I'm needing a 3" pump shotgun. I'm not sure I can convert my old 870 over or if it's too costly. I'm real familiar with the 870, but don't know much about the Weatherby PA-08. Thanks Marty

I believe all that needs to be done is have the ejector changed out. It is riveted in and usually you blue the receiver after. Not a big job, for a decent smith. I bet if you look around you can get a used 3 inch Wingmaster (not express) pretty reasonable with a Rem-choke barrel.

A friend ask this for his boy. The PA-08 seems nice and may be a good gun. The 870 IS tough rarely breaks and parts will be available for a LONG time. They have been building them since the fifties. I think you need a 3" barrel to convert your 870 but you likely have one.

A 3" barrel doesn't convert it to a 3" gun, the ejector sits farther back on the 3" gun. Go find a used 3" gun they aren't that hard to locate. 870's are forever.. Magnum man

Unless you are planning on becoming a hard core goose and or turkey hunter I'd question your need for a 3" gun. Admittedly I'm not hardcore but the few times I have hunted geese and turkeys I haven't really noted much difference in the times I've used 2 3/4 in vs the times I used 3 " loads in terms of wondedor lost birds etc. if you insist on a 3" gun I'd either buy a used 870 express or trade the gun you have for a 3" gun. By the time you buy a barrel and pay a gunsmith to refit the ejector button and re blue the gun.you could buy a used express.

If you buy Hevi Shot you won't need a 3" gun.

You don't need 3" shells for geese or turkeys.

It's easy to kill geese with 2.75" steel shot, 1.25 ounces of BB. I prefer Federals myself, but Remington and Winchester work fine too.

For turkeys, just buy Federal Heavyweight Tungsten and you won't ever need 3" shells again.

Agreed. 2 & 3/4 loads will kill all you need, in my experience.

On buying a new Rem. 870, I notice they are now using plastic triggers and a plastic trigger guards. Another reason for me to hate Big Green.

You can usually pick up a used 870 Wingmaster in 3" chamber around here in the local Pawn shops for $300. And I'd much rather have one of the old original models

I've never felt the 3" 12gauge offered enough over the 2 3/4" shell to justify a new gun. If you want to pass shoot Geese and really reach out on Turkeys (both things interest me) then go straight to the 3 1/2".

There fixed it for you, as was, I fundamentally disagreed with your whole statement but naturally feel you are entitled to your own opinion. 3" 12 ga Rem Hevi-shot loads featuring 1 1/4 to 1 3/8 oz of Hevi 4's and 2's are so superior to any 2 3/4" steel load I've ever used that they can not be compared. If all a guy shoots is inside 40 yds then fine use steel 2 3/4" and appropriate sized pellets. when you move to the realm of 40-60 yds 3" Hevishot kicks the ass of anything else made.I have pass shot enough snow geese to say that with conviction. Magnum Man

I told the OP to get Hevi shot in my first post and I use the 10 gauge as well. Maybe we're not in such fundamental disagreement after all

I forgot to add that Hevi shot does come in 2 3/4" . It's called Hevi 13.

PA-08 is Weatherby's pump shotgun made in Turkey. Looks remarkably like the Tristar and made by the same Turkish factory but the Weatherby is about $100 more. Neither are an 870 but serve you well.

I think part of the price difference between the Tristars and the Weatherbys is that Weatherby upped the specs for their guns. The story Weatherby told was that when they went to Turkey for production, they torture tested the prototypes until they broke and looked at the shortcomings. They then redesigned the guns until they couldn't break them.

I would pick an older Remington first, then the Weatherby, and last the newer model Remingtons. The matte finish on the newer guns rusts like crazy. The spring and summer of 2012 was about the wettest on record here. I was working part-time at the Academy gun counter, and I had to oil the display Remingtons every week to keep them from rusting on the shelves. A friend has an 870 Express turkey gun and he has to wipe it down after taking it out or it will rust in the safe.

Thanks for the replies. While I'd like to get another 870, I'd rather keep shooting the one I have. It has a lot of sentimental value, it belonged to my step dad. He was one of my closest friends. I have a Spanish double that I grew up with that has a 3" chamber. It's getting pretty loose and kicks like a mule. With my arthritis, I can't hold on quite as tight as I used to. The trigger guard really thumps my right hand. I found out my 2-3/4" 870 will eject 3" shells just fine. I haven't fired any of course. Maybe I'd be ok just getting a 2nd barrel? Marty

I intend to shoot a few Canadians with 2-3/4" shells, but the season is over in 2 days. I'm mostly thinking about next season since I went through this same thing last year.