[TooStrongTerry]

I own a Remington 870 and it came with a rifled barrel...I also purchased a smooth bore barrel for about $200 because ammo was cheaper. Both are 20 inch. I need a field barrel for clay pigeons, birds, etc. How long should it be? And exactly what is the barrel called? Field barrel? And can someone explain "chokes" to me? Thanks guys!

[ninjatoth]

You will want a longer barrel than 20" such as a 28" for none other reason that your gun will swing smoother for bird or clay shooting because of the added weight.Chokes go from cyl(none)to improved cyl to modified to full and some inbetween those.You want no choke for a huge spread such as clays and a tight choke for a small spread of shot,such as a modified choke with buckshot for deer or a full and greater for turkeys etc.

[Gatoragn]

I put one of these on mine.

Barrel 870 Wingmaster 12 Ga 3 26 Rem Choke Improved Cylinder Modified Full Chokes Vent Rib Standard Contour (Bradley Front Sight Middle Bead) Blue

If yours is an express model then this may be an option

Barrel 870 Express 12 Ga 3 26 Rem Choke Vent Rib Matte

[TooStrongTerry]

Is a choke something that is placed on the end of the barrel?

[ninjatoth]

Originally Posted by TooStrongTerry

Is a choke something that is placed on the end of the barrel?

It depends on the gun,Remington has something that's called a remchoke,and you can screw in or unscrew choke tubes in the muzzle of different sizes for different choke patterns,and yes,that type is at the end of the barrel and it's only available in a barrel that comes with a "remchoke".Older shotguns have something called a polychoke at the end of the barrel(muzzle end)that can tighten or loosen like a pop bottle cap and change the pattern.The more common and cheaper chokes are called fixed chokes,and all that is,is the barrel getting slightly smaller bore size twords the end of the barrel(muzzle),and those kind can never be altered to change the choke.

[dragunovsks]

Originally Posted by TooStrongTerry

Is a choke something that is placed on the end of the barrel?

Yes, some are built in or machined into the barrels and some are screw in. It basically squeezes or "chokes" the shot just before it leaves the barrel. This controls the shot pattern, makes it tighter in other words. Ive got an express magnum with a full choke, most chokes for an 870 run around 20 to 30 bucks.

Heres my 870 with 28" barrel and screw in full choke

[TooStrongTerry]

Sooo...get a longer field smooth bore barrel and buy a few seperate chokes? I just heard that they are kind tough to attach to a barrel?

[dragunovsks]

Originally Posted by TooStrongTerry

Sooo...get a longer field smooth bore barrel and buy a few seperate chokes? I just heard that they are kind tough to attach to a barrel?

Oh no they just screw in using a choke tube wrench

[TooStrongTerry]

Originally Posted by dragunovsks

Oh no they just screw in using a choke tube wrench

Oh ok. Thanks man appreciate it!

Whiskey bent and Hell bound.

[c3shooter]

As long as the barrel has been internally threaded, you screw and unscrew the interchangable choke tubes. Using a choke tube wrench.

Looks like this- these are choke tubes by Briley on an over/under-