A question only a girl could ask
 

I'm hoping that you guys could answer a quick question that I have about my new Remington 870 12-gauge shotgun. I got some good advice to fit it with an 18-inch barrel with an improved cylinder. I gave the store an item number, but they ordered something a little different for me. It wasn't until I got it home that I realized I had something different. Maybe it's just fine, but I thought I'd ask you guys who know what you're doing.

What I got was a Remington No. 24620. The box reads "12/18" Cylinder Express Police Barrel." It doesn't say anything about an improved cylinder. I'm not finding anything real helpful on the internet.

Is anyone familiar with this barrel who could tell me whether I've got the right thing? The whole purpose of this barrel is to make the gun a better in-home self-defense gun--larger spread and less length to get in the way.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts you have!

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

Police barrel should be fine but if it's not what you ordered,take it back or have them explain if it's been replaced.
You could buy a hacksaw :wink:

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

It's probably a improved cylinder bore, which is a little tighter than the cylinder bore you were probaly after. It won't make a difference in close range, but it will have a little farther reach longer range. It wouldn't bother me to have either, or. It is 18" isn't it?
Does the finish match you shotgun?
How much did you pay? $135 or less?
It might be a better barrel than the standard express.
I'll look around and see what I can find on them.

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

That is the improved barrel.

12 gauge / 18" long Police model

I'm not sure if that is rifled or able to shoot slugs. It looks like remington's site could help you with that.

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

EE, yes it is 18-inch, and it has the same black matte finish. I paid about $125 for it.

I did some looking around on the internet for anything that would define the term "police barrel," but I couldn't find anything.

Thanks for your help, guys!

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

Here's a barrel with the same model number http://www.thegunsource.com/item/463...#ReviewProduct
I'm not sure if there is a police version with the same model number.
Or did they put the wrong barrel in the box? Do you notice a ball detent area that locks the barrel to the reciever? I believe the police barrels have this.
I'd probably keep it.

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

If the barrel is rifled from memory that would make it a NFA DD.

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

From what I could find out it is a cylinder bore, no choke at all.

Fine for home defense.

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

"Cylinder" Express Police Barrel means CYLINDER BORE (no choke) and is PERFECT for home defense...

I don't recall ever seeing an 18 inch "Improved Cylinder" bore for a Remington 870 Express, unless it had screw-in chokes.

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

Is anything printed on the barrel itself. Small print usually on the right side?

s

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

You have a police barrel. The Remington 870 Police has a slightly thicker barrel than the Rem 870 Express barrel. The slightly thicker/heavier duty barrel is just fine.

Since it reads "Cylinder" you have a cylinder bore barrel not an "improved cylinder" cylinder is just fine for your purposes. Most 18" barrels will by cylinder bore.

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

How do they "Choke" shotgun barrels? I've got a 30" full choke for my 870 Wingmaster, I just assumed it was mostly due to the length of the barrel

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

Where did you find it for that price?

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

So if I'm understanding it correctly, a "cylinder" bore is basically a straight tube, while an "improved" bore is a tube that is narrowed (choked) at the business end? I'm trying to visualize this. . . It would logically seem that an narrowed cylinder would give you a tighter pattern, which might not be the best thing for home defense--?

Sounds like what I got will be just fine. Thanks everyone, you're the best!

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

correct.......

and you are welcome. :wink:

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

I can't imagine a reason to put a choke of any description on a 18" barrel, it's a contradiction. Even if you have an improved cylinder you wouldn't ever notice in practical terms in a defense situation. At sub-20 yard ranges the shot pattern difference between the chokes is unnoticeable.

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

A "choke" is a narrowing of the bore at the muzzle, normaly in increments of 5 thousandths of an inch. The chart below gives the constriction, and the % of pellets that should fall within a 30" circle (measured at 40 yards)

A 30" tube with a full choke would be a dedicated duck/goose gun. A modified choke give good general purpose hunting patterns, and I always use improved cylinder, or Skeet #1 for doves and quail.


Name #% Constriction
Cylinder Bore 40 .000
Skeet 1 45 .005
Improved Cylinder 50 .010
Skeet 2 55 .015
Modified 60 .020
Improved Modified 65 .025
Full 70 .030
Extra Full 73 .040
Turkey 75+ .045+

As I said above, most home defense/police/military shotguns will be 18-20 inches of barrel, Cylinder Bore.

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

Thanks for that info......the full choke barrel came with it, but I've long since bought an 18" 2 3/4 or 3" and thats what stays on it most of the time

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

Oh. I was thinking about getting the polychoke for my saiga 12. Is that a waste of money? I shoot clays with it sometimes...

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

I don't get your point. A hunting/sporting shotgun is different from a defense shotgun. Admittedly they are both shotguns and can perform some of the same functions as the other but with much less efficiency than the shotgun optimized for the purpose.

Hunting/sporting shotguns mostly have barrel lengths of from 24"-30" and will be used as close as 5-10 yards for jump bird shooting to 50 yards for waterfowl or turkey. This is why there are interchangeable chokes. The purpose of a defense shotgun is different, the intended range is close-therefore the shotgun has a very short barrel (usually 18") and no choke (cylinder). Sure you can shoot skeet with a defense shotgun, just like you could use a mason's hammer to do trim work.

Personally I wouldn't even consider using my Benelli Nova for sporting work, but I have other shotguns for that.

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

They squeeze real hard....:cooler::cooler::cooler:
well, somebody had to say it:111::111::111:

Re: A question only a girl could ask
 

I shoot clays with my 870 Express / 18" barrel all the time. It helps that it's the only shotgun I own I suppose, but...

I tried shooting clays with my buddy's old Rem 20 ga. (26 in barrell I think) last weekend.

Couldn't hit a single one. :10_1_20: