrel. Most Rem collectors will tell you such didn't exist in 1953 but Remington confirmed all info. I about fainted when I found it.
It whacked that little spike I shot this year with a "saddle" scope mount.
(can you tell I love wingmasters? LOL)
Watch gunbroker if not in a hurry. They are around but check any pawn shops with firearms. 12 ga wingmasters are all over and some FINDS out there too!
God Bless
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Post by steve46511 on Dec 9, 2013 8:25:12 GMT -5
PS......don't let anyone talk you out of the "antiquated" smooth bore slug barrel for 50 bucks either. It's NOT a 26 inch barrel BY CHANCE is it? (only one ever made was 1959 but some are around and EXPENSIVE). Ill give you 20 bucks for it if it's 26 inch.  God Bless! |
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 9, 2013 9:35:32 GMT -5
Steve.
There us no prefix on the serial number. Just a suffix V and I understand that was guage designation.
I don't have the original plain bead barrel. I quit rabbit hunting and only used the gun for deer hunting. I eventually bought a rifle sighted smooth bore slug barrel for it. The old barrel just sat in my safe until I sold it a few years back.
I would swap that slug barrel for the barrel I want. Maybe find a Wingmaster with the barrel I want, buy it, swap out the barrels and then sell it back with the slug barrel?
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Post by steve46511 on Dec 9, 2013 10:07:07 GMT -5
Steve. There us no prefix on the serial number. Just a suffix V and I understand that was guage designation. I don't have the original plain bead barrel. I quit rabbit hunting and only used the gun for deer hunting. I eventually bought a rifle sighted smooth bore slug barrel for it. The old barrel just sat in my safe until I sold it a few years back. I would swap that slug barrel for the barrel I want. Maybe find a Wingmaster with the barrel I want, buy it, swap out the barrels and then sell it back with the slug barrel? That would work and I bet very reasonably, cost wise. God Bless |
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 9, 2013 15:55:40 GMT -5
Checked with Remington and the gun was made in 1968.
To check on the age of a Remington product call...
TEL: 1-800-243-9700 Extension 7
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Post by ncmountainman on Dec 9, 2013 16:47:14 GMT -5
Woody,
You might try Googling "Mossberg barrel for Remington 870". Mossberg makes a LOT of barrels that fit the 870. I bought a rifled barrel with cantilever scope mount many years ago for my 870 that came with a smooth full choke barrel. Still shoots super accurate. Barrel says Mossberg for Remington 870 on it.
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 9, 2013 17:17:59 GMT -5
Woody, You might try Googling "Mossberg barrel for Remington 870". Mossberg makes a LOT of barrels that fit the 870. I bought a rifled barrel with cantilever scope mount many years ago for my 870 that came with a smooth full choke barrel. Still shoots super accurate. Barrel says Mossberg for Remington 870 on it. All I could find was slug and security Remington barrels by them. I'm watching a couple barrels on FleaBay. There is a gun show in Evansville this weekend |
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Post by bullseye on Dec 9, 2013 21:37:30 GMT -5
I have an older 870 that was pre Remchokes. I bought a Remchoke contoured wingmaster (not matte) barrel for it. It fits fine, there is a little more gap between the forearm and barrel, but nothing objectionable.
What I would not want is a remchoke barrel that was not a contoured barrel. They are a heavy barrel and I do not like the feel, although that is a personal preference.
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 9, 2013 22:15:55 GMT -5
I have an older 870 that was pre Remchokes. I bought a Remchoke contoured wingmaster (not matte) barrel for it. It fits fine, there is a little more gap between the forearm and barrel, but nothing objectionable. What I would not want is a remchoke barrel that was not a contoured barrel. They are a heavy barrel and I do not like the feel, although that is a personal preference. OK... please explain to me the difference. I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Thanks . |
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Post by dbd870 on Dec 10, 2013 5:42:35 GMT -5
Didn't know there were 2 different contours on 870 barrels, how about that. TNX for the SN info - I knew about my old one but the second one I picked up I had no idea what vintage it was, turns out to be early 90's.
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 10, 2013 14:41:44 GMT -5
Ok.. Another question. If I buy a full choke can it reamed out to modified or improved modified?
How about threading it for choke tubes
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Post by steve46511 on Dec 10, 2013 16:20:08 GMT -5
I've had some with installed tubes and work great but such are not cheap. About the cost of another barrel if not more. There are several online companies that do so and probably a few local smiths. From what I'm told altered chokes sometimes don't pattern great but I've no 1st hand experience with such. www.choketube.com/choke-tube-installation.phpGod Bless |
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 10, 2013 17:16:10 GMT -5
I've had some with installed tubes and work great but such are not cheap. About the cost of another barrel if not more. There are several online companies that do so and probably a few local smiths. From what I'm told altered chokes sometimes don't pattern great but I've no 1st hand experience with such. www.choketube.com/choke-tube-installation.phpGod Bless Those are not bad prices considering that they also give you 3 chokes and the wrench. |
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