870 Express 20 ga barrel, Where to find?

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Nick-Mc

New member
Anyone know where to find a good 18.5" 20 ga 870 express barrel? Not a rifled one, just a smooth bore. Acceptability of a variety of chokes isn't necessary, a simple cylinder bore would be just fine. But does anyone know here to find one online?
 
Mossberg makes one for the 870 that is generally priced a bit lower than the remington replacement barrels.
Brent
 
Hogdogs, I tremble with fear at the thought of contradicting you about anything shotgun, but as far as I know, Mossberg makes 18.5" barrels for the 870 in 12 gauge only, not in 20 gauge. Remington makes an 18.5" rifled barrel with a cantilever scope mount for an MSRP of (I think) $240 -- ouch. Otherwise -- I've been looking for a while, and as far as I can tell, there just isn't one made, without rifling and vast expense, for the 870 in 20 gauge...

When I get around to it, I'll try to find a used barrel at a good price, get it cut down, maybe have sights put on it -- that seems to be the only solution to this one...
 
So the question remains, where can I find a smoothbore 18.5" short barrel for a 20 ga 870? What about a cheap rifled one? If I was just going to buy it for buckshot only I wouldn't be worried about ruining the rifling, but would it have a major impact on the pattern of the buckshot?
 
You can always cut a barrel to the length you want and replace the bead. A gunsmith will do a professional job of it for $40-50.
 
Yes, I could do that, but I don't want to cut down the 28" one I have because I use it for trap, rabbits, etc. And If I went out and bought another barrel and had it cut down, I would be spending more than I want to.
If I bought one of the short Rifled 870 20 ga 870 barrels to strictly use with buckshot, would I have a problem? Would my shot pattern be all thrown off?
 
Yes, shooting shot through a rifled barrel will disrupt the pattern, IME. Typically, you'll get a doughnut-shaped pattern.
 
Thanks! If I was going to buy a new barrel, then pay to have it cut down, I might as well just go buy a used shotgun with a short barrel, it wouldn't cost much more. I'm looking for the short barrel primarily for HD, but it seems there are no cylinder bore 18.5" barrels out there for the 870 20 ga
 
Yeah, after buying a replacement barrel and having a smith shorten it up, might just as well buy another gun. Oh look, an excuse for another gun.

I went the opposite way, I bought a youths model 20 express with a short barrel smooth bore because I wanted to assemble a 20 ga slugger for my wife's use. The cantalevered Hastings rifled barrel cost almost as much as the gun itself. It is such a sweet set up though!
 
I think the barrels being referred to in the above two posts are for the 12 ga, i'm looking for a 20ga barrel. I haven't found a cyllinder bore 18.5" barrel in 20ga yet.
 
Try giving remington a call and see if you can buy one from them. The best I was able to find for myself after a year or so of casually looking in the used bins around here was a 21" 20 ga youth barrel for mine. It has a vent rib and choke tubes making it a very handy barrel. You might want to take a look for them also.
 
No 18.5" barrels, but Remington sells a 20" smooth bore with rifle sights. MSRP is $165. You won't notice the extra 1.5". However, if you insist on 18.5", the Mossberg is your only option.
 
I think the barrels being referred to in the above two posts are for the 12 ga, i'm looking for a 20ga barrel. I haven't found a cyllinder bore 18.5" barrel in 20ga yet.

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Nope. The first one in my post is this one (a little over halfway down the page):


Remington Barrel Remington 870 Express 20 Gauge 2-3/4" 18-1/2" Cylinder Bore Bead SightProduct #: 128102
Status: Available
Currently
5
available at this price
Our Price:$141.99



The second is a 20 ga. and will be a cylinder bore if you cut it (and as I said, you "could" add a clamp-on Hi-Viz sight to the vent rib):

BE-REM-34 Remington 870 20 ga. $135.00 28 in. MODIFIED, VENT RIB, 2 3/4 in., 98% XXXX
 
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