|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,585 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,585 Likes: 1 |
I have a nice 1953 Remington 870 Magnum Wingmaster with a factory 30 inch Full Choke barrel.
I also have a Light Contour 28 inch Rem Choke VR Barrel for this.
I am wanting a 26 inch Rem Choke VR barrel in place of the 28.
Am I wrong or is the 28 inch barrel more of a compromise barrel; good for most anything, but not the best choice for woods hunting. Just a reminder I do have a 30 inch Full choke barrel for the longer range stuff.
An 870 is a longer action and a 28 inch barrel sticks out way further than a 28 inch double.
PA Bear Hunter, NRA Benefactor Member
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,813 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,813 Likes: 3 |
I like a 28 or 30", but most of my hunting is in very open country.. I have a 21 " special field.. I like it, but would prefer the barrel a 24 or 26..
Molon Labe
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,664
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,664 |
I have gone back and forth with shotguns and have an 870 with a 26 inch light contour barrel with remchokes. It would be the last gun I sold if I were getting rid of all of them. I really like the balance of the 26 barrel and the light contour swings nice. I wouldn't hesitate to hunt any bird (goose, dove, quail, turkey) with it.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,970 Likes: 5
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,970 Likes: 5 |
If you want a 26" barrel go for it. Everything is a compromise in some way or another.
You mention woods hunting. If all I were hunting was woods a 22-24" barrel would be hard to beat but for overall bird hunting that 26" will be fine.
What "woods" hunting do you do for upland birds?
Just know that 28" LC barrel will be lighter than a 26" barrel of standard construction and may actually balance better than the shorter 26" barrel.
The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,664
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,664 |
My 26 Wingmaster at work Teal hunting last season.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,372 Likes: 16
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,372 Likes: 16 |
the 26 seems to work well in my 870 for an all around bird gun.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,585 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,585 Likes: 1 |
The 26 inch I am looking at is also a light contour VR/RC barrel.
Grouse would be the woods bird. Not many pheasants in the fields around here anymore.
I am going with the 26 LC. Thanks.
PA Bear Hunter, NRA Benefactor Member
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 709
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 709 |
I prefer a 30" for Ducks and Geese, a 28" for Pheasants, a 26" for Doves, Quail and Partridge. If I am taking only one gun and using it for multiple birds, I take my 28" with the Remchoke system and use the chokes accordingly.
Better to be over the hill than under it.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,814
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,814 |
The 26 inch I am looking at is also a light contour VR/RC barrel. Grouse would be the woods bird. Not many pheasants in the fields around here anymore. I am going with the 26 LC. Thanks. 26 for a Rem 870 12ga and a Grouse gun. Try a 20ga and the 12ga will stay home. 28in on a 20ga may balance better. Haven't picked one up for awhile. VR on a Ruffed Grouse shotgun is nothing more than extra weight.
Last edited by battue; 03/01/17.
laissez les bons temps rouler
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,275
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,275 |
1975 870 Wingmaster 20ga. Two barrels for it. 26" w/fixed I/C, 28" w/fixed Mod. I use 'em both. Just depends. Both work for upland birds fine.
Last edited by rifletom; 03/05/17.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,585 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,585 Likes: 1 |
That 26 inch deal fell through. I will use my 28" LC/VR/RC for a while longer!
PA Bear Hunter, NRA Benefactor Member
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,962 Likes: 5
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,962 Likes: 5 |
No longer than 26" for anything I hunt. I'd buy a 24" barrel if they offered it. If I spent any time pass shooting for waterfowl then a 28" might make sense.
Most people don't really want the truth.
They just want constant reassurance that what they believe is the truth.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 152,371 Likes: 43
Campfire Savant
|
Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 152,371 Likes: 43 |
I like a 26 for quail, 30 for doves
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 19
New Member
|
New Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 19 |
For me, I want the balance point of the shotgun between my hands for "poke and pray" shooting like for woodcock and grouse. For swinging shots like sharpies and pheasant, I want more weight on the forearm so I like longer barrels for that style of shooting.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,761
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,761 |
A 28 inch "Light contour" IMO is the best barrel remington has ever built for bird shooting....clays or feathers.
Doc
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,151
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,151 |
I found a 26 vent rib ic barrel for my LH 870 12 gauge to be handier than the 28 vent rib Rem-Choke for birds.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,383 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,383 Likes: 1 |
I like a 26 in barrel better than a 28 in for most uses. I keep one on my 12 gauge 870 and Ithaca 87's most of the time. I sometimes use my 20/21 in deer barrels [I have the screw in choke tube type]. also.
Frankly, for grouse I much prefer a 20 gauge. I recommend you try one.
I have a 25 in barrel on one of my 20 ga Ithaca UL's and I prefer it to any other setup.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,302 Likes: 37
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,302 Likes: 37 |
A 28 inch "Light contour" IMO is the best barrel remington has ever built for bird shooting....clays or feathers.
Doc I agree^^^^^^^^^
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,469 Likes: 26
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,469 Likes: 26 |
I prefer my 870 28ga with a 25" barrel for dove and quail.
For pheasants I prefer my 1100 Special Field 12ga with a 21" barrel.
"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,147 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,147 Likes: 1 |
28 inch is my favorite length.
If you find yourself in a hole....quit digging
|
|
|
|
595 members (1234, 17CalFan, 160user, 10gaugeman, 10Glocks, 01Foreman400, 56 invisible),
2,446
guests, and
1,272
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,194,343
Posts18,526,859
Members74,031
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|