Questions about new to me 870, choke related

[ChadATL]

Hi all,

I just bought a 870 Express Magnum, serial # starts and ends with BM, so I think that's 1994/Magnum and the barrel is EO, Sept/1994, I think.

Just for reference I paid $250 for it. I wonder if you think I got a good deal. It looks like it has very little use on it.

The barrel has the bridge going down the top of it to the sight pin. Is this what they call a ribbed barrel? Any reason for it?

Now my question. Did these guns come with a choke or threaded for a choke? I cleaned it today and looking down the barrel I can see a different type of metal at the sight end. I guess that would be a choke.

I'm wondering if this limits what type of rounds I can use in it. I'd like to know if it's safe for any type or shot and slugs.

Any info would be great, I can try and post pictures if needed. I do not have any type of tool to take the choke out. I guess there is a specific tool for that.

[Synchronizor]

I just bought a 870 Express Magnum, serial # starts and ends with BM, so I think that's 1994/Magnum and the barrel is EO, Sept/1994, I think.

If it ends in an "M", then it's a magnum (3") receiver. The rest of the serial number's significance has not been made public, to the best of my knowledge, but you can always call or email Remington's customer service department if you want further details.

Just for reference I paid $250 for it. I wonder if you think I got a good deal. It looks like it has very little use on it.

870s do not wear out easily. If it hasn't been abused, I would say $250 is a pretty good deal.

The barrel has the bridge going down the top of it to the sight pin. Is this what they call a ribbed barrel? Any reason for it?

It's called a "vent-rib", yes. It gives you a straight, flat plane to sight along while keeping your field of view fairly unobstructed. Vent-rib barrels are very nice for hitting moving targets with large shot patterns, and are quite popular in clay-shooting games, bird hunting, and some people prefer the unobstructed view and easy line-up for home defense as well.

Now my question. Did these guns come with a choke or threaded for a choke? I cleaned it today and looking down the barrel I can see a different type of metal at the sight end. I guess that would be a choke.

From right to left in this picture: 12ga 870 barrel with a fixed choke (Cylinder); 12ga 870 barrel threaded for interchangeable chokes with a flush-mount tube installed (Full); 12ga RemChoke flush-mount choke tube (Modified).

IMG_0457_small.JPG (56 KiB) Viewed 7561 times

I'm wondering if this limits what type of rounds I can use in it. I'd like to know if it's safe for any type or shot and slugs.

You'll have to pull the choke tube out and read the markings on it to see what constriction it is. Generally speaking, lead slugs and any type of shot can be fired through Modified or lighter constrictions without issues. If you're buying slugs though, be sure to read the manufacturer's recommendations on the box to be sure.

Any info would be great, I can try and post pictures if needed. I do not have any type of tool to take the choke out. I guess there is a specific tool for that.

If the previous owner took care of it properly, the tube should thread out without much effort; you ought to be able to either stick your finger into the tube and screw it out, or use a coin in the notches to break it loose. Choke tube wrenches are only really necessary for neglected tubes.

[ChadATL]

Thanks for the reply and great info. I'll try to get the choke out, the previous owner did not like to clean his gun though. This is where I got the info on the serial numbers.

[ChadATL]

Ok, the choke came right out and is the same modified one you have in the photo. Can you tell me what this choke is used for? Can I harm the barrrel if I shoot without a choke in it? I would think you'd get lead in the threads.

[Synchronizor]

This is where I got the info on the serial numbers.
remingtonowners.com

That's a page I hadn't come across yet. Still some gaps in the info given there, but it adds some stuff I wasn't aware of. Thanks for the reference.

Ok, the choke came right out and is the same modified one you have in the photo. Can you tell me what this choke is used for?

Modified chokes are usually designed to try to get about 60% of a pellet payload in a 30" circle at 40 yards (the %/30"/40 yards system is kind of odd, and not all that great on its own for determining anything useful, but it's more-or-less the standard for chokes; welcome to the confusing and archaic world of shotguns).

More practically, Modified chokes are useful for certain hunting roles and some folks like them for quick shots in trap shooting, though I see more people running Full chokes for trap. It's also a constriction used in some police and military shotgun barrels to improve the effective range a tad over Cylinder or Improved Cylinder (buckshot response to choking tends to vary quite a bit from load to load, though).

Can I harm the barrrel if I shoot without a choke in it? I would think you'd get lead in the threads.

Never fire the gun without a choke installed. It won't just get the threads dirty, it'll damage them.

I put together a video about choke tube maintenance here.

[ChadATL]

Great video, thanks. I got a laugh at you using your old underwear for a rag.

Also, Remington emailed me back and said my gun is a 1996.

[Synchronizor]

Old underwear makes awesome shop/cleaning rags. It's 100% cotton, machine-washable, has different thicknesses in different areas, and is already conveniently-sized.

[Vitaly]

Thanks for the reply and great info. I'll try to get the choke out, the previous owner did not like to clean his gun though. This is where I got the info on the serial numbers.

http://www.remingtonowners.com/topic997 ... e3d0f54912

Have you seen Remington Serial Number Lookup?

[jadek44]

Not wanting to hi-jack. I just bought a new in box 870 express 20 ga today. In using the serial # search shown here it says it was mfgd in 1998.. Seems odd that a new gun would sit 15 years. Just saying..

[Synchronizor]

That's actually mislabeled. It's not a reference for the actual serial number on the gun's receiver, it's an identifier for the 2-letter manufacturing stamp on the gun's barrel. Determining a date from the actual serial number is more vague; you still have to get in touch with Remington if you want any precise information there. If you're sure your barrel is the original factory-installed part though, you can use that stamp to determine your gun's month and year of manufacture.