Rem 870 Tactical barrel change out

[Smokestack]

Hi Everybody,
Short time lurker, first time posting. I have a question regarding changing to a 26 or 28" barrel on this gun for some trap and skeet. My Tactical currently has 18.5" chokeless barrel and 7 round mag and the barrel retention lug sits a few inches further forward than the standard 26/28". So, there's no way to lock down the longer barrels with the hi cap mag.
Do I have to go to the smaller mag?, is there a specific 26" rem choke barrel for the Tactical, or do I just make an aluminum spacer that slides over the the mag to take up the difference between the two lug positions?
I know I can probably just buy another shotty with a longer barrel but I do want a dual purpose shotgun.
TIA for any info you can send my way!!

[static808]

sounds like you have the newer 870 tacticals with the permanent extended magazine. i believe you just have to get another shotgun with a longer barrel. because of this, i made sure that when i got my 870 express tactical, that it had the regular magazine tube with the screw-on extended mag, just to ensure compatibility with longer barrels.

[aippi]

If you have a 25077 model with the 6 shot one piece tube then the barrel that came on it is the only one made for it. You can not use other Remington barrels.

[Michael_Js]

Yes, the above posts ARE Correct! I had contacted Remington last year BEFORE I bought my 870 Tactical Magpul Express specifically to see if I could change the barrel to a 26" or 28" - yes, they said, no issues. I was going to buy a Benelli that you couldn't change the barrel. So, after I go the shotgun, I once again, asked Remington which barrel would work. They sent me a model number, I bought it AND NO GO!

They changed the hold down ring and now it no longer lines up. Some one on this board made a tube out of PVC, painted in black, and installed it. They said it worked for them.

That's one route. Me? I just (last Saturday) bought a basic, synthetic, Remington 870 Express with a 28" barrel for trap Now I'm set... If I would have known, I would have bought the Benelli semi-auto for a few bucks more

Oh well!
Enjoy

[Smokestack]

Thanks for the quick responses! I might go the "spacer" route just to tinker and see if it is possible.
Anyone know if there were any changes to the breach end of the barrel, or, did Remington just alter the location of the of the ring.?

[haw1144]

I know there are a lot of random info on the web from people using spacers as well. That's the only difference iirc.

I'm tempted to go that route as well for my 870 Express, but I may try to use some sort of mild steel or aluminum instead.

[aippi]

The only difference is the one piece 6 shot tube and the position of the barrel ring.

[Smokestack]

Looking for aluminum tubing myself......and I still need the barrel of course... Thanks all for the info/feedback!

[peetiewonder]

Looking for aluminum tubing myself......and I still need the barrel of course... Thanks all for the info/feedback!

If you think about it, the forces exerted on that piece will not be tremendous as most of the force the gun experiences will be pushing back on the gun in the direction of the kick. I've been thinking about this all night and I'm pretty sure a PVC pipe would be fine there. Aluminum or Steel would inspire more confidence though.

[Simi-Surfer]

I helped my brother in-law with this just the other day. He has a 870 tactical wit the permanent mag tube. installed a 28" barrel with an ATI Clamp and 1-Inch Light Mount and Swivel Stud from Amazon.

[peetiewonder]

I don't think i'd trust the ATI Clamp personally.

[jeffrice6]

Where are all the cats that were saying that the 870 change up was no big deal?

[elSquid]

Where are all the cats that were saying that the 870 change up was no big deal?

<raises hand>



-- Michael