Blackwater OPS
New member
I'm sure this is a stupid question but I have to know- I have an older wingmaster that came with a 2 3/4" marked barrel, well I want 3". Is it possible to upgrade?
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Stupid 870 question
- Thread starter Blackwater OPS
- Start date
DAVID NANCARROW
New member
nope.
Yes it is, but not practical.
Having a qualified smith install a 3" ejector is all the receiver needs. Of course, it requires refinishing afterwards.
A 3" chambered barrel is also needed. For the cost of the work and parts, one can often buy a complete 3" 870.
And the only stupid questions are those that do not get asked....
Having a qualified smith install a 3" ejector is all the receiver needs. Of course, it requires refinishing afterwards.
A 3" chambered barrel is also needed. For the cost of the work and parts, one can often buy a complete 3" 870.
And the only stupid questions are those that do not get asked....
What Dave said.
You can find a good used older model Express for $150- 175 often enough, and that will likely cover what most local 'smiths would charge for the work plus the new barrel.
Or, Wilson is still doing the "Remington Steal" made popular by Scattergun Technologies before Wilson bought them out. See http://www.wilsoncombat.com/s_remingtion_steal.asp for particulars, that still costs $199.99 plus shipping both ways, and you can most likely find a good used Express- maybe even a Wingmaster Magnum- for less than that. Last Wingmaster I bought was a Magnum of 1976 vintage, pretty rough on the outside but mechanically sound, and it was $150 OTD.
Unless you are going to take up waterfowling or turkey hunting, chances are there's nothing you can do with a 3" chamber that you cannot accomplish just as well with a 2.75". The only 3" shells around here are the ones left over from the time years ago when I was trying to get a shotgun to perform with buckshot at out to 100 yards, those are Federal Premium 3" magnum 000 buck loads. That was when I learned how fast buckshot sheds oomph at longer range and decided to be satisfied shooting slugs at anything much over 25 yards. As a rule with buckshot in a properly tweaked barrel, you run out of penetration before you run out of pattern.
lpl/nc
You can find a good used older model Express for $150- 175 often enough, and that will likely cover what most local 'smiths would charge for the work plus the new barrel.
Or, Wilson is still doing the "Remington Steal" made popular by Scattergun Technologies before Wilson bought them out. See http://www.wilsoncombat.com/s_remingtion_steal.asp for particulars, that still costs $199.99 plus shipping both ways, and you can most likely find a good used Express- maybe even a Wingmaster Magnum- for less than that. Last Wingmaster I bought was a Magnum of 1976 vintage, pretty rough on the outside but mechanically sound, and it was $150 OTD.
Unless you are going to take up waterfowling or turkey hunting, chances are there's nothing you can do with a 3" chamber that you cannot accomplish just as well with a 2.75". The only 3" shells around here are the ones left over from the time years ago when I was trying to get a shotgun to perform with buckshot at out to 100 yards, those are Federal Premium 3" magnum 000 buck loads. That was when I learned how fast buckshot sheds oomph at longer range and decided to be satisfied shooting slugs at anything much over 25 yards. As a rule with buckshot in a properly tweaked barrel, you run out of penetration before you run out of pattern.
lpl/nc
atlctyslkr
New member
This is a great question! I was wondering the same thing. I just got an 870 Wingmaster yesterday that I am trying to learn about. I was concerned about the 2 3/4 chambering and wondered if it could be modified. Since 870's seem to be so cheap (and I didn't pay anything for this one that was given to me) I'm not going to worry about it.
atlctyslkr
New member
Is it okay to dryfire them? I'm not planning on making habit out of it (just a handful of times).
Dfariswheel
New member
It's OK to dry fire.