I have an 870 Wingmaster with a 2 3/4 full choke barrel. I bought a short open bore barrel that is a 3". Does this mean I can shoot 3" shells out of the short barrel or would there be loading problems in the receiver. The receiver does not give a shell size just the barrels. Any help would be appreciated.
3"?
- Thread starter Mr. Finicky Timbers
- Start date
Hi,
I own the same shotgun and had that same exact question when I got a 20" deer barrel for it. The old WM receiver is not made to handle 3" shells. Has to do with the shell stops and/or ejector, IIRC ( someone correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not 100% sure...) which are riveted in the receiver. I've heard that the old receivers can be retrofitted with the newer parts, but it's a gunsmith only job and then the receiver will need to be refinished.
I just shoot 2 3/4 shells and never gave 3" shells another thought. Except for waterfowl, 3" shells are not really needed.
My 2 cents.
SH
I own the same shotgun and had that same exact question when I got a 20" deer barrel for it. The old WM receiver is not made to handle 3" shells. Has to do with the shell stops and/or ejector, IIRC ( someone correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not 100% sure...) which are riveted in the receiver. I've heard that the old receivers can be retrofitted with the newer parts, but it's a gunsmith only job and then the receiver will need to be refinished.
I just shoot 2 3/4 shells and never gave 3" shells another thought. Except for waterfowl, 3" shells are not really needed.
My 2 cents.
SH
I agree, the 3 inch was designed to give maximum volume for a lighter projectile when steel use was legislated. If you use Lead 3" loads the recoil is way too crazy as I discovered recently shooting 3" buckshot loads. As for safety it would probably be fine its just a reliability issue.
3" has been around alot longer than steel shot 3.5" however is another story.
- Location
- London,Ontario
If the receiver of your wingmaster can only accept 2 3/4 shells, then no, a 3" barrel won't let you shoot 3" shells.
Hi-Standard
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Newfoundland
The only problem you may incounter is the position of the ejector. It is a little further back on a 3" receiver to permit the spent shell casing to clear the ejection port. You may find on a 2 3/4" frame that 3" spent shells hang up on the port. Other than that there is absolutly no difference in the receivers. I don't believe it is a lot of work to have a 3" ejector installed on your frame. Someone else posted that Remington no longer even makes the 2 3/4" ejector, so depending on the age of you receiver maybe it has a 3" ejector? Only one way to find out
Have at her!
- Location
- under your bed!!!
or bears... with a limit of 3 shots of 00 buck its a comfort to know youv've got 3" 00
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
3" shotgun shells were around long before steell shot.
They throw heavier payloads of lead, but not at any greater speeds than a 2/34" .
Cat
