Rem 870 Barrel Question

FPrice · April 24, 2002, 10:52 AM

My dealer just gave me a free 18.5" rifle-sighted barrel for my 870. (I'm a VERY good customer!). It is marked for 2 3/4" shells.

The barrel I got with my SG was marked for 2 3/4" and 3" shells if it is a magnum receiver (it is).

Question: Can I use the new barrel with 3" shells or just 2 3/4" shells?

Thanks.

Benjamin · April 24, 2002, 11:23 AM

Your new barrel is marked for 2.75" shells. You can ONLY use shells 2.75" or shorter.

UK2TX · April 24, 2002, 11:23 AM

Hello FPrice,

Just 2 3/4", there is not enough space for the folds of a 3" hull to open out thus increasing the pressure to potentially dangerous levels.

Regards,

UK2TX

9mmMike · April 24, 2002, 12:19 PM

As the folks above posted, only 2 3/4".
I am curious about that barrel though. Is it a factory Remington or something else? I have never seen nor heard of an 18.5" with rifle sights. I have more than a few rifle sighted Remington barrels and they are all 20"ers. I have seen many many barrels for sale online with rifle sights and they have all been 20"ers.
An 18.5" would be odd, especially if it is cylinder bore.
Just wondering.
Mike

UK2TX · April 24, 2002, 12:23 PM

Hello 9mmMike,

Mossberg make 18.5" barrels for the Remington 870, however I don't think they make them with rifle sights.

Regards,

UK2TX

C.R.Sam · April 24, 2002, 03:00 PM

UK2TX right on re long shells, short chamber and high pressure.

Sam

FPrice · April 24, 2002, 03:02 PM

Thanks for the info! I will insure that I restrict the use of this barrel to 2 3/4" shells.

9mmMike,

I think that the sights may have been added on later. It is a Remington barrel (unless it's counterfeit, which I doubt).

labgrade · April 24, 2002, 04:36 PM

Beats me. I have, what I thought to be, a Rem-issued 18/18.5" iron-sighted IC fixed 2-3/4" barrel. A gift back in '77 or so. Rem stamps all over it ...

Sucker shoots the old BRI sabots & PMC Brenneke slugs to beat the band.

I'd wring it out with a coupla "non-rifle barrel"-type slugs & wonder why you never had one before - rejoice that you now do.

Dave R · April 24, 2002, 07:56 PM

Just by way of explanation...

Whether the receiver is marked for 2 3/4 shells or 3" shells, the BARREL actually has the chamber in it. So what matters is whether the barrel has a chamber cut for 3" shells.

Your new one does not, apparently.

That's OK. You don't want to shoot 3" slugs, anyway. They hurt.

FPrice · April 24, 2002, 09:17 PM

Thanks for the info. If you can't tell, shotgun is my weakest firearm. While I have had pistol and rifle training I have never had any training, formal or informal, in this class of firearm. I am learning as I go.

For the record, 2 3/4" slugs hurt me. I'll pass on anything bigger unless I am being chased by very dangerous game.

Dave McC · April 26, 2002, 04:41 AM

Sorry, didn't see this till now....

Work up to slugs,use light shot loads to accustom yourself to the feel of the shotgun. Use a good wearable pad like the PAST one if you need to.

If your stock fits fairly well, your form is OK and your load not one of the barnburners, you'll be firing off slugs and loving them PDQ.

And, as much as I advocate benchtesting slugs for accuracy, fire your first slugs offhand. Sitting at the bench exacerbates the kick.

There's old threads about mounting techniques, slug shooting,etc. The Archives are a treasury of info...

FPrice · April 26, 2002, 02:53 PM

Thanks for the advice. Having seen many of your posts here in the past I was hoping that you would answer. I will be practising as you suggest.

Dave McC · April 26, 2002, 05:42 PM

You're very welcome. A suggestion....

Fire your weapon as often as possible, but do not run up a high shell count each time. IOW, running a box 4X a week beats doing 100 on Saturday morn.

Later, kick it up to 50 rounds instead of 25.

On days you do not shoot, practice mounting an EMPTY shotgun. I do this in a room w/o any ammo. Mount a few times, leave it alone, come back later and repeat.

Give me a bit of time, maybe I should start a thread to ease the way a bit for novices...

Mannlicher · April 26, 2002, 08:31 PM

My understanding is that a gunsmith can open the chamber to 3 inch specs. Probably pretty inexpensive to have that done
.

FPrice · April 27, 2002, 06:50 PM

"My understanding is that a gunsmith can open the chamber to 3 inch specs. Probably pretty inexpensive to have that done
"

You are probably right, but since I already have a barrel which will accept 3" shells and since I really don't shoot 3" shells, it's probably not a worthwhile mod.

But, it is an interesting idea.

April 24, 2002, 10:52 AM	#1
FPrice Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: People's Commonwealth of Massachusetts Posts: 1,456	Rem 870 Barrel Question My dealer just gave me a free 18.5" rifle-sighted barrel for my 870. (I'm a VERY good customer!). It is marked for 2 3/4" shells. The barrel I got with my SG was marked for 2 3/4" and 3" shells if it is a magnum receiver (it is). Question: Can I use the new barrel with 3" shells or just 2 3/4" shells? Thanks. __________________ Frosty Price "No matter where you go, there you are." Buckaroo Banzai

April 24, 2002, 12:19 PM	#4
9mmMike Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2000 Location: SE PA Posts: 1,049	As the folks above posted, only 2 3/4". I am curious about that barrel though. Is it a factory Remington or something else? I have never seen nor heard of an 18.5" with rifle sights. I have more than a few rifle sighted Remington barrels and they are all 20"ers. I have seen many many barrels for sale online with rifle sights and they have all been 20"ers. An 18.5" would be odd, especially if it is cylinder bore. Just wondering. Mike __________________ "Freedom is not free" Visit TheRallyPoint.org TheRallyPoint at LRGC- Saturday August 26th IF YOU LIVE IN PA AND DID NOT VOTE, YOU DESERVE TO LOSE YOUR GUNS!

