i have an early 80's 870 wingmaster. want to convert to home defense gun. am looking for an 18in. barrel chambered for 2 3/4in. shells. went local gun shop and tried to fit an 18in. barrel of a current 870. won't fit. just a hair too long. couldn't get the magazine cap on all the way.apperantly the current barrel is chambered for 3 in. mag shells and won't fit my receiver. anyone who can help please contact me. thanks in advance, michael
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18in. barrel for/870
- Thread starter midasmike
- Start date
Something's wrong there, Mike. I can mix and match barrels and receivers all day long. Earliest 870 I swap stuff on is a 1955 model 2 3/4", it currently wears a shiny new LC barrel with 3" chamber.
Try another barrel. Please do not, repeat not, cut the old barrel. Been there, did that, regret it to this day.
Try another barrel. Please do not, repeat not, cut the old barrel. Been there, did that, regret it to this day.
18in. barrel for 870
dave, what could be wrong? the guy at the gun shop fitted an 18in. barrel off a current model 870. it seemed to fit the receiver properly but he couldn't get the magazine cap to fit. could it be the barrel wasn't seated properly? i'm not familar with shotguns so i don't know what to do. maybe go to another shop and try again. the shop i went to is an old line shop, been around for years. any suggestions would be appreciated.
dave, what could be wrong? the guy at the gun shop fitted an 18in. barrel off a current model 870. it seemed to fit the receiver properly but he couldn't get the magazine cap to fit. could it be the barrel wasn't seated properly? i'm not familar with shotguns so i don't know what to do. maybe go to another shop and try again. the shop i went to is an old line shop, been around for years. any suggestions would be appreciated.
I would guess that he didn't have the barrel seated fully. Did he have the bolt slid back in the receiver (open position) when he tried it? If not, he could have had a little interference between the bolt and barrel. And just because the shop is "an old line shop, been around for years", don't presume that the person behind the counter has lots of experience with Remington 870's!
GunsnRovers
New member
I'd try again and make sure the barrel was fully seated. It should work without issue. I've put newly made barrels on my 1950 870 without issue.
18in. barrel for 870
thanks for the replys. i went to another shop and heard the same thing. can't fit a 3in. barrel into a 2 3/4in. receiver. also an oldline shop which has been around for years. they did tell me they can order a barrel from hastings or mossberg that will fit. i'd prefer a remington barrel to keep the gun o.e.m. so anyone who can come up with one, even used, please contact me. i'm a buyer. i'll call the factory on monday and see if i can clear up the confusion. i'll post results.
thanks for the replys. i went to another shop and heard the same thing. can't fit a 3in. barrel into a 2 3/4in. receiver. also an oldline shop which has been around for years. they did tell me they can order a barrel from hastings or mossberg that will fit. i'd prefer a remington barrel to keep the gun o.e.m. so anyone who can come up with one, even used, please contact me. i'm a buyer. i'll call the factory on monday and see if i can clear up the confusion. i'll post results.
GunsnRovers
New member
Your friends at the 2nd shop are also incorrect. Your friends at the online shop can also get you a Remington barrel.
This would make a nice HD tube:
http://cgi.ebay.com/REM-870-12-GA-S...198628408QQcategoryZ73955QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Or this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/REMINGTON-870-S...198656555QQcategoryZ73955QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Or this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Remington-870-E...199538361QQcategoryZ73955QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
You can pick up spare tubes and 870 parts off eBay all day long for not much money.
This would make a nice HD tube:
http://cgi.ebay.com/REM-870-12-GA-S...198628408QQcategoryZ73955QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Or this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/REMINGTON-870-S...198656555QQcategoryZ73955QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Or this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Remington-870-E...199538361QQcategoryZ73955QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
You can pick up spare tubes and 870 parts off eBay all day long for not much money.
18in. barrel for 870
jeff, both these shops have been around for many years. all hunters and sport shooters use both shops regularly. how can they be so misinformed. the guy at the 1st. shop has worked there for over twenty years. claims to be a veteran shooter. somethings not right here. if i post the serial # of my gun, can you determine how old it is? thanks again for your help.
jeff, both these shops have been around for many years. all hunters and sport shooters use both shops regularly. how can they be so misinformed. the guy at the 1st. shop has worked there for over twenty years. claims to be a veteran shooter. somethings not right here. if i post the serial # of my gun, can you determine how old it is? thanks again for your help.
My guess is the bolt was not all the way back. While some gun shop employees are cognizant of many gun models, no one knows them all. And of course, some GS personnel are posers and BS carvers.
To date an 870 or other Remgun call 800-243-9700. Give them the serial number and they'll give you the year it was made.
To date an 870 or other Remgun call 800-243-9700. Give them the serial number and they'll give you the year it was made.
