Rem 870 new vs old barrel?

The barrel retaining mechanisms are different. Old barrels will have a ball detent that clicks into place on the old-style magazine caps which have holes for the detent to slip into. New 870s and barrels have a simplified system. Dimples in the mag tube retain the magazine spring retainer which have plastic teeth that ratchet into the new-style magazine cap.

You can put a new barrel on an old 870 by just placing an O ring between the barrel ring and magazine cap. Or you can have a ball detent installed into place. Or you can get a sling plate with a ball detent, grind a hole in the barrel ring that mates with the detent, and then screw on an old style magazine cap designed for the ball detent.

Here's the two types of magazine caps (Old and New)
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Old barrel with ball detent
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New style magazine spring retainer

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Old style magazine spring retainer

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PatchRat said:
Well, there's me proven about 16 types of wrong. My bad.
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You are correct that they will fit, but whether they stay in place after a few rounds fired is another problem.

Also make sure that if your receiver is non-magnum that you fire only 2 3/4'' shells in the barrel despite the barrel being marked 3'' magnum capable. Your 870 may eject them, but normally the ejector needs to be restaked a little further back.
 
haretrigger said:
Another thing that's changed on some of the newer barrels with bead sights is that the beads are not threaded in and are not replaceable... Take it from me I found out the hard way :(
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You could always epoxy a XS big dot sight over top of the existing bead.
 
A BNIB rifle sighted barrel went right on my early 80's vintage 870 with no fuss. It's a Wingmaster made before Wingmasters became Remington's higher end shotgun. Does look kind of odd with the phosphated finish though.
The difference between an Express and a Wingmaster is the finish and the stock wood. They take the same barrels.
 
Remington makes two types of barrels now. The ones that come with the new guns do not have the ball detents, the ones sold separately do have the ball detents. Ball detents can be added to take off barrels for a low cost by a gunsmith.
 
romurra said:
Remington makes two types of barrels now. The ones that come with the new guns do not have the ball detents, the ones sold separately do have the ball detents. Ball detents can be added to take off barrels for a low cost by a gunsmith.
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Regardless if it's an Express or Wingmaster barrel?
 
Plumbers tape on the threads holds an express barrel on a wingmaster. Replace as needed. Thats all I did for my wifes wingmaster. I get about half a dozen barrel removals before I replace the tape. Holds it on as well or better then the original cap.
 
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