Help choosing a barrel

[uarobert]

I'm just wanting to get some opinions on a barrel for an 870. So far I've found 21" with vent rib and 23" with rifle sights. Either way, I'll be using a scope, so the sighting mechanism isn't that important. Which would you guys prefer and why?

[Gamblinman]

21" if using optics.

Gman

[Gobble!]

23" for me. Seems to me that's perfect middle ground. Patterns great and is not a pain to carry in the woods.

[dirt road ninja]

If the price is the same I'd buy the 23" with the sight already on it. You can sight them in then put the scope on and have a built in back-up already installed on the gun. I doubt you will see much of a difference in performance. I haven't seen any going from a 24" to a 26''. Of course this contingent on both barrels being in the same condition.

[MK M GOBL]

Might need to do some digging but I have this set-up, if you are going to mount a scope, that way if you do some multiple use with it easy barrel swap.

I put a Remington / Cantilever / smooth bore / with RemChoke / Matte blued "Slug" bbl on my 11-87, seen it on a 870 at the time for deer hunting and thought this would be a slick "turkey barrel" when building my gun 20+ years ago and has never failed me.

I did have some work done to the (gun) and bbl but really like the setup and used some Warne rings (super solid) mounting.

MK M GOBL

[uarobert]

Might need to do some digging but I have this set-up, if you are going to mount a scope, that way if you do some multiple use with it easy barrel swap.

I put a Remington / Cantilever / smooth bore / with RemChoke / Matte blued "Slug" bbl on my 11-87, seen it on a 870 at the time for deer hunting and thought this would be a slick "turkey barrel" when building my gun 20+ years ago and has never failed me.

I did have some work done to the (gun) and bbl but really like the setup and used some Warne rings (super solid) mounting.

MK M GOBL

MK M GOBL

Before I had it drilled/tapped, I looked for a cantilever barrel. Could not find one. I even tried a cantilever that attaches to the ribs, but that couldn't handle coyote loads without getting warped.This gun is a dedicated turkey/predator gun, so I'm not really worried about multi-use.

[MK M GOBL]

Here's Remington's part number "Remington #: 26227" and description "Remington Barrel Remington 870 Special Purpose 12 Gauge 3" 20" Rem Choke with Extended Rifled and Improved Cylinder Chokes, Cantilever Scope Mount Matte" and UPC "047700262277"

Time to start scouring the web it's out there

MK M GOBL

[Greg Massey]

Get the 21 in barrel because your still going to gain another inch or better with the turkey choke.. I hunt with a 870 with the 21 inch barrel and i have a Nikon turkey pro scope mounted on it and have killed a bunch of turkeys with it...i shoot 3 inch federal 2 oz. number 5 and it's bad to the bone...

[kcrebel]

I mentioned this in another thread so forgive me if others have already read it.
23" is and has been considered the ideal length for turkey loads.  Shorter barrels lose velocity at the muzzle and have reduced pattern densities.  Optics have zero impact on barrel length choice.  The barrel is going to shoot what the barrel shoots whether it has an optic on it or not. 
The article can be found by searching for best length for turkey barrels or something similar.  I read it several years back.  Very in depth using multiple guns, loads and chokes. 
My best turkey killer is the 870 with the 23" barrel with rifle sights.  I've setup three to date and while the other two are good nothing has equaled this gun.  I'll soon be working on number 4 in my quest to find an equal. 

[Tail Feathers]

I would go with the 23".  Get the muzzle a bit farther from our ear and it's still easy to carry and gives a bit more velocity.

[dawgfrombama]

I've got the 23" barrel on mine.  I think the part #24555.  Using a Jellyhead choke with Magblends and getting good results. 

[Snoodsniper]

I like 21" but its personal preference really.