Converting shotgun from 2 3/4 to 3 inch
 

I have a remington 870 wingmaster and it is a sweet shooting shotgun. The problem is I really want to use it as my duck and goose gun, but it only takes 2 3/4 inch shells, and I would like to shoot a little heavier loads.

I have heard that a gunsmith can convert it to where it will accept 3 inch shells. Has anyone had this done, and can you give me a ball park on how much this will end up costing?

RE: Converting shotgun from 2 3/4 to 3 inch
 

I wouldn' t do it. Assuming your receiver will cycle a 3 inch shell I would just buy another barrel.

RE: Converting shotgun from 2 3/4 to 3 inch
 

I don' t believe your 2 3/4" will cycle far enough to eject the 3" shell . I could be wrong but the easiest way to find out is to talk to a gunsmith or call remington and talk to one of thier tech reps .

RE: Converting shotgun from 2 3/4 to 3 inch
 

Remington does warn against using 3" ammo in receivers designed for 2-3/4" ammo even with barrels rated for 3" ammo.I can only assume that there is a reason for this warning.

RE: Converting shotgun from 2 3/4 to 3 inch
 

I would just get a different gun. the one you have will not have enough opening to eject the 3" shells.

RE: Converting shotgun from 2 3/4 to 3 inch
 

I have a Remington 870 Wingmaster. It is a sweet shooting shotgun. I love using it for duck and goose hunting. It only handles 2 3/4 inch shells. This has simply never been a problem. I have 2 guns that shoot 3 inchers, but I use my 870 almost exclusively. The few more pellets in the 3 inch shells really aren' t going to change your success dramatically, though they might fill in a pattern for another 5 yards or so. You still have to hit ' em! If the gun shoots well, it would be a big mistake to mess with it.

Honestly, unless you are going to be pass-shooting geese all the time at long range, I can' t imagine the 2 3/4 inch chamber being a detriment.

Get some fast moving 1oz. or 1 1/8 oz loads and let ' em have it.

RE: Converting shotgun from 2 3/4 to 3 inch
 

This a common thing with the older 870 I would have to replace the complete ejector system including the riveits on the left side of the receiver you have 2 choices cold blue the new rivits or reblue the receiver. cost with out a reblue runs $85.00 or $150.00 with reblueing of the receiver.

just the facts!

RON KONTOWSKY
DEANS GUNSHOP II
GUNSMITHING DIV.
http://www.deansgunshop.com

RE: Converting shotgun from 2 3/4 to 3 inch
 

IMO I would look at buying a new 870 in a 3" mag. By the time you convert your existing 2-3/4" 870 over to 3" mag, you will have 1/2 to 2/3 the cost of a new 3" 870 invested. Not only are your looking a having the ejectors repositioned and re-revivited, maybe reblued, but then you are looking at either having your existing barrel rechambered (existing chamber deepened) and maybe the forcing cone re-cut and honed. It maybe better just to replace that barrel with a new 3" barrel. I would say a ball park figure for the complete job, for quality work from a good gunsmith, would run about $300-$350, without cutting any corners.

RE: Converting shotgun from 2 3/4 to 3 inch
 

9 times out of 10 the barrel is already set for 3" shells so check your barrel, if it states 2 3/4" or 3" in magnum receivers, then thats all you need to do !
It would not run $300.00 to do the convertion, if it did I would suggest just picking up a new 870 express!

RON KONTOWSKY
DEAN`S GUNSHOP II
http://www.deansgunshop.com