Barrel swap on 870 Wingmaster

[David LaPell]

I have been selling off a few things because the wife wants a house gun again for me to have other than my handguns. I told her I am best with a shotgun and that way if anything comes up it's there for her once I get her into it again. I had been looking around and was going to order a new Stevens 320 (even though I do know where they're made) but I ran across a nice gun today that will fit the bill. I spotted an older Model 870 Wingmaster 12 gauge that the serial number puts at around 1980-1981 in about 97-98% that takes 2 3/4 only (I never found a need for 3 inch slugs or buckshot). It has a full choke vent rib barrel that's 28 inches long but after tax out the door it was $260. I figure I can find a shorter 18.5 inch smooth barrel with a bead or a 20 inch barrel with rifle sights will do and I will sell the barrel on it online or something. The question I have is, will all the 12 gauge barrels interchange without any issues? I am not an expert on the 870 by any means, I usually have Ithaca pumps but the price on this gun was too nice to pass up. I don't plan on decking this thing out too much, just a shorter barrel and maybe some sling swivels. I like the idea of the shorter barrel with rifle sights and smooth barrel because I could keep it around for deer season as well. Anyone else swap barrels around on the 870 before?

 

[rimmer]

All 870 barrels fit an 870. Gauge for gauge.

 

[Sturgis270]

Maybe someone else can ring in but I believe an 870 Wingmaster barrel is different from the 870 Express.

 

[fiasconva]

Try your question at shotgunworld.com, the" I love my Remington" section. It may already have your answer there. It's a great site, btw.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

David for what a barrel will cost you can have the barrel cut down and a bead put back on. I THINK Sturgis is right. Also because the chamber is 2-3/4" that's all you can use in it regardless of the barrel you get. I had one of those in the late 70's. Nice guns.

 

[wwb]

Maybe someone else can ring in but I believe an 870 Wingmaster barrel is different from the 870 Express.

Wrong... the only difference between the two is the finish.... blued and polished for the Wingmaster, bead blasted and some kinda black finish (I don't think it's real Parkerizing) for the Express. The two will interchange just fine.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

David for what a barrel will cost you can have the barrel cut down and a bead put back on. I THINK Sturgis is right. Also because the chamber is 2-3/4" that's all you can use in it regardless of the barrel you get. I had one of those in the late 70's. Nice guns.

I was wrong the Wingmaster and the Express will interchange. It's the Special Field barrels that don't interchange.

 

[speedsixman]

rimmer,

"All 870 barrels fit an 870. Gauge for gauge."

NOT TRUE for the 20 ga. guns; the older ones were built on the 12 ga. frame where the newer ones are built on the "lightweight frame" If you have a newer 20 ga. the old barrels will not fit, and vice-versa.

Myron

 

[wheelgun1958]

I recall 870 barrels made by Mossberg at Bass pro.

 

[Rick Courtright]

I was wrong the Wingmaster and the Express will interchange. It's the Special Field barrels that don't interchange.

Hi,

They also offered an LC (light contour) barrel in the 12 ga for a while, and I don't recall if it's interchangeable with standard Wingmaster and Express barrels or not.

The 20 differences mentioned are also important to remember, though one sees fewer and fewer of the "standard" 20s (built on 12 ga receiver) around these days.

Rick C

 

[Bull Barrel]

I recall 870 barrels made by Mossberg at Bass pro.

I have a rifled one with scope mount on my Rem.

 

[mohavesam]

Cheese-n-rice, man. Call Remington and ask. There are some differences.

 

[davem]

If you have an 870 20 gauge that the serial number ends with an "X" it is built on a 12 gauge frame and 20 gauge barrels built for the 20 gauge frame will not fit.

I learned the hard way.

 

[picketpin]

They don't all interchange. Special Fields with straight "English" butt stocks hold one less sheLl and thus the forearm and the location of the attachment of the barrel is different.

There are several other variations that do not interchange. BUT as a GENERAL rule they intercHANGE, GAUGE TO THE SAME GAUGE.

rwt

 

[XP100]

You can put a barrel chambered for 3" shells on your 2&3/4" frame. You just can't fire 3"ers in it.

 

[Rabon]

The Wing Masters use the common barrels which work with the 4 shot magazine tube, the Special Field guns use the 3 shot mag tub which won't work nor will the 18.5" HD gun which has the 6 shot mag tube. (There may be others)

 

[Rabon]

An option you may wish to consider (very common) is to cut the barrel and rib to the length you desire closest to the end rib support and drill and thread for the existing front sight (it can also be rethreaded for the Rem Chokes, should you wish to do so). I did this with a 26" vent rib and as best I can remember it came out about 22 ".