Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing 870 Express bbl, on a standard 870 action?

I would sure like to know if the bbl off a Rem 870 Express, will fit on a standard Rem 870 action.

Seems to me it should, but would there be any problems?

Thanks,

Richard

I believe the express ones are 3 inch chambers and will fit on 2.75 actions. Just don't shoot 3 inch shells in it. Also express ones have the dull matte finish.

The only difference beteen a 2 3/4" and a 3" 870 action is the location of the kink in the ejector. The 3" has the kink 1/4" farther back. Moving the ejector back 1/4" fixes all those problems and the barrels are absolutely interchangeable.

(lightweight 20 gauge barrels are not interchangeable with standard 20 gauge barrels)
art

Thanks guys!

IT sounds like there would be no problem installing a Rem. 870 "Express" bbl on the standard Rem. 870 action. The ejector wouldn't need to be changed, as it was designed for the 2 3/4" shells, and as long as no 3" shells are used, I would suppose all would work fine.

The reason for the question is I found an 870 Express bbl (I.C.) with rifle sights, at a reasonable price. I think that would be a much better choice for slugs than the 28" mod choke bbl this old 870 came with (think I bought it in 1968)

Thanks again,

Richard

Richard
Yup, you have no worries there. Not all Express barrels are 3", but the barrel will be stamped with that info. The worst that will happen if you shoot 3" shells in a 3" barrel on a 2 3/4" action is the fired shell will likely hang up during ejection.

Shooting the occasional 3" shell in a 2 3/4" 870 barrel will amount to nothing. It is not good practice, but it is not likely to be any problem.
art

The problem you might run into depends on whether the Express barrel you are trying to use has a ball/detent magazine cap retainer or the Express magazine tube serrated cap. One uses the regular magazine cap (Wingmaster) and one uses the serrated tube retainer. You can tell by looking at the mounting ring on the barrel, one will have a spring loaded ball and one will be smooth.