Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Rem 870 Express

Have a 20 ga Rem 870 express with a 28” 2 3/4 barrel. Can I convert it to 3” just by finding a 3” barrel?

Never seen a 2 3/4" 870 express sure that is the original barrel?.mb

I was mistaken. It is a magnum receiver and 28” barrel. What I want is a 20-21” barrel. Is there a short barrel available for this gun?

They made short barrels for the youth models that will fit.

I just seen a youth model with the short barrel, a guy brought it into a gun shop to consign. I was thinking I would buy it but he didn’t end up leaving it. I have a 26” barrel version for my grandson and think a shorter barrel would be better for him.
I bet you will pay as much for the barrel as a full gun or close
to it.

Just want it short for my house. Had the same gun in a short barrel 12ga. Bad ass gun with a full choke and 3” #4s!

Will an 870 wingmaster 3” barrel work?

The Magnum receiver denotes that it was intended for use with 3” shells assuming that you also a barrel that’s chambered for 3” shells.

It will as long as both are the same either lw or?
I really don’t know for sure if the Express uses a L.W. Configuration. I believe it is but not positive

1993 vintage with 21” barrel still works last week for my boy like it worked for me when it was new. Using 3” steel .

Yes.

Remington made 2 different sized 20ga actions. So
Yes, is too broad of a statement.
As I stated above a L.W version barrel should fit. A rem choke barrel should be new enough to be right or buy a express 20 barrel and cut it to what length you want.

Look for a smoothbore slug barrel, for either shell length. Those were very popular before saboted slugs became the thing and often came in comb sets with a “bird” barrel. You don’t need 3” shells for defense, although they’d certainly be effective. The slug barrels have sights, and the size of a shotgun pattern at very close distances makes those an advantage, and certainly they are useful if slugs are an option.

They make 21" 20 ga barrels, but it's going to be easier and cheaper to just buy the whole gun.

A gunsmith can cut your 28" barrel shorter and thread it for choke tubes. Last one I had done cost me $150. You may not be able to get exactly 21". It has to be cut on the vent rib post.

If you can live with a cylinder choke it is an easy DIY project to simply cut the barrel and true up the end with a file. I've done several of those too. You can buy fiber optic sights that clamp to the vent rib for under $20.

will the side opening in the receiver be long enough to throw a spent 3in shell? might want to check on that.

Short answer - yes, a 20-21" bbl is/was available. Somewhat hard to find, and pricey when you do . . . . DAMHIKT