Can I Change Barrels on a 870 Express?

[Nate74]

I'm finalizing a deal on a 870 Express. The main purpose would be as a home defense weapon but in a pinch I'm wondering if I can put a longer barrel on it for hunting purposes? Not even sure what choke/barrel would be appropriate either.

... wow what a newb sounding question...

[CDMJ]

Nate that is not a newb question. There are plenty of people around here that like to talk like they have a clue what they are talking about when they really do not. It is refreshing to see someone ask a real question. Yes you can swap the barrels. As for chokes and barrel choice it would all depend on the game you were looking to hunt.

[aippi]

Yes, that is the part of the greatness of this weapon. Remington has 112 barrels in 12ga and every one of them fits any 12 ga 870.

The one your want depends on what you are hunting. 28" Vent Rib with Rem Choke for most hunting but you can get a 20" smooth bore with rifle sights for large game or a 20" fully rifled for shooting sabot slugs in either rifle sights or cantilever mount.

A 21" vent ribe with Rem Choke and an Extra full choke tube and your ready for turkey. All the options are there for you.

[Nate74]

Thanks guys. That's great news.

The only hunting I've ever done has been for rabbit in southern IL with my uncle (and his beagles) and squirrel, also in southern IL. My thought honestly is more involving a SHTF situation where I might need to go into the local hills and nab some raccoons, squirrels, possum, etc.

[CDMJ]

At those kinds of ranges you can get by with an 18 inch barrel and use steel shot. I typically use an IC choke in my gun for HD, but if I wanted to do what you are wanting to do. My HD gun with the IC choke could pull that duty as well. So the need for an extra barrel and choke doesn't really exists, but it never hurts to have a few extra barrels and chokes laying around.

http://www.manventureoutpost.com/products/Remington-Accessories-19155-Rem-Choke-12-Ga-Improved-Cylinder.html

http://www.manventureoutpost.com/products/Remington-Accessories-19173-12-ga.-Speed-Wrench.html

[CDMJ]

This will give you a rough (very rough) idea of how the choke system works. A lot of is depends on the type of shot, the amount of powder used in the round, the cup, the wad, ect. The idea here is to give you a rough starting point to decide what choke to buy for what. Hunting with a shotgun is no different than hunting with a scoped rifle. Except instead of sighting in a scope you have to pattern the shotgun with the choke and your chosen round at the ideal range you are expecting to hunt at.

A CHOKES EFFECTIVE RANGE (Expressed in yards)

…………………….…IDEAL……....EFFECTIVE
CHOKE………....RANGE…........RANGE

Cylinder……….....15-22.........10-27
Skeet 1………….…20-27.........15-32
Imp Cylinder…...25-32.........20-37
Skeet 2…………...30-37.........25-42
Modified…………..35-42.........30-47
Imp Modified.....40-47.........35-52
Full…………..………45-52.........40-57
Extra Full………...50-57.........45–62

EFFECTIVE PATTERN DIMENSIONS (Express in Inches of Diameter)
YARDAGE……10…..20……25……30…..40
Spreader…….23…….27…….44…….51…….66
Cylinder……...20…….32…….38…….44…….57
Imp Cyl……….15…….26…….32…….38…….51
Modified………12…….20…….26…….32…….46
Full…………….. 09…….16…….21…….26…….40

YARDAGE…..10…..15…..20…..25…..30…..35…..40…....45… ..50
Full…..............10…..15….. 20…..25….. 30…..35…....40…....45…...50
Mod….............15…..20…...25…....30…...35….... 40 …..45…...50
I/C…...............20…..25…...30…....35…...40….. 45…. .50
Cyl…...............25…..30…...35…....40…...45….. 50

[Rigma]

Great info! I'm assuming this is based on bird shot?

[bjl333]

I've seen 26" express barrels on Gunbroker for less then $100. The ones I saw only comes with one choke tube tho ...

[Nate74]

Great info, Thanks!!!

[CDMJ]

I believe the chart is based on bird shot yes. I forget where I got it from, I have it saved as a word file on my HD.

[hcbr]

Yup Nate, I have a 30" Remington Long Barrel on their for hunting/trap/skeet on there with mag extensions and my stock 18.5" barrel with barrel nut on my 870 express! hope this helps, there's alot of options! and Congrats on owning a Remy!

[Nate74]

Don't own it quite yet. Hope to be meeting up with the seller tomorrow : )

Just excited and thinking about options.

[Nate74]

Holy Crap! There are tons of aftermarket add-ons for the 870. Where to start, where to start

[CDMJ]

My advice Nate is to keep it simple. If you are thinking about a bug out gun you do not want to be humping though the woods with a sixteen pound pig slung around you. You would be surprised how fast the weight starts piling on once you start adding lights, sights, red dots, side saddles, sling mounts, detachable plasma cannons and things like that.

[Nate74]

detachable plasma cannons

Now we're talking!