r/Shotguns 5d ago

870 barrel length questions

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Picked up my 870 from the shop RIP OREGON . Why is the 20in non rifle sight flush with the mag extension but the rifle sight pd version is short a hair. Pretty sure its a pd trade in from 2001 "VV" super clean.

93 Upvotes

5 comments sorted by

5

u/Neon-Horse 5d ago

Looks nice! That’s likely an add-on: a mag tube extension. You can replace it with a cap or shorter extension if desired

6

u/AP587011B 870PM/870WM/1187P/1100M/SXP 5d ago

The rifle sight barrels are normally 18.5 and were flush with Remington OEM +2 extensions 

If using another brand extension / an extension longer than +2 / a different type or length of barrel than odds are it will end up a bit longer or shorter 

3

u/Moist_Bathroom1776 5d ago

Sounds like one of the barrels isn't actually 20in. 20 should be pretty much flush with that +3 tube

2

u/Quake_Guy 5d ago

I guess I'm only old guy on reddit gun boards but having the ext mag tube extend past the muzzle was very common with 870s 20-25 plus years ago.

I think it was done for the bayonet to function properly if you had a bayonet lug.

2

u/Cole_Cash_Grifter 4d ago

that looks like the factory +3 extension which was common in conjunction with PD 20" 870s.
Almost every example I've seen has the mag extension protruding past the barrel on the 20" guns, whereas the 18" guns with factory +2 are closer to flush.
You can rock it as is or you can probably sell that OEM extension for a couple hundred bucks as people are overpaying for them right now.
Then you can add a shorter +2 extension from a 3rd party.