Author Topic: Rem 870 barrels (Read 873 times)

olywa · « **on:** November 09, 2005, 06:16:42 AM »

I have a late '50's vintage 870 Wingmaster with a Polychoke on it. I'd like to put a newer barrel on it with a vent rib and Rem-Choke tubes. Most of the barrels I see advertised are for the Express model. Is there any reason these shouldn't be used on an older 870? I'll be sticking with 2 3/4" loadings even though the newer barrels can handle up to 3". I'm not looking for pretty here, just a good meat gun. I've already put a late model wood stock on it with the R3 recoil pad. Nicest recoil pad I've ever used.

mountainview · « **Reply #1 on:** November 09, 2005, 08:39:02 AM »

Oly, I'd look at the construction of the barrel on your older 870 and the newer barrels. I doubt that there is much, if any, difference at all. Contact Remington (you can email them from their website) and confirm if you can/can't swap the barrels. I've emailed them before and had a courteous, prompt response on a different 870 question. I'd also look at the nicer Wingmaster barrels to match the bluing on your gun and enhance the aesthetics. There are some aftermarket blued barrels (Rem and others) that you might want to look into.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** November 09, 2005, 10:39:51 AM »

Never tried it the way you're proposing but did do the reverse and it didn't work. Had an old barrel off a early 870 and tried to make it work on an Express and it wouldn't. Nothing really obvious jumped out at me as the reason but it just plain wasn't compatible. I still have that old barrel and it still works on my newer Wingmaster just fine but it won't work with Express guns. So it seems to me there is something a bit different that keeps it from fitting up and functioning correctly.

olywa · « **Reply #3 on:** November 09, 2005, 01:32:38 PM »

Thanks guys. I'll send an email past Remington and let you know what I find out.

olywa · « **Reply #4 on:** November 09, 2005, 02:29:54 PM »

Here's the official word from Remington on 870 barrels:

Model 870
All standard Model 870 2 3/4 and 3-inch barrels are interchangeable within gauge, with the exception of 20 gauge guns built prior to 1977. These guns can be distinguished by the serial number. The suffix on these 20 gauges will be either "X" or "N". If your serial number ends in either "X" or "N" please refer to our Specialty Parts Dealers for extra barrels.

Model 870 Super Magnum barrels chambered for 3 1/2" shells cannot be used on non-Super Magnum Model 870 receivers. However, Model 870 magnum barrels with 3-inch chambers can be used on Model 870 Super Magnum receivers, but only with 2 3/4 or 3-inch shells. Super Magnum receivers have serial numbers that end with the letter "A".

The Model 870 Special Field has a shorter magazine tube and we have designed it for the 23 inch barrel. Other barrels will not fit the Model 870 Special Field.

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** November 09, 2005, 06:06:46 PM »

Sounds good. But my old Wingmaster barrel still won't fit any of the Express guns I've had and I've had three. But it fits fine on my Wingmaster that is many years newer than the old barrel.

Bullseye · « **Reply #6 on:** November 10, 2005, 10:56:09 AM »

Graybeard, I was going to tell you that you probably just had a barrel that was a little out of spec. on one dimension. I bought a new barrel once and it would not fit on a older 870, but returned it and the replacement worked just fine and I could see no difference between them. That is the only problem I have ever had with a few different barrels and guns (although none were Express). Then you threw in that last post about having 3 guns that way. Now I hope the poster gets a new Express barrel so we will know. I personally never plan on getting another Express gun or barrel, I will stick with the Wingmasters, the extra barrels are not that much more.

David Parenteau · « **Reply #7 on:** November 16, 2005, 04:11:54 PM »

Non fit of Remington barrels is usually due to manufactering tolerances.I've had 1100 barrels that would not slip into place on another receivers.A little bit of work with some fine emery cloth on the barrel extension and they should slip right into place.Same deal with the 870/58 barrels.
Dave

corbanzo · « **Reply #8 on:** December 05, 2005, 08:43:14 AM »

You can also try the numrich gunparts company, their website is e-gunparts.com. They have or can find about everything you can imagine, I once found a cocking level for a bolt action savage 12 gauge from 1950, they only made that model for two years, but these guys still had parts for it. Crazy!

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 05, 2005, 09:01:11 AM »

I have an early 50's Wingmaster and early Express ( I forget the year, but it was the first one I ever saw ( gonna guess mid to late 70's)...bought it at Wally World for $130, I think. Anyway, I,ve swapped the barrels many times with no problem. :grin: Walt