Newly bought 870, need help

O

OfficialTWill

Inactive
Okay, so i bought a used 870 Wingmaster for my dreams of bird hunting last night and am already enjoying the purchase. I've downloaded the manual and have read through it yet i still have a few questions.

1) I don't have a magazine plug, is that an issue i need to resolve?

2) The barrel itself is a modified barrel, should i replace this and get a barrel that i can get interchangeable choke tubes for or leave well enough alone.

3) From the forums expertise, are there any definite things i should do or look into getting to make my new gun experience any better?
 
I would absolutely get a mag plug if you are going to hunt with it.

Try the MOD barrel before you get a new barrel. You might find it works pretty well.

As far as modifications to make the gun better:
Get a modern recoil pad like a Limbsaver
Replace the safety with a Vang Comp big head safety.
 
870

I didn't see what state you are from - but - If you going to hunt migratory birds in most states. you will need a plug to comply with the law. Check your states hunting rules and regs.

The interchangable chokes are great if your hunting different types of game or clay target shooting. They change the expansion of your shot pattern. I use a different choke for quail, dove, pheasant than say for Turkey!
 
You hunting waterfowl?If so steel shot+ mod choke is all you would need anyway.Also buddy you can have that barrel threaded for screw in choke for 50$ cheaper than paying 230$ for a new barrel.
 
If you are patient, used barrels can be had for less than $100. Just keep watching the various forums. The normal source is a mall ninja that is turning his gun into something they call "tacticool".
 
If you are patient, used barrels can be had for less than $100. Just keep watching the various forums. The normal source is a mall ninja that is turning his gun into something they call "tacticool".
Click to expand...

This ^.

26-30" hunting barrels (fixed and interchangeable chokes) abound on these forums.

In the mean time............

Shoot it first. You may like it as is. Modified is a good all purpose choke level and a good starting point.

You may want to get someone experienced with shotgun fit to make sure your LOP/drop/cast is correct for you.

A good recoil pad makes shooting more comfortable, especially when lots of shells will be fired over a short period of time.
 
In ALL states, if shooting federally regulated migratory birds, a plug is mandatory. If just for upland, (doves excepted) not needed.

Take the various types of loads you will use, go to your local shotgun club and use their pattern board/steel to see how your gun patterns. You may find that it is just fine the way it is.

Enjoy it!
 
Doesn't surprise me. Taken from Oklahoma Hunting Reg's.:

Shotgun (conventional or muzzleloading) archery equipment or legal raptors and as otherwise provided under General Hunting Regulations.

Restrictions

No person shall take migratory game birds:

• With a trap, snare, net, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, shotgun slug, shotgun larger than a 10 gauge, punt gun, battery gun, machine gun, fishhook, poison, drug, explosive, or stupefying substance.

• With a shotgun capable of holding more than three (3) shells, in the magazine and chamber combined, unless otherwise provided.:eek:

Once again Oklahoma must be different from other states ---- 3 shells only for ANY DOVE.
 
No matter what anybody says if there are Woodcock where you Grouse hunt you would be well advised to have a plug in there.Besides only a cretin would hunt upland birds with a gun that holds 4 or moreshells
 
Alright, i'll swing by cabala's tomorrow after work and grab a plug. Also, i just cleaned the gun pretty well tonight ad i noticed that i can hear the magazine spring slide when the gun is moved around. That normal?

Thanks for all the info so quickly! I've been learning tons just reading on here.
 
OfficialTWill

tonight ad i noticed that i can hear the magazine spring slide when the gun is moved around. That normal?
Click to expand...

That's fairly normal, the spring is much smaller than the magazine tube.

From the forums expertise, are there any definite things i should do or look into getting to make my new gun experience any better?
Click to expand...

My best suggestion is to gather up 4 or 5 boxes of light game loads and shoot the gun. Either at a range or on some safe ground. Often, if you listen your scattergun will tell you what it needs. MOST of the time, my scatterguns tell me "Just Shoot Me!" After all that IS why most of us buy them.

Good Luck & Be Safe
 
Alright, i'll swing by cabala's tomorrow
Click to expand...

You don't have to spend money on a plug. Like I said, you can even use a pencil. You can make your own from a thin broomstick. If plastic is your thing a pen shell or basicaly any object that fits in the tube and limits the space for two shells. Call me cheap but buying a plug is just a waste of money.
 
You shouldn't be hearing the magazine spring sliding around- it should be long enough to have to be compressed to some degree by the magazine spring retainer if it's in place, or the magazine cap if the magazine spring retainer is not there.

If you're hearing something sliding around in the magazine tube, it's more likely either a plug you didn't know was there, or some foreign matter that needs to be removed. Did you pull the magazine spring and follower when you cleaned the gun? How many rounds can you put in the magazine?

Sometimes there's a washer on the stock bolt that slides up and down on an occasional 870. People complain about that noise from time to time also.

fwiw...

lpl
 
Hello, I am a fellow arizona hunter!
You don't need to have a mag. plug in but you can have no more than 3 rounds in your gun. You should go shoot sporting clays at Ben Avery as bird season is over
 
You don't need to have a mag. plug in but you can have no more than 3 rounds in your gun.
Click to expand...
You do if you want the gun not to be able to hold more then 3 shells! In Minnesota that would get you a fine if you were hunting migratory birds!!
 
Last edited:
Another thought:
If you are planning on using 3" shells in your 870 you need to make sure it is an 870 Magnum. Not sure how old yours is, the older 870 do not have the capability (they can only shoot 2 3/4").
 
Check the receiver it should say magnum on it. I also believe that the Serial number will have a "M" in it. Do not go by what the barrel states on it as they can be easily swapped/interchanged
 
In ALL states, if shooting federally regulated migratory birds, a plug is mandatory. If just for upland, (doves excepted) not needed.
Click to expand...

Rick, maybe my original post was not clear - dove are indeed an migratory bird covered by the regs regarding plugs; the others are typically waterfowl, while a dove is an upland bird. Therefore, my comment to the OP was - IF he is just shooting upland EXCEPT for dove, a plug is not needed. IF he is shooting migratory birds, it is.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top