Older Remington 870 Wingmaster

C

cloud8a

New member
Picked up an older model 870 Wing master 16 gauge full choke fixed. The stock is scratched up with some dings, nothing I can't smooth out and make pretty again, barrel has some surface rust on the outside no pitting. The inside of the barrel is perfect. No rust in the spring and the action is very smooth.

Paid $138

I think it was made in the 80's

Seemed like a good deal. My first shotgun so don't know. Like to hear from you guys.
 
steal

You stole that, long as it functions and shoots to point of aim.


I see more 16 ga ammo on the shelves these days too, so feeding it shouldn't be that big of a problem.


Is it a plain barrel or vent rib? How long is the tube?

Congrats on a nice vintage pump
 
????????

"Doesn't go past the forend?" I may see why you got such a price.

Confused. A fixed, full choke barrel should be minimally 28" or so. If your barrel ends just ahead of the magazine tube, (18"-20") and resembles a riot gun, then it has been cut off.

Which pretty much spoils it as a hunter, and creates a liablility as a SD gun.
"Ladies and Gentleman of the jury, the accused shot my client with a SAWED OFF SHOTGUN" ! A weapon with no sporting purpose and which was modified to create an even more deadly device to inflict suffering on poor Mr. Felon.

That said, you can likely find a full length correct tube, but it will add substantially to your cost.

But hey, maybe it is full length and I'm missing something.
 
bamaranger said:
"Doesn't go past the forend?" I may see why you got such a price.

Confused. A fixed, full choke barrel should be minimally 28" or so. If your barrel ends just ahead of the magazine tube, (18"-20") and resembles a riot gun, then it has been cut off.

Which pretty much spoils it as a hunter, and creates a liablility as a SD gun.
"Ladies and Gentleman of the jury, the accused shot my client with a SAWED OFF SHOTGUN" ! A weapon with no sporting purpose and which was modified to create an even more deadly device to inflict suffering on poor Mr. Felon.

That said, you can likely find a full length correct tube, but it will add substantially to your cost.

But hey, maybe it is full length and I'm missing something.
Click to expand...
The "tube" not the barrel.
 
18"

Also, if it is cut, and it is not 18" in length from the breech face to the muzzle, you have a SBS, a short barrelled shotgun, which is a controlled device and requires special paperwork.

"Just ahead of the forend" may well be 14-16", and that could be real trouble.

Cut a dowel 18" long, and drop it in the barrel with the bolt locked forward.

If you can see the dowel, protruding from the muzzle, you got a problem.

Lose the barrel PDQ and look for another.

But hey, maybe I'm just confused about the real length
 
Yes the barrel is 28 inches or whatever the standard length is not sawed or short barreled the tube is just the standard length with no extension.
 
Sorry

I've muddied the water considerably by using the terms barrel and tube interchangeably.

My mistake and freely admitted. You've got a neat shotgun at a great price.

My Dad was a 16ga man, and the 16's hold a special place w/ me.

Good for you.
 
You have found a very nice gun, keep it as it is and shoot it. You can not wear it out.
The Wingmaster's are the top of the line in the Remington guns. A new Express 12 gauge won't come close to the smoothness of your gun.

The many shells through it and as many time the action has been cycled over
the years has mated the internal parts so it operates like sliding on wet ice.

Keep it, enjoy it, use it
 
No problem. Yeah seems like I've heard people talk about the 16 being special. Why is that? I know I was looking for a 12 but was satisfied with the 16. I suppose the ammo will be more expensive.
 
The 16 gauge is special to some, no so to others. Some have called it the Queen of the Uplands. The advent of 3" 20 gauge shells started the demise of the 16 gauge. I grew up hunting with an ancient Montgomery Ward SxS 16 gauge and have an affinity for them. I believe you got a great deal.
 
The Wingmaster is a great gun, one of the classics. 16 gauge is good but ammo will be harder to find than 20 or 12 ga. Great bird gun.
 
Back in the day I could get heavy 16 ga loads with #4 shot, this would work for turkeys, not as good as a 3-1/2" 12 ga.
 
"...suppose the ammo will be..." Not really. Is more than 12 gauge, but on $20 more by the case. Midway and Cabela's show a lot of brands and loads starting at about $10 or less per 25. A case of 250 Winchester 2-3/4" #4 or 6 shot runs $159.99 at Cabela's. $139.99 for a case of 250 12 gauge. So it's not stupid expensive.
Might not be readily available in Texas, but it can be ordered through your local gun shop with no fuss.
Make sure it uses 2.75"(likely does) and not 2.5" ammo.
Surface rust easily comes off with a bit of oil and 0000 steel wool. Doesn't bother the existing finish either.
 
load

I know of no specialized modern turkey load for 16 ga from the big 3......doesn't mean there isn't one out there from another source.

A heavy field 16 ga load throws 1-1/8 oz of shot and as noted, #6 would likely give you a bit denser pattern due to higher pellet count. Rem and Win both make such a load. A big store like Cabela's should have a box. Pattern your gun to determine if it is shooting to point of aim, and limit your shots to 30-35 yds or so and you should be fine.

Back in the day, the big ammo companies sold a "baby mag, or short mag" in 16 ga that would throw 1-1/4 oz of shot. I have not seen any of those in a long time.
 
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