Will an 870 Experss Barrel Work on a Wingmaster

[albayo]

I have an 870 Express slug barrel will it work on my 870 Wingmaster?

The express barrel uses 2 3/4" & 3" shells, but the Wingmaster only uses 2 3/4" shells.

Will there be a headspace problem or anything like that?

 

[maynard]

Yes it will work. As the reciever is only 2 3/4" that is what you need to feed it. I switch barrels from my Wingmasters and 870 Express all the time.

 

[MauserMike]

The express barrels do not have the ball detent that prevents the magazine cap from coming loose under recoil.

 

[RePete]

I have an 870 Express slug barrel will it work on my 870 Wingmaster?

The express barrel uses 2 3/4" & 3" shells, but the Wingmaster only uses 2 3/4" shells.

Will there be a headspace problem or anything like that?

Your Wingmaster is one of the older ones, mine (at 28 years old) is a 3".

One of the differences is the finish and the newer Expresses don't have the detent to retain the mag cap, but that can be installed.

 

[bob347]

All Remington 870 barrells will interchange with each other. The only acception to this is the Remington Model 870 Special Field with the short English style stock.. It is a different barrel lug length where it fits into the reciever. Bob

 

[albayo]

How much of a job would it be to have the detent installed?

What has to be done to install it?

What keeps the barrel on the express models if they don't have a detent on the ring?

 

[beretta boy]

The Express detent is a "ratchet" built in to the end of the magazine
spring retainer. It engages "teeth" built into the internal end of
the Express's magazine cap.

 

[maynard]

I have never had my express barrels fall off or even loosen when they have been mounted on my Wingmaster recievers.

 

[TheFrenchCanadian]

The express barrels do not have the ball detent that prevents the magazine cap from coming loose under recoil.

Funny, my 1986 vintage express 12ga has it...
??

TFC

 

[canucklehead]

The only acception to this is the Remington Model 870 Special Field with the short English style stock.. It is a different barrel lug length where it fits into the reciever. Bob

Actually, it's the mag tube length that the issue - the Special Field is only a 3 round tube, versus a 4 for Express/Wingmaster. I don't recall the barrel lug being an issue.

 

[madtrapper143]

There is a mix of detent ball vs ratchet systems on both Wingmasters and Express models. I have a 10 year old Wingmaster (engraved receiver) with the ratchet system. I have seen older Express models with the detent system. Current 20 gauge Express models have the detent system vs the ratchet system on 12 bores... Never say always or never..

P.S. I prefer the ratchet system, it doesn't rotate torque the barrel like the detent does.

cheers Darryl

 

[albayo]

Express Barrel on A Wingmaster

Another question.
Does the ratchet system fit in the end of the mag tube by friction fit, or does it go into the tube and turn? Can I easily convert a Wingmaster to the ratchet type.
This Wingmaster is an old QPP gun with a 20" Cyl Bore barrel.
It's a smooth working gun and I have had it for about 15 years and it had a pile of miles on it before I received it. Not shot much but been carried.
Got a slug barrel and folder for it now it looks great.
I just don't want anything to work loose when I fire it, which will probably be once or twice.
Thanks gentlemen for all your help on this matter.

Albayo

 

[beretta boy]

The plastic ratchet magazine spring cover has 4 grooves moulded into it that fits down the magazine tube. The mag tube has a pair of raised bumps 180 degrees apart on the inside of it to engage a pair of these grooves. The plastic cover retains the magazine plug within it, and when inserted into the mag tube and turned 90 degrees (1/4 turn - either right or left) "locks" itself into place.