Barrel choice for new 870 Express

[WhiteKnight]

I have decided that a Remington 870 Express (3" chamber) will be my first "real" shotgun.

However, I'm unsure as to which barrel length I should choose.

I've read a variety of things online, with the majority of the people reccomending either a 26" or a 28" barrel.

I recently had a well-respected friend who has been shooting his entire life tell me to "definitely" go with the 28" barrel.

However, I'm still confused.

I don't want to lug around a flagpole sized barrel while turkey or small game hunting, but then again I don't want to miss clays due to a 26" barrel.

I am considering purchasing the

Express combo with the 26" barrel and 20" rifled barrel as I plan to hunt clays/birds AND deer (the rifled barrel would hopefully lend itself to better accuracy with slugs, but I'm unsure if the 26" barrel would suffice)

Express combo with the 28" barrel and 20" Improved Cylinder (I really don't want the Improved Cylinder barrel-though it may be good for HD in the future, but I may want the longer 28" barrel over the 26" depending on what you fellows tell me)

 

[Domino]

I bought a Remington 870 Express Magnum with a 28" barrel. I have had no trouble with the 28" when it comes to clay pigeon shooting. Although I have not gone turkey hunting I would suspect you are BETTER off with a longer barrel. The range in which you have to hit turkeys can be significant when it comes to smooth bore barrels. I don't think that a rifled shotgun barrel is neccesarily the answer to your question. If you want an all-around shotgun then get a long smooth barrel, but if you want to deer hunt then save yourself the money and get the rifled barrel. My personal suggestion would be to start with a longer barrel and go from there. I think you will find the weapon quite manageable as it is, and useful for many applications. I leave an 18 1/2" Mossberg manufactured barrel on mine when it comes with me in my truck. BTW, I love mine and no matter what you do you can't go wrong with an 870.

 

[kudu]

Lets put it this way, when you have a 30" barrel on an O/U shotgun it will be the same length over all as if you have a 27" barrel on a pump or auto. The receiver makes up about 3" of length on pumps and autos. I would still prefer the longer barrel on a pump, but the 26" will treat you fine. If down the road the clay bird games really get you hooked you will more than likely get another gun to shoot anyway.

 

[Dave McCracken]

I seriously doubt there's a significant difference between 26" and 28" in the field. The 28" MAY be a better choice for clays.

Get what you want, shoot the heckoutofit and enjoy....

 

[WhiteKnight]

Okay, seeing that 26" and 28" barrels are pretty much the same, I pose the following question:

Which barrel would produce better groups with slugs?

The 20" Improved Cylinder barrel

or

The 20" fully rifled barrel.

Conventional wisdom would lead me to think the rifled barrel would turn in better groups, but I still thought I should ask.

I'm aware that with the Improved Cylinder barrel I could use the gun for HD/3 gun matches/buckshot (deer hunting).

 

[kudu]

The rifled barrel is for sabot type slugs, and capable of amazing accuracy. the I/C barrel is for the foster type slugs, they have rifleing built into the lead themselves to impart spin on the slug.

Sabot slugs= accuracy, and expense. Accuracy for possible 3" at 100yds.

Rifled slugs = fair accuracy and much cheaper to use. Accuracy pssible 8-9" at 100yds.

Several threads on slug accuracy, do a search.

 

[sm]

kudu, summed it well nicely.

Then there is the rifled choke tube used in smoothbore.

Hard to beat the smoothbore with a Forster slug. Find a slug the gun likes and buy 'em up.

Dedicated Deer hunters often use the rifled bbl that is all they do...

Then there are folks like me out bird hunting and carry a few slugs if deer season overlaps ... versatile.

I like simple. Using a fixed choked 28" bbl I limited out on ducks, shot clays from a hand trap busted a few quail and when the doe stepped out - felled it. All in one day, same gun and choke...just changed ammo.

All my personal SG have 28" bbls no matter if repeater or O/U .

If given a choice for clay games and some hunting , gimme 32" even 34" if you have it.

 

[WhiteKnight]

Okay fellas I've been reading up on slug accuracy and slug guns in general for about the past two hours.

Honestly, I really only wanted the slug barrel for the versatility it would provide but in all reality I don't think I'd get much use out of it.

I already have a Remington 700 in .270 with a Leupold scope that's my dedicated deer killer, and I doubt I'll encounter any situation where I wouldn't want to use it (ie super close ranges). No areas around here are shotguns only, but if I encounter some that I want to hunt in future years, I'll face that problem when it arises.

If I decide in the future that I need a shorter barrel for home defense, then I'll buy one.

If I decide I need to shoot slugs, I'll buy an NEF Tracker II slug gun with a rifled barrel for $126 locally.

If I decide I need to shoot buckshot (deer) then I'll just stick an Improved Cylinder choke on my existing 28" barrel, cumbersome as it may be.

 

[sm]

I use slugs for deer...28" bbl.
In fact I prefer slugs for HD...and the gun next to me has a full mag of slugs and 28" bbl.

Lots of folks consider the combo Express the extra bbl figures $80 - $90 more...IIRC buying the same bbl later is $125 or so.

So a fella has a clay game, waterfowl, longer bbl and the shorter smoothbore bbl for deer, serious situations...

Just a thought.

I have a plan for what I will do for a shorter bbl for mine...the reason I didn't buy a combo from get - go. Just based on a few rds downrange over the years and playing with pattern boards. *grin* Just want to duplicate something I have had before is all...he he.

 

[WhiteKnight]

How much more accuracy would the 20" rifled barrel offer over the nonrifled Improved Cylinder barrel?

I just can't stand the thought of passing on a good deal on a second barrel, whether it be used frequently or not.

 

[Dave McCracken]

That question cannot be answered in advance. It takes testing to determine which laod will work best in which barrel.

Upside, almost all barrels out there can be accurate enough once the shooter does his job and once the right slug is found.

Slug work, despite the flack from the makers, is close range stuff. Out of at least 20 slugged deer, I can recall one shot over 50 yards, and another about 50 yards. Average for me works out to about 32 yards.

The 20" barreled, Remchoked barrel with open sights is a good choice. One 12 gauge here has just that, and the little 20 gauge YE has one also.