870 barrel/receiver questions

[30cal4me]

A friend has an 870 Wingmaster. He believes it's from the early/mid 70's. His barrel says to use 2-3/4" shells. He says that because his receiver has an "M" at the end of the receiver serial # that he can shoot 3" shells.

Does anyone know if there is any truth to this?

[Wulfman]

Just because the receiver designation says it's a magnum, doesn't mean you can shoot 3" shells in a barrel designed for only 2 3/4" shells. That would be a no-no.


Den



REMINGTON SHOTGUN SERIAL NUMBER STRUCTURE


M/870 LETTER PREFIX

1950 TO APPROX 1968: NO SERIAL NUMBER PREFIX
1968 TO PRESENT: LETTERS USED (IN SEQUENCE)
S-68, T-74, V-78, W-84, X-90, A-91, B-94, C-97, D-01, AB-05

LETTER SUFFIX (DESIGNATES GAGE)

V 12 GA. (2 3/4”)
M 12 GA. MAGNUM (3”)
A 12 GA. “SUPER” MAGNUM (3 ½”)
W 16 GA. ( 2 ¾” )
X 20 GA. “HEAVY FRAME” (DISCONTINUED)
N 20 GA. “HEAVY FRAME MAGNUM” (DISCONTINUED)
K 20 GA. “LIGHT WEIGHT” (“LW”) (ALSO INCLUDES M/1100 “LT”)
U 20 GA. LW MAGNUM (ALSO INCLUDES M/1100 “LT”)
J 28 GA.
H .410 BORE (2 ½” OR 3”)

M/1100

LETTER PREFIX

1963 TO APPROX. 1968: NO SERIAL NUMBER PREFIX
1968 TO PRESENT: LETTERS USED (IN SEQUENCE)
L-68, M-74, N-78, P-85, R-90

LETTER SUFFIX

SAME STRUCTURE AS THE M/870

M/1187

LETTER PREFIX

1987 TO PRESENT: “PC” 12 GA., 1999 “TL“ 20 GA.,
2000 “SM” SUPER MAG.

LETTER SUFFIX

NO LETTER SUFFIX ON THIS MODEL

[30cal4me]

That's what I was thinking. I guess you have to go with the smaller of the receiver/barrel #.

Many thanks

[Virginian]

Actually, the main thing is the chamber size, which is part of the barrel. A 3" barrel on a 2-3/4" receiver will fire 3" shells safely, it just may have trouble ejecting them properly. A 3" shell in a 2-3/4" chamber is dangerous.