What do I need to know about matching a barrel to an 870 receiver?

[jacotsmith]

Hi folks,

I've owned a few different models of the 870 over the years, as well as a few Chinese copies, and am thinking about putting one together myself to get exactly what I want.

What can you tell me about matching a barrel to a receiver? Do I need a 2.75" to go with a 2.75" and a 3" with a 3" or can I mix and match as long as I run the shorter of the two shells?

Any real benefits of a magnum receiver if I never plan on running mag (I'm a sissy and don't like turning my shoulder into hamburger)?

Anything else I need to know?

Thanks team.

 

[Leg]

870 receivers are all the same length. The difference is in the ejector.

You can install a barrel with 3" chamber on a 2 3/4" receiver and it will safely fire but it may not reliable eject 3" shells. 2 3/4" will work just fine in a 3" chamber.

You can have the longer magnum ejector installed in a non-magnum receiver and it would then function the same as any magnum (3") receiver.

 

[grelmar]

870 receivers are all the same length. The difference is in the ejector.

You can install a barrel with 3" chamber on a 2 3/4" receiver and it will safely fire but it may not reliable eject 3" shells. 2 3/4" will work just fine in a 3" chamber.

You can have the longer magnum ejector installed in a non-magnum receiver and it would then function the same as any magnum (3") receiver.

That's an interesting bit I was unaware of (largely because I'd never looked into it). The bolt and everything else is same-same?

 

[Leg]

Yes, the only difference is the ejector and the word Magnum on the receiver.

Installing the ejector is normally left to a gunsmith as it's riveted in place.

 

[farmer47]

i would stick with remington parts on remington receivers as some owners on this site have found the chinese parts do not necessarily fit. canted barrels were one of the problems.

 

[jacotsmith]

Thanks for your replies folks!