April 24, 2002, 03:02 PM	#7
FPrice Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: People's Commonwealth of Massachusetts Posts: 1,456	Thanks! Thanks for the info! I will insure that I restrict the use of this barrel to 2 3/4" shells. 9mmMike, I think that the sights may have been added on later. It is a Remington barrel (unless it's counterfeit, which I doubt). __________________ Frosty Price "No matter where you go, there you are." Buckaroo Banzai

April 24, 2002, 07:56 PM	#9
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2000 Location: Idaho Posts: 6,073	Just by way of explanation... Whether the receiver is marked for 2 3/4 shells or 3" shells, the BARREL actually has the chamber in it. So what matters is whether the barrel has a chamber cut for 3" shells. Your new one does not, apparently. That's OK. You don't want to shoot 3" slugs, anyway. They hurt. __________________ I am Pro-Rights (on gun issues).

April 24, 2002, 09:17 PM	#10
FPrice Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: People's Commonwealth of Massachusetts Posts: 1,456	Dave R... Thanks for the info. If you can't tell, shotgun is my weakest firearm. While I have had pistol and rifle training I have never had any training, formal or informal, in this class of firearm. I am learning as I go. For the record, 2 3/4" slugs hurt me. I'll pass on anything bigger unless I am being chased by very dangerous game. __________________ Frosty Price "No matter where you go, there you are." Buckaroo Banzai

April 24, 2002, 11:23 AM	#2
Benjamin Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 1999 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 358	Your new barrel is marked for 2.75" shells. You can ONLY use shells 2.75" or shorter.

April 24, 2002, 11:23 AM	#3
UK2TX Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Austin,TX Posts: 274	Hello FPrice, Just 2 3/4", there is not enough space for the folds of a 3" hull to open out thus increasing the pressure to potentially dangerous levels. Regards, UK2TX

April 24, 2002, 12:23 PM	#5
UK2TX Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Austin,TX Posts: 274	Hello 9mmMike, Mossberg make 18.5" barrels for the Remington 870, however I don't think they make them with rifle sights. Regards, UK2TX

April 24, 2002, 03:00 PM	#6
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	UK2TX right on re long shells, short chamber and high pressure. Sam

April 24, 2002, 04:36 PM	#8
labgrade Member In Memoriam Join Date: November 29, 1999 Location: west of a small town, CO Posts: 4,346	Beats me. I have, what I thought to be, a Rem-issued 18/18.5" iron-sighted IC fixed 2-3/4" barrel. A gift back in '77 or so. Rem stamps all over it ... Sucker shoots the old BRI sabots & PMC Brenneke slugs to beat the band. I'd wring it out with a coupla "non-rifle barrel"-type slugs & wonder why you never had one before - rejoice that you now do.

April 26, 2002, 04:41 AM	#11
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Sorry, didn't see this till now.... Work up to slugs,use light shot loads to accustom yourself to the feel of the shotgun. Use a good wearable pad like the PAST one if you need to. If your stock fits fairly well, your form is OK and your load not one of the barnburners, you'll be firing off slugs and loving them PDQ. And, as much as I advocate benchtesting slugs for accuracy, fire your first slugs offhand. Sitting at the bench exacerbates the kick. There's old threads about mounting techniques, slug shooting,etc. The Archives are a treasury of info...

April 26, 2002, 02:53 PM	#12
FPrice Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: People's Commonwealth of Massachusetts Posts: 1,456	Dave McC Thanks for the advice. Having seen many of your posts here in the past I was hoping that you would answer. I will be practising as you suggest. __________________ Frosty Price "No matter where you go, there you are." Buckaroo Banzai

April 26, 2002, 05:42 PM	#13
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	You're very welcome. A suggestion.... Fire your weapon as often as possible, but do not run up a high shell count each time. IOW, running a box 4X a week beats doing 100 on Saturday morn. Later, kick it up to 50 rounds instead of 25. On days you do not shoot, practice mounting an EMPTY shotgun. I do this in a room w/o any ammo. Mount a few times, leave it alone, come back later and repeat. Give me a bit of time, maybe I should start a thread to ease the way a bit for novices...

April 26, 2002, 08:31 PM	#14
Mannlicher Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2001 Location: North Central Florida & Miami Posts: 3,209	My understanding is that a gunsmith can open the chamber to 3 inch specs. Probably pretty inexpensive to have that done . __________________ Nemo Me Impune Lacesset "The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.".........Ronald Reagan

April 27, 2002, 06:50 PM	#15
FPrice Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: People's Commonwealth of Massachusetts Posts: 1,456	Mannlicher... "My understanding is that a gunsmith can open the chamber to 3 inch specs. Probably pretty inexpensive to have that done " You are probably right, but since I already have a barrel which will accept 3" shells and since I really don't shoot 3" shells, it's probably not a worthwhile mod. But, it is an interesting idea. __________________ Frosty Price "No matter where you go, there you are." Buckaroo Banzai