Remington 870 deer barrel questions?

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Max-4

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Hey guys, I have a Remington 870 Wingmaster 3" and im looking to buy a 20" deer barrel for it this fall. I have looked at my options online and I see that there are 3 choices.

1. 20" fully rifled cantilever
2. 20" fully rifled rifle sights
3. 20 rem-choke rifle sights

I know what the cantilever is compared to the rifle sights, but my question is the fully rifled barrels versus the rem-choke barrels. What does each one allow me to shoot? Am I limited to just rifled slugs with the rifled barrel? Do I need a remchoke if I wanna shoot buckshot? Also how good are the remington sights when shooting slugs, is the cantilever/scope the way to go? What is the better option when hunting deer in the woods, rem-choke or fully rifled? Thanks
 
The fully rifled barrels are intended primarily for sabot slugs, rather than Foster rifled slugs. I would consider the Remchoke smoothbore barel to be more versatile.
 
The fully rifled barrels use the more expensive sabot slugs. Not 100% sure but guessing the rem-choke barrel is a smoothbore which would be for the cheaper rifled slugs and buckshot. If your planning on shooting over 75yds get a fully rifled barrel. I bought an 870 with fibre optic sights just as the cantilevers were coming out so it was considerably less $$ but I dont think there is as big a gap now. I put the remington saddle on so I could attach a scope but its a dedicated slug gun. If you are swapping barrels then get a cantilever. I was shooting mine yesterday and putting the sabots into a coffee cup sized bullseye at 100yds. Be prepared for an increase in recoil.
 
"...allow me to shoot?..." Hi. The fully rifled barrel is for shooting saboted slugs. Shot doesn't work well out of a rifled barrel. The shot string flies in a spiral, sending the shot who knows where and causes big holes in the pattern.
Saboted slugs are a bit more expensive to shoot. Shooter's Choice, in Waterloo, wants $7.95(Express Buckhammer) vs $6.95(Sluggers) per 5 for Remington ammo. Remington premium slugs are insanely expensive. Either kind of slug needs to be sighted in just like a rifle too.
You will need Remchokes for buckshot. However, buckshot is unreliable for killing deer when compared to a slug. Buckshot is for under 30 yards. Spreads out too much past there.
Having a Remchoked barrel gives you an upland bird shotgun as well as a deer gun. Extra choke tubes run about $20 each plus $10 for the wrench. 20" barrels are very handy in the kind of bush those birds(grouse, etc) live in.
"...how good are the Remington sights..." The iron sights on shotguns are a lot like those on rifles. They're ok, but not as good as a scope in low light.
Is your Wingmaster receiver drilled and tapped? Some are, some aren't. If it is, you can mount a scope using regular bases vs the cantilever. Should you want to. Just another option. Bit of a nuisance if you're hunting birds during the day and deer at dawn/dusk though. The cantilever lets you just change the barrel. Remington claims the scope won't lose zero.
You don't have to buy a barrel with 'Remington' stamped on it either. There are lots of aftermarket 870 barrels. Bought a rifle sighted, smooth bore, barrel from Goble's, here in London, a few years back for $214 including the taxes. A Remington barrel was about $100 more.
 
Max-4 said:
Hey guys, I have a Remington 870 Wingmaster 3" and im looking to buy a 20" deer barrel for it this fall. I have looked at my options online and I see that there are 3 choices.

1. 20" fully rifled cantilever
2. 20" fully rifled rifle sights
3. 20 rem-choke rifle sights

I know what the cantilever is compared to the rifle sights, but my question is the fully rifled barrels versus the rem-choke barrels. What does each one allow me to shoot? Am I limited to just rifled slugs with the rifled barrel? Do I need a remchoke if I wanna shoot buckshot? Also how good are the remington sights when shooting slugs, is the cantilever/scope the way to go? What is the better option when hunting deer in the woods, rem-choke or fully rifled? Thanks
Click to expand...

1. sabot slugs with scope- no buckshot
2. sabot slugs rifle sights- no buckshot
3. rifled slugs and/or buckshot with rifle sights (smooth bore)

Rifled barrel will not shoot buck or bird shot effectively. It does not harm anything (especially what you are aiming at lol) but is useless.
Smooth bore barrel is versatile in that it will pattern buckshot well and shoot rifled slugs out to 100yds. If you desire more effective range then consider a rifled barrel and sabot slugs which are good out to 150-200yds with a good rest.
If you hunt with a gang and take turns pushing the deer and standing on point then the smooth bore may be more effective for you to push with buckshot and be able to shoot slugs from point.
Only you know your setting and the range required. Rifle sights are fine but only as good as your eyes.
 
Wingmaster

I should mention that my Wingmaster is NOT drilled and tapped for a scope. It is a 3" chamber and I currently have a 28" rem-choke barrel for it. Buying the 20" smoothbore rem-choke with rifle sights does make sense to me because I wouldn't mind using it to hunt rabbits and grouse too, that would give me a nice short gun for the bush.

I guess that would limit me to either buckshot or a rifled slug with open sights for deer. We will be pushing bush and sitting on stand where I hunt. What kind of accuracy and range can I expect with rifled slugs and open sights. I am 28 years old and my eyes are good!!! :D
 
I have an 870 express with the smoothbore rifle sighted barrel and its not a problem to shoot 5 shots minute of deer at 100 yds.thats 5 shots through a 7" tinfoil pie plate off hand.I am zeroed 3" high at 50 yds.
 
drslav said:
Some people get the rifled choke to use in the smooth barell. Heard it's quite good. I never tried but ask someone who knows.
Click to expand...

The rifled choke tube comes with the smoothbore barrel and will allow it to stabilize sabot slugs. I have found that the rifled choke in my barrel gives good accuracy with Foster rifled slugs, but you have to clean the lead fouling from the rifling and I got equally good results from a modified choke, anyway.
 
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