Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Remington 870 wingmaster 20/28" or NOT

Has anyone ever come across a barrel supposed to fit a 20ga 870 wingmaster and the lug on the barrel is only the size of a 28ga!! How could this have gotten by quality control?
This barrel was new in box, but open so I suppose it could have been switched, but what 20ga 870 would have a magazine tube the size of a 28ga????

not a "LW" stamped on the barrel,is it? I have a 20 ga LW and the lug is smaller diameter than the standard

No, LW , it's 2 3/4" or 3" with screw in chokes!

sorry, I am not understanding... it is marked LW, or not?
if a quarter will not fit through the lug, it is smaller than the standard barrel.

I just checked my 2 barrels, they both have LW on them
one is 2 3/4 only and the other just says 3 inch

They made a 20 gauge on a standard 12 gauge frame and a 20 gauge on a smaller frame. Barrels from one will not fit on the other.

From 1950 to 1977 the standard 12 ga receiver was used for 20 ga guns. I,m pretty sure it should have a 12 ga dimensioned magazine tube. I'd measure mine but I don't have a 12 ga to compare it to. In 1972, the 20 ga began to be produced on the small frame which was smaller in dimension all around.

The larger frame will have an X or an N at the end of the serial number. The small frame model will have a K or U. Needless to say, the barrels are not interchangeable so one has to know which model they have. If you have the large frame gun you will have difficulty finding barrels as production stopped in the late 1970's. These were all fixed chokes with no interchangeable chokes available from the factory. If this is what you have, grab the first barrel you find that you can afford and have aftermarket chokes put in if that up is what you want. Don't wait for the "perfect" barrel as these barrels don't appear often and they tend to go quick. Plus, they tend to be relatively expensive so don't hesitate if you find one in your price range.

If you have a small frame receiver, then you may have a barrel that was mistakenly put together. It is very uncommon but is always a remote possibility. I suspect this is the type of barrel you bought as you mention choke tubes.

Didn't Hastings make choke tube bbls for the large frame 20 ga?

Sorry kid0917 , it is not marked LW , and it says 2 /34" or 3" , I honestly don't think a 20ga shell would pass through the loop ring on the barrel! But I believe a 28ga will!

Thanks guys for all the help! I've got it in the box all taped up ! Let a Remington rep take a look at it!

So you have a 20ga Wingmaster that is not a LW, and you bought a NEW 20ga barrel that is too small. Your problem has already been answered above. All new 20ga barrels are made for the LW frame even though they have not been marked as such in many years, which would make said barrel too small for your 12ga frame.

This ^^^^^^


The barrels for the early 20Ga 870 built on the 12Ga frame are much harder to find and expensive. I have two of these and four barrels.