Remington 870 questions...

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cfnl

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So I bought myself a used 870, with a lovely short barrel and a few other nice tactical accessories, had a "blast" with it at the range today... it was listed for sale, from a reputable dealer, as a wingmaster, with a 3" receiver...

The receiver is unmarked (with the length at least), the barrel says 2-3/4".

Is there a difference between a 3" receiver and a 2-3/4" receiver? Is there a way to identify it? Should it be marked?

Also, other than the aluminium trigger group, are there any notable differences between the wingmaster and the express? I've got a second 870, and the "cap" that holds the magazine spring in place is rather different... on the older 870, after unscrewing the outside cap, I stick my finger in and twist to release it from two "nubs" inside the magazine, whereas the newer 870, it seems it's split in the centre, and only held in place with a bit of tension on the sides of the magazine, no "nubs".
 
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To make a old wingmaster receiver take 3" shells i think it just needed a new extractor claw. As for the barrel i'm not sure.
 
cfnl said:
So I bought myself a used 870, with a lovely short barrel and a few other nice tactical accessories, had a "blast" with it at the range today... it was listed for sale, from a reputable dealer, as a wingmaster, with a 3" receiver...

The receiver is unmarked (with the length at least), the barrel says 2-3/4".

Is there a difference between a 3" receiver and a 2-3/4" receiver? Is there a way to identify it? Should it be marked?

Also, other than the aluminium trigger group, are there any notable differences between the wingmaster and the express? I've got a second 870, and the "cap" that holds the magazine spring in place is rather different... on the older 870, after unscrewing the outside cap, I stick my finger in and twist to release it from two "nubs" inside the magazine, whereas the newer 870, it seems it's split in the centre, and only held in place with a bit of tension on the sides of the magazine, no "nubs".
Click to expand...

If the dealer said it's a 3" receiver, then it probably is. The receivers have a different staking position for the ejector, but the ejector itself is the same. It doesn't matter much: As you noted, your barrel limits you to 2 3/4 shells. There is no compatibility problem with barrels and receivers for this combo, but you are limited to 2 3/4" shells (fine for home defense, IMO). If you want to use 3" shells, you'll need a newer production barrel. In which case you should sell me your 2 3/4 Wingmaster barrel for cheap! :D Any Express barrel will work as well, though the Express may need a bit of adapting so the mag cap nut will stay tight.

I'm having trouble imagining the mag cap situation you're describing. The Wingmasters (and very few Express models) use a detent on the barrel band to help tension the cap. The Express models generally use something I can only describe as an internal ratchet that is essentially a piece of notched plastic jutting out from the mag tube. The 'no nubs' in the mag tube that you describe is to allow adding an extended mag tube: If I want to add mag capacity to my 4-rd magazine Express, I have to drill out those nubs so the mag follower can pass into the extension.

Differences between the Express and WM are mostly fit and finish. MUCH better fit and finish on the WM, but frankly I like to have one of each ;) I don't feel bad dragging the Express through buckbrush and mud! You're right, there's a metallic trigger plate on the WM. The WM has a chromed bolt. There's also a few MIM parts in the action of the Express, whereas the WM has all milled parts. And the magazine cap detent system as above. But aside from that, there's not as much difference as you would expect. Functionally, I think the only quality upgrade for the WM is the milled extractor, which is a recommended upgrade for an Express that needs to be life-and-death reliable.

There's also the quality of the wood on non-tupperware versions, of course. FYI, wood stock versions (both Express and Wingmaster) have a different stock bolt and washer, and require a stock bearing plate between the stock and the receiver to keep the stock from cracking. Check the parts list for each on the Remington website, it's surprising how little difference there is.

I have to give credit to JD at AIP Tactical ('aippi' on AR15.com and glocktalk) for much of this info.
 
what ever the barrel says it is thats what it takes. a 3" is magnum and if your barrel and reciver are not magnum you can really damage your gun. are you sure your reciver is not marked with anything? it should say 870 magnum i belive if its really for 3" shells.
 
The serial number suffix denotes type of receiver, V=12 ga 2 3/4"...M=12 ga 3"...A=12 ga 3 1/2".

The ejector can be shortened from 2.75" length to 3" length.

