replace the barrel or sell the gun?

[westberliner]

Hey everyone,

I was hoping I could get a little bit of advice from you guys about what you would suggest I do.

I currently own a Remington 12G pump Sportsman with a 30" barrel, however I'd prefer something with a shorter barrel (18" preferably). Looking around, barrels are quite expensive, and I'd like something a little more tactical than the Sportsman.
So I was thinking my two options here are

• to buy a shorter barrel and swap it out
• or to sell/trade my Sportsman for a Tactical 870 (Express or Police Magnum+$$)

What would you do?

Thanks guys!
WB

p.s. I hope this is the right forum to ask in. If it's not the forgive me, I'm new to this forum

 

[mmattockx]

You can legally cut that barrel to 18" if you want to keep the same gun. Costs nothing but your time and a new bead. If you really are set on something more tacticool then flog it as is and buy what you really want.


Mark

 

[VLT79]

The Sportsman 12 is actually an 870...so save yourself some trouble and cash by selling your 30" barrel on the EE and buying another that suits your current needs, as well as all other 870 accessories you want.

 

[alpining]

You're in the right place, don't worry.

I'm guessing your 30" barrel is Remchoked, right? If so, you should be able to sell it for more than it would cost you to buy a lightly-used or new take-off 18" barrel. If there aren't any on the EE for a reasonable price, try Casey at Tactical Ordnance.

Unless you're going to be changing the stock, as well, in which case it's probably easier and possibly cheaper to sell your Sportsman and buy a new 18" 870 Express.

But honestly, having both an 18" and 30" barrel is pretty handy if you might want to hunt or shoot clays with it (some clubs don't allow short barrels on their shotgun ranges).

 

[grelmar]

When they have them in stock, the DLask 18" barrels run around $120 or so, IIRC. You can generally find lightly used 870 18" barrels in the EE for anywhere from $75-$150 (it's the EE, some people think what they have is worth way more than reality would dictate).

You can also generally speaking have good luck getting 18" barrels at your local gun show when it comes to town in the $100 range.

Any way you look at it, much cheaper than buying a whole new gun... And like alpining mentioned, having the 30" around to swap in can be handy for the odd day shooting skeet or trap, or if you head out to do some upland game.

 

[mt666tm]

I'd say keep it and just pick up a used 18.5 inch barrel to have some fun with. Trust me, you will get over the short barrel in a weekend or two as the practicality of the shot placement is total crap!

I've done the opposite with my Mossberg 500 ... I got mine originally with the short breech barrel ... cuz it was tacticool ...and after a couple months I smartened up and got myself a 28" barrel with bead and removable chokes, so I can actually hit something!

PS: Mossberg makes 18.5" Remington Breech barrels. Get one of those...