New member / owner of 1956 or 1957

[Remus Redbone]

Howdy from NW AR.

If all goes well, I will soon be be the owner of a 1956 or 1957 870 Wingmaster 12ga (two separate guns between which I will choose).

I'm assuming any accessories that would fit either gun would also fit the other. That's why I'm here, to find out a few things about what accessories will fit the older 870. I'm not at all new to guns in general, but I don't know detail about the 870.

I'm getting one of these for home protection. One has a 28" mod barrel and is a little rough, the other a 30" full, and it's much nicer, but priced accordingly. I know I'll want a shorter barrel, and I may consider shortening the one with the 28" mod. The one with the 30" full is too nice to modify that drastically, so I would purchase another barrel.

These are both 2 3/4" guns, which brings me to Q's
Q1: can a 3" chamber barrel be put on these receivers or does the receiver limit that?
Q2: Assuming 870 barrels have changed over time, are there newer shorter barrels available to fit these older Wingmasters?
Q3: Are there pistol grips / folding stocks that fit 870s this age?
Q4: any other concerns or pieces of info to know about these?

The gun will also be used for dove hunting & maybe some squirrel, so I don't plan to cover it with picatinny rails.

Thanks in advance to all.

[Remus Redbone]

Didn't think the questions were that complex.....

[Scorpion8]

Welcome. Except for changes in barrel and receiver sizes, most of what fits one 870 will fit another 870 (within reason). If you are going all-tactical, then some magazine extensions may not work.