Converting 870 receiver to 3 inch?

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rkm456

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So last weekend I walk into my local gun shop and there's a Wingmaster for a good price, so of course without a second though I bought it. This gun is of the vintage that it's only chambered for 2-3/4 but I've been told there isn't much involved in enabling it to shoot 3 inch, anyone have any advice/ experience on how to accomplish this? (aside from a 3 inch barrel of course)

I did a quick search on here but didn't find anything. Thanks in advance for any help.
 
The receiver is easy, requiring a new ejector. I am not sure it would be financially worth your time to try to convert the barrel. Probably easier to buy a 3" barrel.
 
If it works right it's a 10 minute job. You NEED an ejector spring rivet cutter (Brownell's $40 US). This machines (you can do it by hand slowly and carefully) the peen off the rivet. You pry off the old ejector spring. You mock up the new ejector spring, and take a look at the ejector. There is a step in the ejector. You take a dremel and grind the ejector back about 1/4" so that the step in the ejector is equal (more or less) to the hump on the spring. Put the spring back on and peen the rivet (don't go nuts, a few lighter hits goes better than trying to give it one good smak. The rivet punches (Brownells $55 US) make it easier but if you are handy you can make do with something else. This way you don't drill out the old rivets which involves re bluing the receiver There is a Brownell's video on you tube. Look under replacing an ejector spring on an 870 (don't worry about the conversion part, the video show how and how to use the tools. If you screw it up, you will have to replace the rivets and may as well do the ejector too. The other option is take it to a local gunsmith (it's cheaper than buying the tools). If you know what you're doing it really is a 10 minute job
 
If you have a 3" barrel just try shooting the gun and testing the feeding and ejecting. I tried mine and it works just fine. It's a late 50's early 60's Wingmaster. You may be lucky.
 
ILLUSIVE said:
The receiver is easy, requiring a new ejector. I am not sure it would be financially worth your time to try to convert the barrel. Probably easier to buy a 3" barrel.
Click to expand...

Buying a new barrel for sure. For most of what I'll be doing with this gun, the 2-3/4 will be adequate, but I'd like to be able to use it for waterfowling in a pinch if the need arises.
 
dogzilla said:
If it works right it's a 10 minute job. You NEED an ejector spring rivet cutter (Brownell's $40 US). This machines (you can do it by hand slowly and carefully) the peen off the rivet. You pry off the old ejector spring. You mock up the new ejector spring, and take a look at the ejector. There is a step in the ejector. You take a dremel and grind the ejector back about 1/4" so that the step in the ejector is equal (more or less) to the hump on the spring. Put the spring back on and peen the rivet (don't go nuts, a few lighter hits goes better than trying to give it one good smak. The rivet punches (Brownells $55 US) make it easier but if you are handy you can make do with something else. This way you don't drill out the old rivets which involves re bluing the receiver There is a Brownell's video on you tube. Look under replacing an ejector spring on an 870 (don't worry about the conversion part, the video show how and how to use the tools. If you screw it up, you will have to replace the rivets and may as well do the ejector too. The other option is take it to a local gunsmith (it's cheaper than buying the tools). If you know what you're doing it really is a 10 minute job
Click to expand...

If need be, I'll just get the bigger ejector spring and take it to the local smith. We've got a really good guy here.
 
Check the forcing cones. 2 3/4" is 3" and 3" is 3 1/2. Some barrels are marked 2 3/4" but can actually take 3". I had a 14" barrel that was marked that way. If not after you change out the ejector spring you will need a new barrel or ream out the existing one.
 
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