870 barrel question.

[wcmd]

I just purchased a used 28" barrel for my 870. The barrel is in great shape except it is missing the Magazine Cap Detent and spring.
Should I be concerned?
Or should I just tighten the Magazine Cap on and forget about it.
If it is a possible problem would Western Gun Parts have the parts, or someone else. I am in Edmonton.
Thanks for looking,
wcmd.

 

[highspeedlowdrag]

The spring tension that the detent ball puts on the cap prevents it from loosening up when firing the shotgun. A competent gunsmith should be able to replace the missing parts pretty easily (and at minimal cost)...

hsld.

 

[Claybuster]

It depends on the 870. If yours has the older style metal, press fit, magazine spring retainer then no matter how tight you screw down the magazine cap it will eventually come loose when the gun is fired.

If however it is the newer style with the magazine detents and the plastic, toothed magazine tube retainer it will be fine.

If the barrel has a hole drilled in the magazine tube ring getting the parts and having them installed isn't a big issue. If the hole isn't drilled then it won't work on the old style 870s.

 

[FN]

Is it an Express barrel? I don't think the Express barrels come with a mag cap detent and spring.