-
- Species
- Whitetails
- Rut Reporters
- Deer Camp
- Big Game
- Small Game
- Birds
- Special Methods
- Bow Hunting
- Conservation
- Heroes of Conservation
- Hero for a Day
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
- Land for Sale
-
- Species
- Bass
- Trout
- More Freshwater
- Saltwater
- Special Methods
- Fly Fishing
- Hook Shots
Presented by
- Conservation
- Heroes of Conservation
- Hero for a Day
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
- Land for Sale
-
- Health & Fitness
- F&S Adventurer
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
-
- Rifles
- Shotguns
- 2nd Amendment
- SHOT Show
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
AnswersASK YOUR QUESTION
Print
Email
Share
Answers
Browse By
Top Users
Q:
Remington 870 Express vs. Express Magnum. I have an older Remington 870 Express. The barrel indicates to shoot "2 3/4 or 3" in three inch chambers use 2 3/4" in all others" My question is what is my chamber. It says 870 Express and does not say Magnum however it was manufactured before they started stamping them "Magnum". Is there any way to know if I can shoot "3 inch" shells in my gun safely? The gun will chamber a 3 inch shell but I have not fired one out of it for fear of unjury/damage. I got the gun used from a guy several years ago so I have none of the orginal paperwork. Any help would be appreciated.
Question by SRT Guy. Uploaded on November 13, 2009
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Today on Field & Stream
Loading...
Visit Our Sister Sites at Bonnier Corporation
| Enthusiast | Kiteboarding | QUAD | SKI | Skiing | Scuba Diving | Sport Diver | TransWorld Ride BMX | TransWorld Business | TransWorld Motocross | TransWorld SKATEboarding, | TransWorld SNOWboarding | TransWorld SURF | WakeBoarding | WaterSki | Warren Miller Entertainment | WindSurfing |
|---|---|
| Travel | Caribbean Travel & Life | Destination Weddings & Honeymoon | Islands | Meeting Traveler | Resorts & Great Hotels |
| Lifestyle & Shelter | Florida Travel & Life | Garden Design | Home Ft. Lauderdale | Home Miami |
| Luxury | SNOW | Spa |
| Marine | Boating Life | Cruising World | Fly Fishing in Salt Waters | Power Cruising | Marlin | Motor Boating | Sailing World | Salt Water Sportsman | Sport Fishing | Yachting | NewBoats.com | UsedBoats.com | YachtBroker.com |
| Outdoor | Field & Stream | Outdoor Life | SHOT Business |
| Parenting | Babytalk | Parenting |
| Science | Popular Science | Science Illustrated |
| Saveur | Saveur |
| Working Mother Media | Working Mother |
| Entertainment / Events | World Entertainment Services | World Sports & Marketing |
Fieldandstream.com is part of the Field & Stream Network, a division of Bonnier Corporation.
Copyright © 2012 Bonnier Corp. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Answers (11)
If the barrel is stamped "2 3/4 or 3" you can shoot 3" shells in it.
I had a 870 express mag. It was chambered to take up to 3 1/2s Great for geese. If its not marked it was made prior to the magnum revolution. I would contact remington and ask if the chambering is capable of the use before firing it. They should be able to tell you by the serial #
It is clearly marked on the Barrel which shells may be fired in it. All my gun barrells tell which you can use if its a 2 3/4 Chamber it will say 2 3/4 shells ONLY if if it has a 3" Chanber it will say you can shoot either.
Don't worry about the 'magnum' crap. If it says 2 3/4 or 3 inch your fine. Just don't shoot 3 1/2 inch shells in it unless it says so. You don't need them anyway.
If the barrel says you can shoot 3 inch like it does, you can. I'm pretty sure that all the 870 express' have the 2 3/4 or 3 shot capability
I have a Remington 870 Express I bought used in 1969. Been shooting 3" shells ever since. The "magnum revolution" predated my gun by several years (some Model 12 Winchesters were manufactured in 3" and I think they stopped manufacturing them in 1964). Yes, your gun will shoot 3" mags okay. Be careful if it's full choke (and I'm sure it is) and you're shooting steel. Go with the lighter, faster loads and nothing larger than BB shot. The older barrels had the choke squeezed into the last little bit at the end. Steel shot doesn't give like lead and that much pressure all of a sudden could cause problems. Anyway, you're wasting your money if you shoot the heavy magnum loads in steel. They're too slow and don't penetrate worth beans.
Will, you may get away with it in a SxS or O/U, but its not at all wise in them or Automatics or Pumps and too slow for a 2nd shot if you have to manually cycle them.
Will, it is very dangerous to shoot a 3" shell in a 2 3/4 chamber. The shell will fit in the chamber and it will go bang when you pull the trigger alright... just think about it though... the longer case will extend up into the barrel beyond the chamber making the barrel smaller in diameter at that point. This raises pressure considerably beyond what it would be in a 3" chamber. Some guns might just explode with this seriously increased pressure. Nothing ruins a good duck hunt more than getting your face blown off.
