Which model is my 870 Magnum?

F

Fifth Wheel

New member
I bought an 870 Magnum in 1989 when I graduated from college. The receiver merely says "Remington 870 Magnum". Nothing more. It is completely silent as to whether it is a Wingmaster, Express or Police model.

The serial number is W######M. Does the "W" at the beginning of the serial number mean it's a Wingmaster?

I've seen a lot of talk on this forum that Remington never actually made a gun labelled merely "870 Magnum", and that the receivers will always have another identification, i.e. "Police", "Express", etc. However, it appears I have one of the unmarked oddballs.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
 
The newer shooters may think of R-870s in terms of the various Express models now available; but, there's more to it. Remington introduced the M-870 in 1950 and the first ones available were of the Wingmaster variety. One of the first non-Wingmaster 870s was the Model 870 Magnum-AP "Standard" grade and the Magnum-ADL "De Luxe" grade ($88.30 and $127.15 in 1955)

It's not an oddball. As for your particular Remington 870 Magnum, it's neither a Wingmaster nor an Express, the W at the beginning of the serial number is the year code for 1984 and the M indicates a 12-ga Magnum (3").
 
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Thank you very much for this information. I really appreciate it. Do you know if this model has the heavy-duty springs like the Police model?
 
No, only the Police models have heavier springs.

The only springs in the Police that are heavier are the trigger/sear spring to give a heavier trigger pull, a heavier magazine spring, and a heavier carrier dog plunger spring. (That's the carrier or lifter spring).
Everything else is the same on all 870 models.
 
Wingmasters made in 1989 will have walnut stocks with real cut checkering and a glossy blued finish on the metal. The bolt will be chromed. They offered stocks with both a high gloss and a more subtle matte finish.

The Express guns will have either a synthetic stock or stained hardwood. The checkering on the hardwood will be the reverse impressed type. The metal will have a coarse matte blue. The bolt will be a matte blue as well.

On the early Express models there should be no real difference in quality, just in the finish.

They did make some Wingmasters for a couple of years that did not specifically have Wingmaster on the receiver. They are still in fact Wingmasters.
 
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