870 Express short barrel

[Shanghai McCoy]

Thought I'd modify the 12 gauge duck gun for home defense.
Where is a good source to get a short barrel for it? I see Midway has some but I always like an "option" or two.

 

[br549arkie]

Look on Ebay.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Look on Ebay.

Wow, I see what you mean...

 

[FL-NC]

Mossberg makes a 18" barrel for the Rem 870 that is pretty reasonable.

 

[Blue Brick]

Lucky gunner cut his field barrel for a home defense application. It looked horrible.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Lucky gunner cut his field barrel for a home defense application. It looked horrible.

Hence my wanting to just get one that will fit right on and then still have the field barrel for when I go duck hunting.

 

[Blue Brick]

Hence my wanting to just get one that will fit right on and then still have the field barrel for when I go duck hunting.

Ya the smart choice.

 

[eastbank]

some years ago walmart had 12ga-20 ga rem express 870 combo,s on sale. 20" and 28" barrels. i bought a 20 ga and put a burris fastfire 3 on the short barrel for turkeys and and use the longer barrel for other small game, but the short barrel could be used for home defense.

 

[Elkins45]

CDNN had some cheap ones not long ago. I bought one to cut to 13” for my 870 SBS.

 

[jmr40]

I've used a hacksaw on a few. If you cut it where the rib posts are you have the option of cutting at 21" or 19" and still keeping it legal. I did the 1st one at 21". If I messed up I could take it to a pro and still have room to work with. I found that I liked 21" best and that is where I have cut the others.

You can buy these to replace the front sight. If you want to go cheap this works well.

HIVIZ ETA Front Sight Remington 870 1100 11-87 Vent Rib Fiber Optic 6 (midwayusa.com)


I did take one to a gunsmith and have him cut the barrel shorter, replace the bead, and rethread it for choke tubes. It cost me $150, which is cheaper than buying another barrel and I liked the versatility of still being able to change chokes.

 

[Blue Brick]

I've used a hacksaw on a few. If you cut it where the rib posts are you have the option of cutting at 21" or 19" and still keeping it legal. I did the 1st one at 21". If I messed up I could take it to a pro and still have room to work with. I found that I liked 21" best and that is where I have cut the others.

You can buy these to replace the front sight. If you want to go cheap this works well.

HIVIZ ETA Front Sight Remington 870 1100 11-87 Vent Rib Fiber Optic 6 (midwayusa.com)


I did take one to a gunsmith and have him cut the barrel shorter, replace the bead, and rethread it for choke tubes. It cost me $150, which is cheaper than buying another barrel and I liked the versatility of still being able to change chokes.

https://www.opticsplanet.com/mossberg-90335-extra-barrels-12-gauge-18-1-2-blue-front-bead.html

$135 new. Quick five second Google search.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

https://www.opticsplanet.com/mossberg-90335-extra-barrels-12-gauge-18-1-2-blue-front-bead.html

$135 new. Quick five second Google search.

Yep and thanks but, if you read the ad, it says they are on extended back order. Unknown ETA.

 

[Blue Brick]

Yep and thanks but, if you read the ad, it says they are on extended back order. Unknown ETA.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/275930252455?hash=item403eb984a7:g:cvMAAOSwdLVkoLep

Needs love

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/275930252455?hash=item403eb984a7:g:cvMAAOSwdLVkoLep

Needs love

I've seen worse. Thanks.

 

[Hookeye]

Shop had a leftover used bbl last summer.
No used or new 870s for sale at the time.
Just a bbl, like new, Remchoke matte vent rib 26" w 3.5" chamber.
$100 plus tax.
Was just sitting there, no tag.

 

[Hookeye]

My 870 is a Supermag, turkey model.
23" VR RC.

The 26" does swing better for doves.

 

[PapaG]

eBay has some for under a .C-note

 

[PapaG]

Made inChina,However.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Made inChina,However.

Oh...

 

[Spats McGee]

Thought I'd modify the 12 gauge duck gun for home defense.
Where is a good source to get a short barrel for it? I see Midway has some but I always like an "option" or two.

I haven't gotten my 870s out for awhile, but if memory serves, not all magazine tubes are the same length. I believe that the Special Purpose models had a shorter magazine tube than the Wingmasters. IOW, be sure you buy the right short barrel.

 

[Kingcreek]

Been many years ago but a friend of mine found a rifle sighted slug barrel (smooth with rifled choke tube) on clearance at Walmart for $60. He called and asked if I wanted it. I did.
I keep a mod choke in it for home defense. The rifle sights aren’t my first choice but it works. OTOH I shot a nice whitetail buck with it at 112 yards.

 

[Hookeye]

The shorter mag tube 870 was the Special Field, not the Special Purpose.
Consequently, 870 Special Field bbls only fit Special Fields.

 

[Hookeye]

870 Special Field barrels were 21" fixed choke, 21" Remchoke or 23" Remchoke.....polished blued.

Turkey model Special Purpose barrels were 21" Remchoke and matte finish. They may have done 23" versions later.
The Supermagnum turkey models were 23"

One funny sidenote......in old Cabela's catalogs they showed an 870 Special Field in some accessory or clothing ads, and it had a deer barrel on it.
Hastings made deer barrels for 12 ga Special Fields and that's what that was.

 

[Hookeye]

FWIW I didn't care for the 12 ga Special Fields, in 870 or 1100.
Not really a fan of the 1100 Special Field in 20 ga either.

However.......the 870 20 ga Special Field??? LOVE IT.

There was an 1187 English stocked gun, looks like a Special Field, but it isn't.
That was a full length mag tube Sam Walton model.

Special Fields, in 1100 or 870, have shorter mag tubes.
The feel is a little different. Some people hate it, some love it, and some don't see what the big deal is LOL

 

[Hookeye]

BTW, my do all 870 is an Express Supermagnum w 23" Vent rib Remchoke bbl.
Its killed turkeys and doves. Have a 26" Remchoke bbl if I want to try for geese again.
Only if running steel 3.5"

3" in bismuth I'd go w an 1100 Magnum