Just bought an 870...

[Eargasm]

It's common story, I'm sure...I went in thinking "Okay, I'm just going to look, no buying" (like my last three purchases), but as soon as I held it, looked down the barrel and admired the "click-clack" when I racked it, I knew I had to take it home.

So I'm in the middle of my gun's 10 day march to freedom and I've got a few questions.

It's the 28" vent rib barrel.

So I can start looking at cases, anyone know the overall length?
Also, the barrel is smooth (not rifled), right?
Can I put shot and slugs through it?
Is a magazine plug included (for hunting season)*?

Just a general Remington question- are there any defensive barrels that work well with shot and slugs?

Many thanks.

*the owner's manual talks about installing a plug but doesn't say whether or not it's included and I forgot to ask.

[Camsnappersc]

Which model is it?

[Adrien]

Surely it has a plug if it's a 28" Vent Rib. As for cases I always buy 52" soft cases that way any gun I own will always fit. I'm also sure it's a smooth bore and you should be able to shoot rifled slugs through it. Is it a fixed choke or does it have the RemChoke system?

Adrien

[Eargasm]

Which model is it?

870 Express.

Is it a fixed choke or does it have the RemChoke system?

Yep, the Rem Modified.

[gabe123]

I bought 58 inch ( I think.. it's the longest) soft case Remington case from walmart. It fits, but barely.

It's smooth bore. shots, buck shots, and riffle slug are okay. Sabot rounds need rifle barrel, which can be purchased for around $100 bucks online.

Plastic mag plug included. Can't really install mag extension due to the dimple.

Enjoy.

[NorcalGSG]

Everyone needs an 870! The express has the RemChoke removable chokes, I think it will come with a wrench and a modified choke. You can buy all sorts of other chokes, depending on what you'll be shooting. Mainly I use the modified for ducks w/steel shot (make sure you don't use too full of a choke with steel shot) and trap. If you do turkey hunting, you may want a full choke. I'm pretty sure it'll come with a plastic magazine plug also to limit the tube to two shots for hunting. Have fun! Oh and the new ones have the little safety key, you may want to attach that to your case with a keychain or some way of not loosing it.

[aippi]

Norcal - 870's have not come with the J-lock for a couple years now. Buyers hated them and it was dropped.

Yes, it is a smooth bore barrel and yes you can shoot slugs. You will get a two shot plug as mentioned above. You can shoot anything made for a 12ga through this barrel as long as it is not over a 3" magnum. Slugs, shot or anything else.

You asked about the shorter barrels. You can shoot slugs from any of the 18.5" barrels as they come in Cyl Bore, I/C and Modified. If you want the best accuracy with slugs go with the modified as it stablizes the slug as it leaves the barrel better then the other chokes. I/C is next best. Cyl bore is horrible for slugs but serves well for HD. All work with any shot made.

[Rigma]

Not too long ago I was asking similar questions and got a good education from aippi.

I made an online purchase of a 18.5" Remington barrel that was described as Cyl Bore because it was intended for use as installed when stored at home and for HD.

To my surprise the barrel actually allows for screw in chokes!

Either I have misunderstood aippi's posts or I now have a jack-of-all trades since I have I/C, Modified, and full choke tubes that can be installed.

***Edit***
Looks like I was actually shipped a mislabeled 18.5" matte finish bead sight with Rem Tube.

[DevilDawgJJ]

I bought this.

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model-870/model-870-express-synthetic-7-round.aspx

You can shoot slugs from any of the 18.5" barrels as they come in Cyl Bore, I/C and Modified.

How can I tell which one I have?

Also FYI, Remingtion has a rebate for the 870.....Here....http://www.remington.com/pages/news-...teRoundup.aspx

I paid $335 minus 30....Not a bad deal for the 870!

[DevilDawgJJ]

Cyl bore is horrible for slugs but serves well for HD.

Can you please elaborate on this for me please. I'm not sure what you mean.


Semper Fi

[cpt_majestic]

I know Big 5 had a great deal on those this week I think 269.00...

[BigDogatPlay]

Can you please elaborate on this for me please. I'm not sure what you mean.


Semper Fi

The Cylinder choke will not stabilize a rifled slug as well as the slightly tighter Improved Cylinder or Modified. As a result your groups may be a bit larger and a bit less consistent, particularly as the range increases with a Cylinder choke.

Cylinder choke will give you the widest potential dispersion of a buckshot load in an HD situation, BUT, most HD scenarios are going to be from 25 feet or less and even the most basic, unbuffered buckshot load isn't going to pattern more than a few inches, at most, over that kind of distance.

I've gotten very good results with a Modified choke and rifled slugs the couple times I've tried it out of a fixed choke barrel. Never tried it through choke tubes with anything more than Improved Cylinder.

[aippi]

Cyl bore is a straight pipe, no choke. The slug is not stablelized as it leaves the barrel. For up close quarter use this is not much of an issue but if you want accuracy 50 yards and out then Modified is the best as it consistently stabilizes the slug. these are smooth bore barrels so you are not going to get the accuracy you would in fully rifled barrels.

For HD the use is most intended in the Home and choke just does not matter at those close ranges. I use Modified as I have out buildings to check on my property and want the ability to keep patterns tighter at longer ranges.

Rigma - The 18.5" Cyl bore bead sight matte finish express barrel is part number 24620. the parts list shows it as an 18" barrel but it is 18.5" as they have not updated the verbiage on the parts list. Remington does not make 18" barrels any longer. The barrel sells for $131 from Remington.

The 18.5" bead sight Express barrel that is threaded for Rem Choke is part number F404767 on the 2010 Remington parts list and sells for $144.00. It comes with a modified tube.

So if you bought a barrel advertised as 18.5" Cyl Bore and the Rem Choke barrel showed up then they listed it incorrectly or simply sent the wrong barrel.

[DevilDawgJJ]

The 18.5" Cyl bore bead sight matte finish express barrel is part number 24620. the parts list shows it as an 18" barrel but it is 18.5" as they have not updated the verbiage on the parts list. Remington does not make 18" barrels any longer.

I was wondering why mine said 18" when I bought it....Thanks for the clarification.

So does that mean this barrel will not accept any chokes, Remington and other brands?

[Rigma]

So does that mean this barrel will not accept any chokes, Remington and other brands?

18.5" Cyl bore bead sight matte finish = fixed chokes

18.5" bead sight Express Rem Choke barrel = threaded for chokes

See aippi's post above for exact parts #'s so you can be sure you know what you are getting.