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Author Topic: 870 express 20 ga barrel length?  (Read 2487 times)

Offline Mossyballs

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870 express 20 ga barrel length?
« on: May 04, 2018, 09:36:10 AM »
I have my 25 year old 870 express 20 ga 26” barrel I am about to make into a turkey gun. There is a badly stuck choke with barrel damage at end too. I found a gunsmith to cut and thread for remchoke. I see so many 870 20’s with 21” barrel. Is that the best length to cut to or is 23” a better option? 
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Offline daddyduke

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Re: 870 express 20 ga barrel length?
« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2018, 04:00:33 PM »
Split the difference 22".
« Last Edit: May 05, 2018, 01:40:26 PM by daddyduke »
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Offline ShootingABN!

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Re: 870 express 20 ga barrel length?
« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2018, 05:56:28 PM »
youth model 1100 turkey gun came with a 21". Shoots great, even bought some Nitro customs. They shot even better.
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Offline Greg Massey

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Re: 870 express 20 ga barrel length?
« Reply #3 on: May 05, 2018, 02:16:25 PM »
Get you a 21 inch barrel , with the choke sticking out you will end up with about 22 inch.. you will love it...
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Offline Recurve

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Re: 870 express 20 ga barrel length?
« Reply #4 on: May 05, 2018, 04:09:42 PM »
I have the youth model w/21” barrel  Carlson’s.568  shooting #6 Longbeards. Did a number on a nice Tom 2 weeks ago. I certainly would recommend the 21” and with the Carlson choke you will have 22”
Good Luck
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Offline mufishgrad

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Re: 870 express 20 ga barrel length?
« Reply #5 on: May 05, 2018, 05:56:31 PM »
That's an awesome gun. I put a Hunter's Specialties Choke tube in mine and gave it a DIY camo paint job since it comes in black. From there it was a matter of testing loads at the range with it. This gun is much easier to tote around in the woods than a 12, and gets the job done. Got my Merriam's this spring with it. So, yes I think the 21'' barrel in a 20 gauge would be a great option for anyone.
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Offline LRD

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Re: 870 express 20 ga barrel length?
« Reply #6 on: May 08, 2018, 11:27:34 PM »
My son and I both shoot 870s with 21" barrels. They are bad news for a gobbler.
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Offline hootgobbleyelpgobble

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Re: 870 express 20 ga barrel length?
« Reply #7 on: May 10, 2018, 08:52:26 AM »
Quote from: Greg Massey on May 05, 2018, 02:16:25 PM
Get you a 21 inch barrel , with the choke sticking out you will end up with about 22 inch.. you will love it...

This man speaks the truth!

I went from a 26" to 21" and do not see myself going back to a longer barrel.
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Offline batsonbe

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Re: 870 express 20 ga barrel length?
« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2018, 10:30:34 PM »
I like my 21” barrel. My dad has a 26” barrel. His 870 20 ga put 20 more pellets in the 10” and overall more pellets within the 20”.
My 21” did 264 with 8x9 and my dads 26” did 286. Just my experience. Either way the turkeys will cleanly be taken.
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Offline Mossyballs

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Re: 870 express 20 ga barrel length?
« Reply #9 on: May 14, 2018, 10:27:42 AM »
Sounds like 21” is the winning number. Thanks for advice.
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Offline sswv

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Re: 870 express 20 ga barrel length?
« Reply #10 on: May 14, 2018, 11:08:43 AM »
every turkey gun I own and have owned for the past 25-30 years has or had a 21" barrel and the 20ga 21"er is a breeze to tote and like LRD said "bad news for a gobbler".  shot a big gobbler last season at 43 steps with a 21" 20ga with HW #7's  and it hammered him like a MACK truck.  got another 21" Remington coming this week. I just love'em.
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