I just picked up an older 12-ga 870 Wingmaster in excellent condition for a steal of a price. It has a 2-3/4 chamber, so is limited which is why the guy sold it. My intent is to put on a slug barrel and use it for bear protection. Question: am I limited to slug barrels with 2-3/4 chamber, or can I use a 3" chamber? The chamber is actually part of the barrel, no? Likewise, could I upgrade to 3" shells with just a new barrel

The barrel code is KY, which is May 1974 or 2004. I'm guessing 2004.

You can use a 3" barrel, and shoot 3" shells safely, but the hulls may not eject properly. The ONLY difference between a 2-3/4" and a 3" receiver is the ejector and ejector spring (and of course the serial number suffix). Many 2-3/4" guns actually had the 3" ejector parts installed, so check and see. You may be lucky. Make sure you use a 3" shell that is actually 3" in fired length. Many slug rounds are not.

Virginian wrote:Many 2-3/4" guns actually had the 3" ejector parts installed, so check and see.

How would one tell, offhand?

I purchased a deer slug barrel off Remington's website, as that's my primary intent and purpose for this shotgun is to use it with slugs. The slugs all seem to be 2-3/4.

See if it will kick out a 3" fired hull, or compare it with a known 2-3/4" or 3" set up. The notch on the ejector and the ridge on the spring are 5/16" further to the rear on a 3".

Congrats