Is It Possible to Swap a 870 Express stock 18.5" Barrel with 28"?

A

anonymousFolk

New member
I'm looking to swap the barrels at will. Range and home defense. I don't expect the swap to take two seconds and that's OK.

So I'm looking at buying the 870 Express Synthetic 7-ROUND @
http://www.remington.com/products/f...-870/model-870-express-synthetic-7-round.aspx

Per Remington, there are two barrels that could match that are 28", the order #26314 and #26312 @
http://www.remington.com/sitecore/c...emington-original-factory-barrels-tables.aspx

Am I anywhere on the mark on this, or wanting to do this, or is it possible?
 
It will work fine. I bought the 7 round with the 18.5" barrel and later bought a used 28" Vent Rib with the modified choke and I swap them all the time. The only catch is the 7 round has an old style barrel with a detent and spring on the barrel guide ring. If you get a 28" almost certainly be a new style, which means no detent for the mag cap. If you are ordering a new barrel, do it by phone and tell them you want a detent ball. I think they will add one for $25. You will also need a mag cap, unless you plan on using the mag extension with the long barre. Make sure you get the mag cap with the grooves for the old style barrel detent.
 
Good for you. That is what I have and while I may someday get something else for target shootiing, I will never get rid of it but keep it for HD, perhaps some hunting as I retire, and for an extra range gun for friends.

Before shooting even, clean it and you may want to polish the chambers as explained here http://www.aiptactical.com/Page_2.html
 
Bleh. I called Remington no luck. Told them 28", they got that part messed up with 26", then the barrel was on backorder, then we started talking about the detent and they said I'd have to order a wave washer elsewhere. Confusing...
 
I switch my 26" barrel with a 18" barrel all the time. Basically any time I leave the house with the shotgun I'm putting on the 26" barrel. The 28 may be different... not sure... but I dont think you are losing much with a 2" shorter barrel.
 
I guess not. I'm not sure if ranges care more about 26" vs 28"...besides that and hitting the clays is what i'm most concerned with. Want to do the same thing as you - at home it's 18.5", away, long barrel.

I just figured Remington would know the exact part number and have it in stock to fit everything to a tee when I called. Not so much. I think I'll just walk into a local gun store and see if they can put the barrel on, on the spot, to see everything fit before I purchase. Either that or if I can buy with a refund I can jerk around at home and see how well it fits with the clamp + mag extension tube.
 
The wave washer works, but I much prefer the ball detent system since the mag cap tends to loosen through the day. I make it a habit to check it and the choke every round. Some barrels come with the hole drilled in the lug for the spring and detent and some do not. I can buy the detent for $3 from Remington but have to see if the spring is available. If so, I plan on taking my barrel to a smith to have the detent and spring staked, which should be very inexpensive since my barrel is drilled for them. (The staking tool is only $20, but I would rather pay the smith.)

Link to the wave washer http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=...187_a_7c747_a_7c838000021_d_838000021_d_10510
 
Thanks Klawman.

Ya got done breakin' clays the other day. At the end something was loose...I suspected the mag extension or mag extension clamp, but we were all done, so meh I'll check it when I clean it and mind it for later. Will be weird if it's the clamp, after cleaning I was sure to make that thing tight. Based on what you're saying I think I'll check the mag extension during shooting next time...and continue to bring the swiss army knife if fixing abroad is needed!
 
That mag extesion bracket tends to losen and the first time I shot the gun it loosened jsut enough to wear some of the finidh off. When I shoot with the extension on, I make sure that screw is real tight and check it frequently. If you get a new long barrel, get the 28 and order it with the detent installed.
 
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