Yes another noob 870 question...

[10.16mm]

Hello, I'm new to the shot gun world (and this site) and have a question I can't seem to find an answer to. I'm going to purchase a Remington 870 and an extra barrel but am not sure which path to take. I want to use the gun for trap/range, hunting, and HD.

So do I get the 28" Express and add a HD barrel or can I get something like the "Security" (20" barrel and 7 shot tube) and just buy a 28" barrel? Will the extended mag tube from the Security work with a 28" vented barrel?

Any info/feedback would be great as I'm trying to do this right the first time out.

Thanks in advance for your time.

[10.16mm]

oops

make that (20" and a SIX shot mag)

[bjl333]

Welcome to Calguns !!!

The 870 is a great choice for a first sg. But first a couple of questions:

1) How often will you be shooting trap with it and have you shot trap before.

2) What kind of hunting?

If I you get a regular express with a 28" barrel then add a HD barrel you should be able to switch back and forth with the extended mag tube.

If you buy a HD with the large capacity tube it might not fit a regular 28" barrel.

That thing to look for is where the ring is on the barrel that attaches to the mag tube. f the tube is forward of the standard express then the 28" barrel won't fit.

I hope I made sense ...

[10.16mm]

Welcome to Calguns !!!

The 870 is a great choice for a first sg. But first a couple of questions:

1) How often will you be shooting trap with it and have you shot trap before.

2) What kind of hunting?

If I you get a regular express with a 28" barrel then add a HD barrel you should be able to switch back and forth with the extended mag tube.

If you buy a HD with the large capacity tube it might not fit a regular 28" barrel.

That thing to look for is where the ring is on the barrel that attaches to the mag tube. f the tube is forward of the standard express then the 28" barrel won't fit.

I hope I made sense ...

Thanks for the reply...

I actually just shot trap for the first time and I'm hooked! Funny thing is that it was shot with a 28" 870. I took my wife, some guys from work and my boss to the range to shoot pistols and I just had to give trap a try. We split up the clays since none of us had ever tried it and I ended up getting 11/13. At this point I'm not sure how often I'll be shooting trap, but I figured if I get really into it, I can just buy a dedicated trap/skeet gun at that time.

As far as hunting, I would like to be able to hunt small game (Quail, duck etc) but have an option for slugs for bigger game. And there is always those darn zombies to think of

I had noticed the ring placement but can't tell from the pictures if it will be a problem. I'll probably head back over to the ol' Big 5 and put the guns side by side since they have both.

[BigDogatPlay]

Welcome to CGN.

If you do fall totally into the trap / skeet / sporting clays game you would eventually want a dedicated gun or two or three.

Ask me how I know....

I first started shooting trap in the late 70's with an 870 Wingmaster with a 28 inch fixed choke barrel that was choked at Modified. With practice it was extremely effective.

For a lot of bird hunting you would need to plug the mag tube to accept no more than two shells so the extended mag is not a plus in that area. Nor is the extended mag a plus in clays as you are often limited to one round in the gun at a time, two if you are shooting doubles, and that's it. The extended tube is really only applicable in a full on zombie attack or a pitched gun fight, neither of which is likely in most conceivable HD scenarios. The extended tube will also make the gun muzzle heavy and a bit harder to swing well on clays or game birds.

Some clubs and ranges will not let you shoot clays with an HD length barrel. My home club is no barrels under 22 inches, for example. Others will, but it's never a certainty. If your focus with the gun is going to be hunting and clays, but maybe swap the barrel out when stored at home for an HD length, I would go with a standard length mag and either a 26 or 28 inch barrel with choke tubes. You can pick up an extra 18.5 inch barrel pretty inexpensively down the road.

If you want to go with an extended mag tube added to a regular length mag, you should know that a standard 870 Express has dimples in the end of the mag tube which would need to be drilled out for the two extra shells in an extension to be loaded. It's a fairly simple process, but you should be aware it would be needed.

Hope all this helps.

[10.16mm]

^ Thanks for all the info, it does help.

The club that I would be shooting at requires a 24" barrel and yes, 1 at a time or 2 for doubles. I'm really thinking the 28" is what I'll get to start off with, then add the alternate barrels etc, later.

Plus in an HD setting, I have my trusty .40 S&W until the short barrel sg comes.

[bjl333]

^ Thanks for all the info, it does help.

The club that I would be shooting at requires a 24" barrel and yes, 1 at a time or 2 for doubles. I'm really thinking the 28" is what I'll get to start off with, then add the alternate barrels etc, later.

Plus in an HD setting, I have my trusty .40 S&W until the short barrel sg comes.

I think BigDog just about covers it !!!

EXCEPT ONE: "eventually want a dedicated gun or two or three." <<< Lies, complete lies !!!

It doesn't stop at three ...



Have fun and be safe !!!

[thevic]

i bought the 870 security and got a 26" barrel...she does it all

[BigDogatPlay]

It doesn't stop at three ...

Amen brother, amen..... now, could you perhaps convince my wife of that?

[shy 7th]

If you are going the multiple barrel route (instead of the multiple gun route, mentioned above), consider the price and availability of the second barrel.

I started whith an 870 22" barrel "Security" model +2 shot ext tube... then a friend took me clay shooting and got hooked so naturally I went looking for a replacement barrel. I was finding that the longer barrels are generally more expensive in the aftermarket than the shorter "security" barrels. Also, there was an abundance of great deals on the shorter barrels, but it was hard to find a retailer who stocked, let alone a sub-$200 deal on... say... a 30" vent-rib with rem choke.

If I were to do it all again, I would have initially purchased the model with the longer barrel (and chokes; I think the model big 5 offers comes with a 'modified' rem choke) and then shopped for the shorter barrel in the aftermarket.

Of course, now I'm shopping for a nice O/U... but now were back to talking about multiple guns again...

[10.16mm]

Well, just got back from Big 5. I ended up getting the 28" 870. There was a great sale, $354 OTD and I got a mail in rebate for another $30 off! The manager was very nice, she said she just loved her 870 Get to pick it up on the 23rd so plenty of time to get some goodies.

What's really nice is the wife wants hers now

Thanks again for all of the useful info, I'll keep my eye out for the next SoCal gathering of Calgunners and try to come out and meet some fellow shooters. I've already mentioned to my better half about the gun show on the 28th

-S

[nbkvig2]

congrats! I'm also new to the shotgun world. I got my 870 28 inch barrel from Turner's with the current sale going on (which is what you paid pretty much). I am pretty much using it for skeeting/trap shooting and hunting as well. DROS ends tomorrow so i'll be picking it up after work. Can't wait!