This Remington 870 barrel any good for deer hunting?

[Coyote33]

If nothing else, it's ten inches shorter than my vent-rib barrel that's on there now.

AimSurplus, LLC

 

[HARRYM]

If nothing else, it's ten inches shorter than my vent-rib barrel that's on there now.

AimSurplus, LLC

Have fun with it, but not deer hunting. Too short.

 

[whatluck]

Looks pretty banged up. Probably needs a rebluing. Smoothbore so slug accuracy will be a crapshoot. Probably OK out to 50 yards.

For deer I would go with a savage 212/220. Mag fed bolt action 20 gauge with a rifled barrel and the accutrigger. These guns will cloverleaf at 100 yards. Same ballistics as 30/06.

 

[Coyote33]

Have fun with it, but not deer hunting. Too short.

I was kind of thinking that also on the shortness. Open to other suggestions, especially in that less than $200 price range.

 

[RDG]

Remington 870 12 Gauge Slug Barrel, Cantilever Mount - 24" - Matte

Remington 870 12 Ga. 24" slug barrel with cantilever scope mount and fully-rifled bore. Matte blued finish.

www.mossberg.com

I just bought one of these for my 12G 870. Havent' shot it yet but it seems to get good reviews online.
I shopped around.. cheapest I found was $246 delivered. LIttle over your $200 plus you'll need to add some short of scope or optic.

 

[Sparkey]

I was kind of thinking that also. Open to other suggestions, especially in that less than $200 price range.

I have a 870 12 gauge fully rifled barrel with fiber optic sights that would let go for under 200 if you’re interested let me know will get details.

 

[Taipan01]

870's could be had in a "combo" group, meaning a longer smoothbore with the rem choke system, bead sight and an accompanying short, fully rifled, rifle sighted one. I picked up both combo sets in 12 ga and 20 ga. but that was like 20 years ago. If I wanted to hunt deer with it along with a short barrel, I would look around for the rifled barrel version.

I will admit, I do like the short barrels with rifle sights. So much so I also bought two more for the 12 at about the same time. Both smooth bore. 1 is like the one you're describing, no choke system but the other does have it and it's the one I keep on it. The price difference was significant between the two if I remember right. The sights give you a really quick acquisition on a target and the rear sight is adjustable.

Here's some of my combination shotguns. The two above are the Remington 870 combos. Top is 12, center 20.




JETA: Forgot to mention. 870 barrels will fit all 870's but you don't want to exceed the chambering. The 12 above is a super mag meaning it can take barrels with up to a 3.5 inch chambering and below. If it was a mag, then 3" is the max. Something to keep in mind while shopping.

 

[gerrycaruso]

That barrel should be fine if you use tru-ball slugs and don't try to reach out to 100 yards. It seems to be out of stock so I'd look at the rifled one that was offered.

 

[Shawnyc]

For deer I would go with a savage 212/220. Mag fed bolt action 20 gauge with a rifled barrel and the accutrigger. These guns will cloverleaf at 100 yards.

Picked up a 220 before last season and can attest to this. Excellent option for Mass.

 

[CRSIII]

Can you hit a softball @ 100’ with a slug?

 

[Shawnyc]

JETA: Forgot to mention. 870 barrels will fit all 870's

Unfortunately this is not true. I have a 870 model with an integrated mag extension (Tactical model?). The ring on the barrel is further down away from the receiver and I could not find any barrel replacements.

 

[MickeyD’s]

Perfectly fine for a deer gun

Be aware it’s cyl choke smooth bore, also just rattle can it if it’s ugly it’s a hunting gun not a collection piece.

 

[gerrycaruso]

Older 20 ga. 870s are built on the 12 ga frame and newer ones are built on a slightly smaller frame. The ring on the barrel may not be the correct size. I've had this problem.

 

[Dennis in MA]

Now youze is gonna make me test out my 18 (or 20) slug barrel on my 870. I have to believe out to 50 yards it would be plenty accurate. Smoothbore. Rifled slugs. My shoulder is already hating all'youze.

 

[StevieP]

I have three barrels for my 870 Express 3"

26 (or is it 28?) vent-rib smooth barrel, threaded for chokes
20" fully rifled 'deer' barrel. I've used this with Premier Accutip sabot slugs to take deer in MA. very accurate. only need 2-3/4". 3" is overkill (and hurts)
^^ these came from the factory as a 'combo' as described above by Taipan01

a Mossberg brand 18" smoothbore home defense barrel

this gun can do everything.

 

[Dadstoys]

It should throw slugs fine .
Buck probably not .
I have an 18' barrel for the Mossburg and it's about the same as the 22" with slugs accuracy wise.
Best advise i could give you would be to test it out with a variety of slugs before you go out and buy a bunch of one brand.
My 500 is dead nuts on with Winchester 1oz rifled slugs but for some reason it's all over the place with Brenneke slugs.

 

[HorizontalHunter]

Now youze is gonna make me test out my 18 (or 20) slug barrel on my 870. I have to believe out to 50 yards it would be plenty accurate. Smoothbore. Rifled slugs. My shoulder is already hating all'youze.