The extractors are the same regardless of shell length.
 
JTF# said:
what ever the barrel says it is thats what it takes. a 3" is magnum and if your barrel and reciver are not magnum you can really damage your gun. are you sure your reciver is not marked with anything? it should say 870 magnum i belive if its really for 3" shells.
Click to expand...

There is no negative effect to the gun if you fire 3" shells in a 2-3/4" receiver provided the barrel has a 3" chamber. Both receivers are exactly the same. The only difference is the ejector and ejector spring. These are longer in a 3" chambered receiver.

Ejecting 3" spent hulls out of a 2-3/4" receiver will be the only issue you'll have.
 
alpining said:
If the dealer said it's a 3" receiver, then it probably is. The receivers have a different staking position for the ejector, but the ejector itself is the same. ...
Click to expand...

Correction.

The ejector is staked in the very same position to the receiver for both size chamberings. The ejector spring is staked through the same forward hole in the receiver as is the ejector.

The ejector springs for 3" chambers are longer. The ejectors are also different lengths between 2-3/4" and 3", but the 3" ejector can be used for both.
 
Lodi said:
The serial number suffix denotes type of receiver, V=12 ga 2 3/4"...M=12 ga 3"...A=12 ga 3 1/2".

The ejector can be shortened from 2.75" length to 3" length.

The extractors are the same regardless of shell length.
Click to expand...

How can you shorten anything from a shorter length to a longer length? Unless you mean shortening 3" down to 2-3/4".

To expand on Lodi's post ...

Barrels are clearly marked with the chamber information. Receivers are marked with letters at the end of the serial number that determine ejection size as follows:

Serial Number -- Suffix -- Gauge Ejection

V -- 12 -- 2 3/4" Only
M -- 12 -- 2 3/4" or 3" Only
A -- 12 -- 2 3/4", 3" or 3 1/2"
W -- 16 -- 2 3/4" Only
K, X -- 20 -- 2 3/4" Only
U, N -- 20 -- 2 3/4" or 3" Only
J -- 28 -- 2 3/4" Only
H -- .410 -- 2 1/2" or 3"

Prefix letters in serial numbers represent nothing more than REM manufacturing date codes.
 
easy said:
How can you shorten anything from a shorter length to a longer length?
Click to expand...

I use a Foredom, though a Dremel will work. A longer shank on the cutter is pretty much required unless you have a handpiece that fits inside the receiver.


~~~

You're thinking backwards. ;)
The 2.75" ejector is long and needs to be shortened to make room for the longer 3" hull.
 
Don't you need to install a longer ejector "spring" to accommodate the longer 3" hull?

Isn't the "ejector" for a 3" chamber longer than the "ejector" for the 2-3/4" chamber?
 
The spring is the same length. It just keeps side pressure applied to the hull to keep the hull under the extractor.

The ejector itself is the same length for both the 2.75" or 3". But...built into the ejector is a shelf/hook/place, call it what you will, that does the actual ejecting. The location of the shelf is in a different location for the 2.75" and 3" hulls. (It's this shelf I'm talking about cutting.)

~~~

Please take into account that the 870 has evolved over the years. At one time there were 2.75" only guns, and 3" guns. During the transition to predominately 3" guns, the 2.75" ejectors were phased out and 3" ejectors used in 2.75" guns. So it is not uncommon to find 3" parts on a 2.75" gun.
 
easy said:
Correction.

The ejector springs for 3" chambers are longer. The ejectors are also different lengths between 2-3/4" and 3", but the 3" ejector can be used for both.
Click to expand...


You said it much more clearly than I - There is only one ejector in the parts catalog for both 2 3/4 and 3" receivers. If I understand correctly, retrofitting a 2 3/4 receiver with a current (3") ejector requires re-staking.
 
Contacted the dealer for info, turns out I missed a very clearly stamped "3" after the "2-3/4" on the barrel...

That being said, the magazine is still odd, I'll have to take a picture of it compared to my other wingmaster... it's rather odd.

I'll have a closer look at it as well... may well be some sort of replacement part in the event an extension tube was installed with the magazine appropriately modiifed, and then later removed...

Thanks for the tip about the letters in the serial number for length!
 
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