Will a 12 gauge 870 Wingmaster barrel and Express barrel exchange on their receivers? I think I read someplace they wouldn't...

Thank you, Mike.

__________________
Isaiah 41:10

I gave my next-door neighbor a 20" barrel from my Wingmaster for his Express, and it fit perfectly. He was extremely happy.

AFAIK, the finish is the only difference.

Gotta love those 870s
I’ve got a few different barrels from different models and lengths and it knows no difference

__________________
“Look life in its iron face”

Yup - Remington made a classic 870! I hope the design and model continue on after the bankruptcy mess is over.

I have my dads 870 that was made sometime in the 1950's so one of the early models and it is still a great shotgun.

The new 870's barrel will not fit on the early 870's the mount hole for the mag tube on the new ones is a smaller diameter than the old models the old model vent rib barrels bring a premium on ebay. Jeff

I've got two Wingmasters and an Express and about 5 different barrels. It's good to know they interchange.

Yes there definitely is a finish difference.



FWIW, I too love the 870.

Thank you, Mike.

__________________
Isaiah 41:10

I know that 870 Magnum Wingmaster and Express barrel will interchange. They’re both chambered for 3” shells. I’m not sure if you can put a 3” Express barrel on a 2-3/4” Wingmaster receiver. Maybe, but I’ve never tried it.

The 870 Upland Special barrels will not interchange, because the lug that fits over the mag tube is closer to the chamber. Same holds true for an 1100 and an 1100 Upland Special.

__________________
"I also cook."

Yes. I remember I had bought an upland barrel one time off GB and it wouldn't fit. The magazine tubes are shorter for bird hunting (2+1 capacity) and the lug is closer to the receiver. The seller didn't mention it is his ad.

__________________
Isaiah 41:10

I have an older 870 Wingmaster that was a police gun that rode in the patrol car. A several years back a friend gave me an Express barrel that is 3 inch, but I think, correct me if wrong, that it is ok to shoot as long as I don't shoot the magnums with the 2 3/4 inch receiver.

__________________
Kevin in Oregon

The length of the ejection port on 870 receivers have changed over the years. Receivers with a "V" serial# suffix will only cycle 2 3/4 inch shells. "M" suffix receivers will cycle 2 3/4 and 3 inch shells. "A" suffix receivers will accept 2 3/4, 3 inch and 3 1/2 inch shells.

__________________
Thread Killer.

There are a few anomalies such as the barrel on a tactical version with the tube lug much further forward, and the issue with early and late 20GA receiver size differences. But in general they all interchange on standard version Wingmaster and Express. There are also aftermarket barrels out there and even Mossberg makes some barrels for Remingtons.

The tactical model 2nd from bottom has the barrel lug way forward (in front of the light) and it won't fit a normal model.

Attached Images

DCP_4437.JPG (167.1 KB, 41 views)

The older Wingmaster barrels have a little B.B. detent that helps hold the nut/cap locked on. But I have used 870 barrels without this feature on my old wingmaster (early 60s) with no ill affects. However I find my self checking the nut/cap often just in case.

Just in case it wouldn't fitI took the slug barrel off my 870 and assembled the express barrel on to it. Soon as the mag cap was tight I shook the heck of it and could detec no rattle. Did look a little funny what with the sandblasted blue/black finish on the barrel and the full blue
on the receiver. Frank

Difference in the finish for sure with the Express and Wingmaster! I would sure hunt around for a used 870 Wingmaster than buy the ugly Express.

What are you defining as new and old? I have a 1959 model and a 1986 model... New barrels have no problem fitting on either of these guns.

This only applies to the early 20ga guns, which were built on the 12ga frame. The later 20ga guns are 870LW's, which do take a smaller barrel.