18in. barrel for 870
dave, thanks for the reply. i'm thinking the same thing. i'll call remington on monday and find out for sure. i still need an 18in. barrel everyone. please contact me if you can help. i'll also go back and try a new barrel. this time i'll fit it myself and make sure the bolt is all the way back.
dave, thanks for the reply. i'm thinking the same thing. i'll call remington on monday and find out for sure. i still need an 18in. barrel everyone. please contact me if you can help. i'll also go back and try a new barrel. this time i'll fit it myself and make sure the bolt is all the way back.
18in. barrel for 870
hello123, thanks for the reply. the mossberg barrel is an option i'm considering. if i don't find a remington barrel i'll go with the mossberg. i'm also up for a trade. if anyone has a HD gun ie: mossberg 500, remington police model, winchester defender, etc. please contact me if your interested in a trade.
hello123, thanks for the reply. the mossberg barrel is an option i'm considering. if i don't find a remington barrel i'll go with the mossberg. i'm also up for a trade. if anyone has a HD gun ie: mossberg 500, remington police model, winchester defender, etc. please contact me if your interested in a trade.
Just to pile on here. I also have a '55 Wingmaster that I swap barrels on all the time. There is no difference between a 2 3/4" & 3" receiver except for the ejector. I even have a 2 3/4" gun (an '81 Wingmaster in fact) converted to 3" (ejector change only).
Unless your gun is a "Special Purpose" all the 870 barrels (of the same gauge) will interchange.
I have more than twice as many barrels as I have 870's and they've almost all been configured and reconfigured to use all these barrels at one time or another.
It is sad to say but it sounds like your local shops are trying to make a buck at your expense. That's too bad.
Good luck,
Mike
Unless your gun is a "Special Purpose" all the 870 barrels (of the same gauge) will interchange.
I have more than twice as many barrels as I have 870's and they've almost all been configured and reconfigured to use all these barrels at one time or another.
It is sad to say but it sounds like your local shops are trying to make a buck at your expense. That's too bad.
Good luck,
Mike
18in. barrel for 870
mike, thanks for the information. don't know how to tell if my gun is a special purpose version or not. i suspect not, because nobody has mentioned it. looks like a regular wingmaster to me. i'm still confused about this barrel problem. how can all these oldline gun shops be wrong about something so basic. none of these guys tried to sell me anything. they just told me a 3in, barrel won't work. i suppose i should go back and try to fit the 3in. barrel myself. do you think i need to change th ejector also? going to be a HD gun so all i need are 2 3/4 in. shells, right? i'm going to call remington in the morning. will post results.
mike, thanks for the information. don't know how to tell if my gun is a special purpose version or not. i suspect not, because nobody has mentioned it. looks like a regular wingmaster to me. i'm still confused about this barrel problem. how can all these oldline gun shops be wrong about something so basic. none of these guys tried to sell me anything. they just told me a 3in, barrel won't work. i suppose i should go back and try to fit the 3in. barrel myself. do you think i need to change th ejector also? going to be a HD gun so all i need are 2 3/4 in. shells, right? i'm going to call remington in the morning. will post results.
Edward429451
Moderator
I was under the impression that the ejection ports are different lengths on the 2-3/4 & 3" receivers.
I have an early 80's WM and it took an unknown vintage 3" police trade in barrel without any problems. I just do not buy 3" shells.
(Going from memory) I could swear that I compared my WM receiver with my BIL's 870 express mag and his port was longer.
I have an early 80's WM and it took an unknown vintage 3" police trade in barrel without any problems. I just do not buy 3" shells.
(Going from memory) I could swear that I compared my WM receiver with my BIL's 870 express mag and his port was longer.
18in. barrel for 870
this thread has gone off the hook. i really appreciate all the info. i'm a car guy. if i were looking to upgrade my wheel's, any number of shops could do it without a problem. if one of them told me it couldn't be done i'd just laugh. that's what i'm doing right now. i still find it amazing 3 oldline gun shops all told me it can't be done while several members have said otherwise. one of these shops is owned by retired cops and staffed with the same. lot of experience there. that being said, sounds to me like the members have real world experience making this switch so i'm inclined to believe it can be done. i'm calling remington in the morning. if i can't get a straight answer from them i'm going to go back to the shops and try to fit a new barrel myself. if it works i'll buy one. if not i'll entertain offers to trade my wingmaster for an equivilant value HD gun. if that doesn't produce results i'll buy a new gun and sell the wingmaster.
this thread has gone off the hook. i really appreciate all the info. i'm a car guy. if i were looking to upgrade my wheel's, any number of shops could do it without a problem. if one of them told me it couldn't be done i'd just laugh. that's what i'm doing right now. i still find it amazing 3 oldline gun shops all told me it can't be done while several members have said otherwise. one of these shops is owned by retired cops and staffed with the same. lot of experience there. that being said, sounds to me like the members have real world experience making this switch so i'm inclined to believe it can be done. i'm calling remington in the morning. if i can't get a straight answer from them i'm going to go back to the shops and try to fit a new barrel myself. if it works i'll buy one. if not i'll entertain offers to trade my wingmaster for an equivilant value HD gun. if that doesn't produce results i'll buy a new gun and sell the wingmaster.