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I’m looking to buy an 18in barrel off the internet, but want to make sure a 3in chambered barrel will work in my old 870 Wingmaster…

I know I can't shoot 3in rounds, but the barrel is a good price.

Of course, the guy selling the barrel sayss it'll work just fine <grin>...

Thanks!

Dude, do you think the ejection port can clear a 3" shell if it wasn't made for one? Sure, the barrel might fit, but you won't get it to feed or eject.

Thanks for the quick reply, Strange. However, you’ll note in my first post I wrote: "I know I can't shoot 3in rounds, but the barrel is a good price..."

So again: No, I WILL NOT try to load, feed, or chamber anything longer than 2 ¾ in shells. However, as I'm shopping for an 18in barrel, I've found there are a lot more choices out there than have 3" chambers, and also have IC chokes and such that I can't get from an older barrel.

I'm just wondering if there are any problems with attaching a 3in barrel to a 2 ¾ receiver. Since I'm buying on-line, I can't try it in the gunshop before I buy... From your post I gather there aren't any issues?

Nope no issues, it should fit right on ...

It'll fit on just fine.

And don't try it, but you can shoot 3" shells in a 2 3/4" reciever. Just 1 though . It will load and cycle unfired 3" shells just fine. Will even go bang on the 1st one, but the extra lenght on the shell after the crimp extends won't let it clear the action. After that you've got the task of getting the shell out of your gun (not too hard, but essentially relegates the gun to a single shot). It's happened to my dad once or twice, as my brother and I use 3" guns and he uses a 2 3/4". Every so often he'll grab some of my shells instead of his, and harsh words follow after that shot .

Note: The above blurb about 3" shells shooting in a 2 3/4" gun is only confirmed on the 870 Wingmaster. No one I know has ever tried this intentionally, and I've only seen it happen on accident w/ the 870 .

Just about all of the 2 3/4" 870's that I have seen will eject a fired 3" shell. This is very easy to test; all you need is a fired 3" shell. Generally, the ejector position is far enough back to reliably eject the fired shell. If yours passes this test, go ahead and fire 3" shells in your newly barrelled 870. Mike Orlen

Thank you for the help, Gentlemen.

Ranger

i used to do warranty service on remingtons, if memory serves me right, the gun will work with a 3" shell as long as the barrel is correct. but i will say that i have brain fades every so often.