870 Express extra barrels

[bswp]

How well do Remington barrels fit/swap onto various 870 Express models? There's a local deal on an 870 express synthetic, with short barrel and extension (Big 5 Sports), but will 24 and 26 in barrels fit this gun? I was looking at the Remmy combo models, but wonder if it's more sensible to buy one gun and the extra barrel(s) I'm interested in.

[ivan927]

I have a 28" Express with the vented rib barrel from Big 5. Adequate for trap and other clay sports but I deemed it unwieldy for home defense purposes. I bought an OEM 20" barrel with rifle sights and cylinder choke, with the "Express" finish from MidwayUSA. They fit very well, and makes the gun very versatile.

So, yeah, makes sense to have several barrels on hand for different purposes. Mossberg sells a combo set at Big 5, and I know Remington does too but Big 5 rarely stocks them.

[BaronW]

It will take the extra barrels, but they cost about as a shotgun. I bought a 7-shot 18" express synthetic from Turners a while ago and decided to just pick up a used 870 26" wood stocked for only a little bit more than just a new barrel would cost.

[timmyb21]

It will take the extra barrels, but they cost about as a shotgun. I bought a 7-shot 18" express synthetic from Turners a while ago and decided to just pick up a used 870 26" wood stocked for only a little bit more than just a new barrel would cost.

I agree. I'm getting ready to add an 870 turkey gun to my arsenal. Just because it's easier to just grab the gun instead of taking everything apart.

[Baron]

I've read that the barrels Mossberg makes for the Remingtons can somtimes not fit right...
So you may want to be sure it's a remington made barrel... but if it's coming in a combo deal you'll probably be all right

[Xerxes]

Barrels from Remington/Mossberg/whoever if made for the 870 are all easily interchangeable.

You can pick up a new barrel fro little less than half the price of a new shotgun, same goes for a used barrel being less than half the price of a used shotgun.

This price point makes it a challenge on which is the preferred option.
-Two barrels one gun
-Two barrels two guns for another $150 more.

Be sure you check for the features it has like making sure it is Remchoke (if you buy a generic replacement) if your other barrel is Remchoke as there are like 5 different common choke threadings.

Also check color as some are deeply blued, the newer ones have a really cheap bluing, and allot now have parkeriziing.

Most important thing ot watch for is the barrel rating as for 2-3/4", 3", or 3.5" Make it match your receiver or better yet higher.

I have two barrels and though it was a good value I am now wishing I had two shotguns but not because of the hassle of switching back and forth because changing barrels is way way easy. More because changing the stock and taking off the shell saddle and everything else then putting it back on later is the real hassle.

GOOD LUCK!

[BaronW]

Someone's selling a 26" barrel in the marketplace for $120. I just got a "like new" 870 off of gunbroker for $200, and the guy is local so I don't pay super transfer fees.

[bswp]

Thanks for the comments. I know that the sales come around at Big 5, so any gun on sale will be on sale again later (or they'll sell at sale price even if sale is over). I can appreciate the ease of simply having two guns, one long, one short... my goal is target practice for accuracy with both lengths, with shot and with slugs.

I'm getting started with shotguns, and so don't need to rush into having two right away, which is why I was wondering about the Combo packages from Remington. The Savage SA 220 I have now is single-shot, and I think it would be fun to have a pump.

[Jerkdog]

I've read that the barrels Mossberg makes for the Remingtons can somtimes not fit right...
So you may want to be sure it's a remington made barrel... but if it's coming in a combo deal you'll probably be all right

I have an 18.5" Mossberg-made barrel fitted to my 870. I've fired off a few hundred rounds with no prob's. In fact, I could probably stuff a few branches and rocks in there (and maybe a wild weasel) and it would still function perfectly (and be perfectly CA legal!). Dood, it's an 870...it'll outlive both of us combined. As long as the barrel fits, it'll work.

The only thing is to make sure you order the correct finish - they only had blued barrels available when I ordered mine, so you know it looks a little silly mated to my parkerized finish....but then again, I'm not in this for a beauty contest...

[gunn]

I was going to suggest this site, TJ General Store, because I picked up a 28" barrel for $69 for my Mossberg 500 on closeout but it appears they've sold out...

http://www.tjgeneralstore.com/moss-bbl.htm

You may want to check up with this retailer every so often... Just ignore the "goth teen" web site color scheme.