Shotgun Barrel Changes

L

lericson

Inactive
I am planning on purchasing a shotgun for home defense and have mostly settled on a 20ga 18" barrel. I am looking at the Remington 870, Mossberg 500, or Winchester 1300 Defender. I noticed at this website that the barrels of the Mossberg 500 are interchangeable without tools.

So, my questions are:
1. Can the barrels of the other two shotguns also be interchanged without tools? If not, is it difficult to change with simple tools (could a mechanically inclined novice change them at home)?

2. Is to reasonable to change the barrel to a longer length for sport shooting (skeet & trap) or will it not be a very accurate?

Thanks in advance.
 
theres more stuff for the 870

theres a screw cap at the end of the magazine tube, that is all keeping the bbl on. if these bbls are indeed interchangable (ive heard it too) theyre not gonna be any different.

yes the longer bbl will hold the pattern longer- better for huntin.
i just got a rem 870 with the long-ass bbl, and found a 20 in. for $55 at another site:)
 
All most all modern shotguns have interchangeable barrels.

Remington has kept interchangeability so close, an original 1950 model and a new 2005 model will still have near 100% interchangeability on ALL parts, including the barrel.

The only "watch out" is that There is a small difference between the Express and the Wingmaster/Police guns.

The Wingmaster/Police has a spring loaded plunger in the front face of the barrel support ring to secure the magazine cap, and the Express does NOT.

You can use a Wingmaster/Police barrel on any Remington 870, but the Express is to be used only on the Express.

Winchester also has full barrel interchangeability.
 
On a 1300 Winchester Defender. Other 1300 barrel's are not interchanable.
The ring that goes around the mag tube is .010 diffrent in the ID + the position of the ring on the barrel is diffrent with the extended mag.
 
if it is strictly for HD use, remington 870 in any gauge with pistol grip and 18.5" barrel. doubt you'll be dissapointed.
 
I would add a Knoxx Copstock instead of a pistol grip to the 870. Has recoil reduction and more control. Try to find the donor with an 18.5" barrel as has been noted. I like the Copstock on either Remmingtons or Winchesters because the safety on Mossbergs is a little awkard with that grip. If you are using Knoxx's full stock version it doesn't matter as far as the safety location is concerned. In fact the Mossy comes out the winner here, imho.
 
Homeguy.....

Dfaris covered it well, let me add a few things...

A Big Four repeater with both a short barrel for slug work and defensive use and a longer one for birds and clays is the epitome of versatility.

All of the shotguns mentioned here will do the job.

My choice is the 870, they've worked for me since Ike was Prez.

More important than the hardware is the software. Training and technique are more crucial than shotgun bling.

Get a shotgun, learn to use it. Shooting a shotgun for any game or activity is universally applicable to other games and activity, including defense. Clay games, especially those with double targets, are excellent for grooving in one's "Chops".

See ya at the range....
 
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