PLEASE HELP- 870 Express - Tactical Choke / Magnum Buckshot

[M.Willis51]

I bought a shotgun for my home. It is a MODEL 870™ EXPRESS® SYNTHETIC 18" 25549. I want to put a tactical choke on it but the barrel isn't threaded at the end. Is this model supposed to have a threaded barrel? I also just today bought some Remington EXPRESS® MAGNUM BUCKSHOT shells (12HB00). Can I even shoot these in the shotgun that I bought? The box says I need a magnum shotgun to shoot them.

Thanks for reading,

Meghan

[M.Willis51]

WHY CAN'T ANYONE HELP ME!?

[Wulfman]

I bought a shotgun for my home. It is a MODEL 870™ EXPRESS® SYNTHETIC 18" 25549. I want to put a tactical choke on it but the barrel isn't threaded at the end. Is this model supposed to have a threaded barrel? I also just today bought some Remington EXPRESS® MAGNUM BUCKSHOT shells (12HB00). Can I even shoot these in the shotgun that I bought? The box says I need a magnum shotgun to shoot them.

Thanks for reading,

Meghan

Maybe if you wouldn't make such sarcastic posts about people not knowing anything on this site, people would be more willing to help you. There's not a whole crew of people sitting around here waiting to answer each and every question. Members may or may not have specific knowledge of every aspect of every type of firearm that's ever been made by Remington.

However, I'll try to answer your questions.

I looked up that model in the catalog and on the Remington site

http://www.remington.com/products/firea ... 8inch.aspx

It has "......an 18" fixed Cylinder choke barrel.....". By "fixed choke", it means that it will not accept choke tubes......period. So, no, it's not supposed to be able to accept choke tubes.

Also, according to the website, it "Shoots both 2 3/4" and 3" shells"......which can be verified by looking on the side of the barrel. So, if the shells you purchased are either 2 3/4" or 3", your shotgun should shoot them (provided the side of the barrel says it will shoot 3" shells).
"Magnum" shells can be either 2 3/4" or 3".
According to the catalog, "12HB00" is supposed to be the 3" version.


Hope that helps.

Den

[M.Willis51]

Thank you so much!
I have one more question if you get a chance.
What's the difference between EXPRESS® MAGNUM BUCKSHOT and regular EXPRESS® BUCKSHOT ?

So, from what you are explaining to me it is safe to shoot the EXPRESS® MAGNUM BUCKSHOT from my MODEL 870™ EXPRESS® SYNTHETIC 18" 25549. What confused me was seeing the 870™ EXPRESS® SUPER MAGNUM SYNTHETIC model, and then reading on the box of shells where it says I need a magnum shotgun to shoot them.

Thanks Den!

Meghan

[Wulfman]

Thank you so much!
I have one more question if you get a chance.
What's the difference between EXPRESS® MAGNUM BUCKSHOT and regular EXPRESS® BUCKSHOT ?

So, from what you are explaining to me it is safe to shoot the EXPRESS® MAGNUM BUCKSHOT from my MODEL 870™ EXPRESS® SYNTHETIC 18" 25549. What confused me was seeing the 870™ EXPRESS® SUPER MAGNUM SYNTHETIC model, and then reading on the box of shells where it says I need a magnum shotgun to shoot them.

Thanks Den!

Meghan

Hi Meghan.

If your barrel says (on the left side) that it will shoot both 2 3/4" and 3" shells (and it should, according to what I seen in the catalog), they will be safe to shoot. Regarding the "Super Magnum" designation, those are 3 1/2" shells and should only be used in a "Super Magnum" model that will shoot 3 1/2" shells. (You can also shoot shells shorter than 3 1/2" in a "Super Magnum", but that's not pertinent information for this discussion.)

According to the catalog, the "Express Buckshot" shells are all 2 3/4". The "Express Magnum Buckshot" shells are mostly 3" or 3 1/2", although there is ONE load that is 2 3/4" that has (3) more pellets in it (12SB00) and it may also have a heavier powder charge than the regular "Express Buckshot". Generally speaking, the word "Magnum" (in shotgun terms) implies a longer shell case or a heavier powder charge......which delivers the load at a higher velocity......or may also have a heavier load of shot.

I don't know if you purchased that gun for self-defense or hunting, but, if, at some point, you should desire to use that gun for other hunting uses, it should accept barrels (which can be purchased separately) that DO have choke tubes. Usually the 18" barrels are used for self-defense or police work......but will also work very well for closer-range bird or small game hunting.


Den

[M.Willis51]

THANK YOU DEN!

Thank you for taking the time and explaining all of that to me, I really appreciate it. I am just going to leave the barrel the way it is. I have the gun for self-defense. I don't know why they sold me a tactical choke with the gun that I can't even put on it. I am going to try and return that. When this semester is over I am moving to a safer place.

Meghan

[Wulfman]

THANK YOU DEN!

Thank you for taking the time and explaining all of that to me, I really appreciate it. I am just going to leave the barrel the way it is. I have the gun for self-defense. I don't know why they sold me a tactical choke with the gun that I can't even put on it. I am going to try and return that. When this semester is over I am moving to a safer place.

Meghan

That explains a bit more to me.
First of all, I had never heard of a "tactical" choke (and then had to look it up). Turns out, it's almost identical to the the choke that's already built into your barrel. I was curious as to how much they cost, so I managed to find one. I'm sure you have a good case for getting your money back for that.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?p ... ber=837639

Anyway, you've got a good gun there. It's good for the purpose you got it for and much more if you should choose to hunt with it.

Be safe.


Den