old wingmasters vs. new wingmasters

[leetrev1]

Hello all,
I am curious. What is the difference between older wingmasters and the newer ones. I have a 1973 12 g. wingmaster (magnum). Not suprisingly, it is a great gun, and feels like new. Maybe one or two minor scratches on it, and pumps beautifully. Anyways, thats neither here nor there. So, anyone?

 

[Dave McC]

There's 870s here from the 50s, 70s, 80s and 90s. All work well. QC seems to have slipped a little in the last decade or so, and that lockable safety is egregious.

All are smooth,even the 90s 20 gauge Youth Express OI got for the kids. The smoothest are those shot the most. A couple of mine are like butter.

There's no bad vintages of 870s. Enjoy yours.....

 

[PJR]

Dave mentioned the J-lock already and the trend toward QC issues in more recent guns. Other differences include the flex-tab which is a u-shaped cut out in the shell lifter to prevent jams, more MIM parts (extractor) instead of bar stock, a different style of magazine spring retention and magazine cap.