Swapping barrels on shotguns questions.

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I new to shotguns... I was looking for a tactical shotgun which I can later swap barrels to do some dear hunting. At least that was the plan. I was looking at a 870(forget which one) and was surprised to read in the reviews on the website(cabalas) that the gun could only accept 18.5 inch barrels. I thought you could add any length to a 870... Like I said I am new to this...

Questions:

Can I hunt with a 18.5 inch barrel with slugs if I keep it to under 75 yards?

Can someone suggest a 870 that can be 18.5"(not interested in shorter) and accept longer/different barrels if needed?

Is there another shotgun I should look at etc?

I just don't want to buy a shotgun then find out I'm limited with the barrels I can use.

So tactical first, hunting second in terms of importance.

Cheers.
 
I thought all 870 barrels could be swapped? Except some 3.5" magnum chambered ones or something like that... Anyways can't remember who but pretty sure one of the site sponsors are having a deal on an 870 package with two barrels. Buy that I say

Just checked it's wanstalls. One 18.5" cyl bore which it prob what you want for tactical and one longer threaded for chokes. Just add whatever tactical doo dads you want on it and bob's your uncle
 
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You must have been looking at the 870 Tactical model which has a longer mag tube and the barrel yoke is further out than normal which does not allow the regular 870 barrel options.

Depends on your budget ...

Higher end I'd look at the 870P with an 18.5" barrel for home defense/tactical use with bead sight.

Lower end 870 there are a few Express models but I'd stay away from the "Tactical" model for the reasons stated above. (personally I'd go for the 870P.... better gun IMO)

Then for rifled slugs I'd suggest a 20" Remington barrel with rifle sights or an 18.5" Carlson barrel with rifle sights/choke if you want it to be a bit more handy.

If you're interested in bird hunting I'd suggest the 24" Carlson 870 barrel with rib/choke.

Good luck with your decisions.
 
Another option that might be considered is the Mossberg 590A1 with 18.5 inch barrel with screw-in choke. All that said,nothing wrong with the 870 but Mossberg is another viable option,depending what kind of hunting OP want to do.
 
There is two versions of the 870 tactical express. One has a longer tube and one has a tube extender. The one with the extender should work with any Remington barrel but the one with the longer tube wont
 
Gnome75 said:
There is two versions of the 870 tactical express. One has a longer tube and one has a tube extender. The one with the extender should work with any Remington barrel but the one with the longer tube wont
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Thanks for clarifying Gnome75.

I knew it was the 870 tactical express, didn't know there were two versions.
 
juancarlos said:
I think there is actually three. The only one that won't work for you is the one with the one piece 7 shot mag tube. The others with or without the extension will be fine.
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Three of em ??? :confused:

Well, I'm only into the 870P & Wingmaster so hard to keep up with all the various models. :redface:
 
A Parkerized 870P is going to run rougher than a polished blue Wingmaster, all else being equal.
 
870P said:
A Parkerized 870P is going to run rougher than a polished blue Wingmaster, all else being equal.
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Agree, I've noticed same.

I have an 870P cerakoted by Tac-Ord and it's easily as smooth as my Wingmaster. My 2nd 870P is parkerized and you can feel the difference.
 
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