Jim in Mo is right own about not worrying about the magnum crap. You are buying into a BS line 12 gauge guns were designed for 1 1/4 ounce of shot if you feel you need a bigger gun buy one not a bigger shell.
You are trying to cram 10 pounds of shot out a five pound hole resulting in blown patterns and more crippled game. It is about patterning your shotgun.
Shooting a shotgun is about pattern not about load as all the shells are balistacally the same.
Now im confused... i have an old 870 express magnum that doesnt specify on the receiver. is magnum 3.5 inch or is that super mag... sorry for being a little slow haha
no magnum does not mean 3.5 in or super mag. magnum it self means nothing its just to make you think it has more power its for marketing not shell size because there is 2-3/4" 3" 3.5"magnum shells the only thing that maters is chamber lenth and what the barrel says on it. not the receiver. as far as a 870 goes there all the same weather it says magnum or not its the same receiver you can take any 870 put a 3" barrel on it and shoot 3" shells in it same goes for the 1100 auto to in 12ga. as far as it saying 2-3/4 or 3" in magnum receivers or 2-3/4" in all other receivers is because they dont want to get sued in court if your gun blows up from shooting the wrong size shells in the wrong size chambered barrel.the same goes for the 3.5" 870 super mag any 870 barrel will fit on it and shoot but only the size shells marked on the barrel not the receiver
Post an Answer
If the barrel is stamped "2 3/4 or 3" you can shoot 3" shells in it.
I had a 870 express mag. It was chambered to take up to 3 1/2s Great for geese. If its not marked it was made prior to the magnum revolution. I would contact remington and ask if the chambering is capable of the use before firing it. They should be able to tell you by the serial #
Don't worry about the 'magnum' crap. If it says 2 3/4 or 3 inch your fine. Just don't shoot 3 1/2 inch shells in it unless it says so. You don't need them anyway.
I have a Remington 870 Express I bought used in 1969. Been shooting 3" shells ever since. The "magnum revolution" predated my gun by several years (some Model 12 Winchesters were manufactured in 3" and I think they stopped manufacturing them in 1964). Yes, your gun will shoot 3" mags okay. Be careful if it's full choke (and I'm sure it is) and you're shooting steel. Go with the lighter, faster loads and nothing larger than BB shot. The older barrels had the choke squeezed into the last little bit at the end. Steel shot doesn't give like lead and that much pressure all of a sudden could cause problems. Anyway, you're wasting your money if you shoot the heavy magnum loads in steel. They're too slow and don't penetrate worth beans.
Now im confused... i have an old 870 express magnum that doesnt specify on the receiver. is magnum 3.5 inch or is that super mag... sorry for being a little slow haha
no magnum does not mean 3.5 in or super mag. magnum it self means nothing its just to make you think it has more power its for marketing not shell size because there is 2-3/4" 3" 3.5"magnum shells the only thing that maters is chamber lenth and what the barrel says on it. not the receiver. as far as a 870 goes there all the same weather it says magnum or not its the same receiver you can take any 870 put a 3" barrel on it and shoot 3" shells in it same goes for the 1100 auto to in 12ga. as far as it saying 2-3/4 or 3" in magnum receivers or 2-3/4" in all other receivers is because they dont want to get sued in court if your gun blows up from shooting the wrong size shells in the wrong size chambered barrel.the same goes for the 3.5" 870 super mag any 870 barrel will fit on it and shoot but only the size shells marked on the barrel not the receiver
It is clearly marked on the Barrel which shells may be fired in it. All my gun barrells tell which you can use if its a 2 3/4 Chamber it will say 2 3/4 shells ONLY if if it has a 3" Chanber it will say you can shoot either.
If the barrel says you can shoot 3 inch like it does, you can. I'm pretty sure that all the 870 express' have the 2 3/4 or 3 shot capability
Will, it is very dangerous to shoot a 3" shell in a 2 3/4 chamber. The shell will fit in the chamber and it will go bang when you pull the trigger alright... just think about it though... the longer case will extend up into the barrel beyond the chamber making the barrel smaller in diameter at that point. This raises pressure considerably beyond what it would be in a 3" chamber. Some guns might just explode with this seriously increased pressure. Nothing ruins a good duck hunt more than getting your face blown off.
Will, you may get away with it in a SxS or O/U, but its not at all wise in them or Automatics or Pumps and too slow for a 2nd shot if you have to manually cycle them.
Jim in Mo is right own about not worrying about the magnum crap. You are buying into a BS line 12 gauge guns were designed for 1 1/4 ounce of shot if you feel you need a bigger gun buy one not a bigger shell.
You are trying to cram 10 pounds of shot out a five pound hole resulting in blown patterns and more crippled game. It is about patterning your shotgun.
Shooting a shotgun is about pattern not about load as all the shells are balistacally the same.
Post an Answer