What's my shotgun?

Zey

Zey

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Kitchener, ON
So I have acquired an 870 express from storage from a friend. It says "Remington 870 Express" on the receiver and the barrel says 2.75"-3.00" or 2.75" in a particular action size which I think it is. The action and barrel are a rough dull finish.

Does this gun shoot 3" shells??? I don't think it does because it doesn't say Magnum on the receiver. My other 870 says "Super Magnum", Mag meaning 3" and Super meaning 3.5"... Am I right??
 
Well I would use the good ol' trial and error method and shove a 3" shell in it then give the trigger a yank... but something tells me that's not a very sensible thing to do. Even if it just means the casing getting jammed, it's not worth ruining, or less severe, simply jamming a perfectly good gun over stupidity.
 
The barrel will always tell you what ammo to use. As barrels can be swapped out, the action is not stamped, the barrel is. Being stamped 2.75 - 3.00 means just that, you can shoot either 2.75" or 3" shells. Magnum designations are not length measurements, they are typically talking about the charge of powder (quantity), magnum being a heavy load vs say a Trap load which is a light charge and with shot between #7.5 and #8. .. and yes, better to ask rather than guess. You can chamber a 3" shell in a 2.75" action with no problem ... until you squeeze the trigger, and with that action being able to accept 3" shells, you could likely chamber a 3.5" without a problem .. again .. until you pull the trigger.
 
Zey said:
So I have acquired an 870 express from storage from a friend. It says "Remington 870 Express" on the receiver and the barrel says 2.75"-3.00" or 2.75" in a particular action size which I think it is. The action and barrel are a rough dull finish.

Does this gun shoot 3" shells??? I don't think it does because it doesn't say Magnum on the receiver. My other 870 says "Super Magnum", Mag meaning 3" and Super meaning 3.5"... Am I right??
Click to expand...


As per Remington's web site:
Check your serial number and if it ends with an
"M" for 12 ga or
"U" or "N for 20 ga or
"H" for 410
then 3" is OK.
 
It is possible to install a barrel with a 3" chamber on an older action not capable of ejecting spent 3" shells, so the original question is a good one. Use Woolly's info to determine if your reciever will handle 3". Those of you making fun of Zey because his barrel says 3" and your assuming his reciever is automatically 3" as well, go stand in the corner. I thought this would be covered in the PAL course also, but apparently not.

Jim
 
The serial number does have an M at the end. Where did you find that info on Rem's site?

To workin man's comment: The barrel reads "*12GA Use 2-3/4 or 3" shells in magnum receivers ****** use 2-3/4" in all others." So, he's spot on.
 
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