Accuracy’s terrible out of my Winchester smooth bore slugger.

85ish yards. It’s amazing what a 12 gauge Forstner slug will do to a heart.




I never saw the need to jump to the rifled barrel sabot slug shotguns.

The smoothbore is lighter, cheaper to shoot and suits my hunting style.

 

[Coyote33]

OK. Catch up time. See comments under each reply:

Remington 870 12 Gauge Slug Barrel, Cantilever Mount - 24" - Matte

Remington 870 12 Ga. 24" slug barrel with cantilever scope mount and fully-rifled bore. Matte blued finish.

www.mossberg.com

I just bought one of these for my 12G 870. Haven't' shot it yet but it seems to get good reviews online.
I shopped around.. cheapest I found was $246 delivered. Little over your $200 plus you'll need to add some short of scope or optic.

Mossberg barrel on a Remington? Is that true? Hmmm.

870's could be had in a "combo" group, meaning a longer smoothbore with the rem choke system, bead sight and an accompanying short, fully rifled, rifle sighted one. I picked up both combo sets in 12 ga and 20 ga. but that was like 20 years ago. If I wanted to hunt deer with it along with a short barrel, I would look around for the rifled barrel version.

I will admit, I do like the short barrels with rifle sights. So much so I also bought two more for the 12 at about the same time. Both smooth bore. 1 is like the one you're describing, no choke system but the other does have it and it's the one I keep on it. The price difference was significant between the two if I remember right. The sights give you a really quick acquisition on a target and the rear sight is adjustable.

Here's some of my combination shotguns. The two above are the Remington 870 combos. Top is 12, center 20.

I currently have an older 2 3/4 inch only, with smooth 28" vent rib barrel, with fixed modified choke.

That barrel should be fine if you use tru-ball slugs and don't try to reach out to 100 yards. It seems to be out of stock so I'd look at the rifled one that was offered.

What about for "home defense" purposes?

Picked up a 220 before last season and can attest to this. Excellent option for Mass.

I want to use the gun I have with just a new (or used) barrel. Don't need to reinvent the wheel. I also have a BP.

Now youze is gonna make me test out my 18 (or 20) slug barrel on my 870. I have to believe out to 50 yards it would be plenty accurate. Smoothbore. Rifled slugs. My shoulder is already hating all'youze.

Ha ha. Same on the shoulder thing.

I have three barrels for my 870 Express 3"
26 (or is it 28?) vent-rib smooth barrel, threaded for chokes
20" fully rifled 'deer' barrel. I've used this with Premier Accutip sabot slugs to take deer in MA. very accurate. only need 2-3/4". 3" is overkill (and hurts)
^^ these came from the factory as a 'combo' as described above by Taipan01
a Mossberg brand 18" smoothbore home defense barrel
this gun can do everything.

See my reply to Taipan01, above.

It should throw slugs fine .
Buck probably not .

Which one? The one I put in first post, or one of the replies?

I have an 18' barrel for the Mossburg and it's about the same as the 22" with slugs accuracy wise.
Best advise i could give you would be to test it out with a variety of slugs before you go out and buy a bunch of one brand.
My 500 is dead nuts on with Winchester 1oz rifled slugs but for some reason it's all over the place with Brenneke slugs.

Thanks.

Accuracy’s terrible out of my Winchester smooth bore slugger.
85ish yards. It’s amazing what a 12 gauge Forstner slug will do to a heart.

Wow.

I never saw the need to jump to the rifled barrel sabot slug shotguns.

I guess as long as you are familiar and comfortable with what you have and its ranges and limitations.

The smoothbore is lighter, cheaper to shoot and suits my hunting style.

Nice! (Can't find a thumbs up button)

 

[waehrik]

870's could be had in a "combo" group, meaning a longer smoothbore with the rem choke system, bead sight and an accompanying short, fully rifled, rifle sighted one. I picked up both combo sets in 12 ga and 20 ga. but that was like 20 years ago. If I wanted to hunt deer with it along with a short barrel, I would look around for the rifled barrel version.

I will admit, I do like the short barrels with rifle sights. So much so I also bought two more for the 12 at about the same time. Both smooth bore. 1 is like the one you're describing, no choke system but the other does have it and it's the one I keep on it. The price difference was significant between the two if I remember right. The sights give you a really quick acquisition on a target and the rear sight is adjustable.

Here's some of my combination shotguns. The two above are the Remington 870 combos. Top is 12, center 20.

View attachment 976302


JETA: Forgot to mention. 870 barrels will fit all 870's but you don't want to exceed the chambering. The 12 above is a super mag meaning it can take barrels with up to a 3.5 inch chambering and below. If it was a mag, then 3" is the max. Something to keep in mind while shopping.

There's also the compatibility issue of how the front magazine cap attaches. The older pre-Freedom Group ones had a detent in the barrel ring that fit with notches on the cap There's a keeper in the tube that retains the spring. The new cheapened ones have a ribbed insert at the front of the tube that is pushed in with 1/4 turn to remove the spring. The newer version isn't backwards compatible since it's missing that detent. The newer version also requires the pins to be ground off in order to fit an extension, making another reason why pre-Freedom Group 870s are better.