shotgun barrel threading

I am about to send in a 870 12ga 20 inch smooth bore slug barrel for threading to take Rem Chokes

I had been on the look out for a barrel that came threaded for chokes at a decent price and 18-21 inch barrels with chokes just seem like a rare thing. especially rifle sights and chokes

I suspect many of the 18s and 20s are made to a price point and most people only think about using them for short range shooting.

I keep thinking how much more versatile a 20 inch gun that is easy to carry would be if I could also get a good pattern out of it.

currently it is an I/C it shoots slugs decent but nothing to brag on I have better slug barrels.

I think I am going to pattern it with a few loads at 10 , 25 , 35 and 45 yards this weekend take pictures and then send it off so I have comparison when I get it back.

have you sent in barrels to get threaded ?

I am looking at Carlson , where did you send yours?

do you have a shorter 18-21 inch barrel with choke tubes and how do you like it ?

I've got a 21 inch on my 870. I use it mainly for turkey, with an extra full Remington choke. Patterns well with Regular 3 inch magnums. I tried several different brands of slugs through an I/C choke as well as a "slug" choke and could not get it to pattern well. Could have been me. I hated the recoil.

For kicks, I fired 2 shots from my gun using 3 inch magnums, Then I took off the 21 inch barrel and replaced it with a 28 inch barrel. Same choke tube. Man, did the 28 inch recoil less than the 21. Again, may have been me, but I swear there was a huge difference.

the weight from 7 more inches of barrel and it is out where it makes a difference could cause less felt recoil. an extended ported choke tube can make a difference also

how was the group the same with the same choke ?

the recoil from the 20 inch slug barrel can be a bit much with slugs

A shotgun reach's maximum velocity at 21 inches. So anything after that is waste, you do get a longer sight plan is all.

Being IC now it may not be thread-able. Id mic it and see what it measures in relation to the new bore size.

Don't recall exactly. My dad uses the 28 inch barrel and shoots the same loads I do, pattern is very similar. He runs a different choke tube though. We did the patterning about 20 years ago. I really don't want to do it again. I am not a recoil fan.

I called Carlson and thy go by external measurement you need


Remington Flush Choke Installation (12 GA ONLY)
Includes three flush chokes and 2 wrenches. (Min. OD of .875" required)

I have .880" on my barrel

the true choke system limits the tubes you can buy a little but it can go with a thinner barrel
MINIMUM OUTSIDE BARREL DIAMETER MEASUREMENTS FOR CHOKE INSTALLATIONS:
12 ga. lead shot and steel shot system .825"

Will the gunsmith cut the choke out of the barrel before threading? Seems m like that would be necessary.

Last I checked it cost north of $400.00 per gauge, to tool up for reaming and threading a barrel for choke tubes. None of my local smiths are tooled to do it yet.

Yes, unless you want barrel cut down. Choke is in the last few inches of the barrel. So, if you're staying with the same length barrel first the barrel is reamed to get rid of the old choke then the choke reamer is used.

Lots of smiths are doing what I do, just rent the reamer, use it and send it back. It's not bad, they let you use it for I think 5 working days excluding time in transit for shipping was around 50 bucks as I remember. A couple of companies out there renting reamers. 5D and Pacific Tool. No I'm not a gunsmith. Just a a guy with a lathe.

I did exactly what you are doing several years ago. 870 slug barrel with IC choke and iron sights.

I had my barrel threaded so I could use it for turkey hunting. I don't remember were I sent it but it was a private gunsmith, and cost less than $100.

I love hunting with it being that it is much easier to handle for turkey hunting, and the iron sights keeps my head down.

Interesting side note, with the loads I use, my regular rem full choke outperformed my turkey super full outta the shorter barrel.

I have seen it done on You Tube with a hand turned brace. Seemed straight forward. My best bud runs a machine shop, and the lathe would sure be nice.

some day maybe I will try threading my own for now I think I will just send it to carlson. unless I call around and find some one local who does chokes to save me the shipping

odd thing is I will have more in the threading and chokes than the gun.

but less in the gun , threading and chokes than buying a new or used gun it is.

a handy gun to carry the Police 870 mag was all the best parts and they currently sell for between 500 and 800 dollars used depending on shape. even then it still wouldn't have chokes.

My son was gifted a left handed Wingmaster 870 12ga many many years ago. I sent it off, with permission, to get it made into a turkey gun. They lengthened the cone for 3” and cut the barrel and threaded it, and patterned it with a custom made turkey choke. I had them install a Burris FFIII on top along with fiber optic sights. I can’t remember the cost, but it was cheaper than a new turkey gun. He has killed a pile of turkeys with it too.

I've got a 97 Winchester I'm planning to do the same thing to. I'm glad this topic came up

I keep getting told I can rent a reamer... And I'm like why? I can buy a reamer from PT for about $180... For the cost of renting one 2 or 3 times I'll own one and can use the exact same reamer to rechamber every time I buy a new barrel.

I'm a bit fussy about consistency though... Might just be me. Lol

Mike

Thirty or more years of ago I sent my 870 to Bansners in pa to get modified, they changed chamber to 3", shortened the barrel, installed a long forcing tube for tight groups, turkey or predators, no more buckshot! 😆

Yep. Pressures are the same, and 870 2 3/4 and 3" receivers are the same, just a 1/4" difference on where they mounted the ejector on some of them, on some not. Must have been an engineering change back there sometime.

I would only send to Briley in Texas. They will measure the wall thickness of your barrel all around to make sure to use the correct pilot for machining and threading the barrel. If you want to continue to shoot slugs through it make sure you clearly tell them, slugs require a maraging steel material to prevent swelling and sticking the choke tube in the barrel.

My vote would be briley as well. I can’t believe this thread went on as long as it did without their name being brought up

this one seems to have enough metal at .880 that it will get Rem chokes so that steel and slugs are all still shoot able

.880 is the same OD as a factory Rem threaded barrel

My Canik TP9SFX came today, can't wait to try it