870 Barrel Detent Question

[556A2]

I have a possible trade for a 21" 870 Special Purpose Turkey Barrel. I am getting rid of my 18" Cylinder bore barrel because I can make more use with a Rem-Choke barrel. However, my 870 has the old style magazine retainer system. This barrel I am thinking about trading for is set-up for the new-style retainer system. It does not have a barrel detent installed, but the guy said the hole is there.

I need to know what can I do so the barrel won't come loose? I have heard that you can install the detent yourself, but I haven't the slightest idea on how to do that. Can you just add a Express magazine retainer, and a new cap to prevent it?

What is my best option for Remington's great cost-cutting decision?

 

[mnrivrat]

The hole is there for the detent ball so all you need is the spring and the ball. They must be peened in however and this is done with a punch with a concave tip that is just larger than the hole. You place the spring into the hole and then set the ball on top of the spring - using the punch you push the ball against the spring tension into the hole and gentaly tap on the punch to move material into the front of the hole thereby capturing the ball and spring.

Caution should be used to not overdue that step so that the ball gets set too deep. There must be enough roll over into the hole however to hold the ball in under the spring tension.

 

[Robert Hairless]

The detent staking punch is $20 from Brownells. A good gunsmith should have one and shouldn't charge much to do the job.