Can u put 3" magnums in an 870 pump?

[trophyhunt]

My brother needs to borrow my shot gun it's an 870 12 gauge. He's going on a guided goose and duck hunt, I've never hunted goose or duck so I'm not sure what shells to tell him to buy??? I think I have the stock modified choke, you guys have any info I could give him??

[bowNarrow]

It should say on the side of the receiver or barrel what shells it will take

[bobcat]

Does it say 3" Magnum on both the receiver and the barrel? I'd use 3" shells if it will handle them. Steel would be okay in a 3" shell but if he has to use 2 3/4 inch shells then he may want to use one of the more expensive alternatives.

[wadu1]

It should say on the left side of the barrel, for length of shell. Remington did at one time used an M in the SN for mag receivers. 

[trophyhunt]

Thanks, It says, use 2 3/4" shells or 3" shells in magnum receivers, use only 2 3/4" in all others.  I'm not sure if mine is a magnum rec. or not?

[lokidog]

Like mentioned, check the barrel.  The choke will have nothing to do with it. 

I did accidentally shoot 3" out of my old Wingmaster 870 2 3/4" chamber.  Luckily, the only problem I noticed was that when they were slowly shucked out as empties, they would stick in the ejection port since they were too long.  When I racked quickly, they would come out.  I would not recommend this however, as they could potentially act like an obstruction if the shell does not open completely in the chamber.

Does it say 3" Magnum on both the receiver and the barrel? I'd use 3" shells if it will handle them. Steel would be okay in a 3" shell but if he has to use 2 3/4 inch shells then he may want to use one of the more expensive alternatives.

Sorry but this is silly.  Thousands (millions maybe?) of ducks and geese have dropped to 2 3/4 inch shells before 3's even existed.

Thanks, It says, use 2 3/4" shells or 3" shells in magnum receivers, use only 2 3/4" in all others.  I'm not sure if mine is a magnum rec. or not?

Measure the length of the port compared to the length of a fired 3" shell (about 3 3/8").  If the port is larger, it is probably the magnum.

[trophyhunt]

The last letter of my serial number is a M

[lokidog]

Just measured my 2 3/4" shells (they knocked down 6 ducks last week), they are actually just over 2 1/2" long, so if your port is 3 1/8, you are probably fine.

[trophyhunt]

What is and how do you measure the port

[bobcat]

You really shouldn't have to measure anything. Your barrel and receiver should both be stamped with what length shell they will accept.

The length of a shotgun shell is supposed to be after being fired. So a 3 inch shell should be 3 inches long after being fired.

[trophyhunt]

This is what it says, but I'm not sure bobcat if it's a magnum receiver

[bobcat]

Okay, so what does it say on the receiver?

[trophyhunt]

Also, what shells should I tell him to buy, I figure two different kinds for duck and goose? Steel only?

[lokidog]

If it has an 'M', it is probably magnum, especially if you bought them together.

The port is the oval opening where the empties fly out from.

Decoying 4's ducks, 1's geese

More pass shooting 3's duck BB's geese is what I use, though we dropped a lot of geesae with 2 3/4" 2's when I was a kid.

[trophyhunt]

The M in the ser numb is at the end, the receiver only says this.