Opinions on first 12Ga Purchase - Wingmaster (Where to Buy?)

[3macs1]

I collect shotguns and among many I own an 870 wingmaster and an 870 express in both 12 and 20 gauge. I have fired both quite a bit. The only difference between the wingmaster and the express is finish.

EDIT: Dang i missed the boat. Didn't see the post stating the purchase happened.

??? Shotgun collector here also and like comparing an apple to a watermellon comparing a true wingmaster to an express
Hell of a lot more than finish being different
Take each apart side by side and look at each component not to mention the metallurgy then tell me what you think
I have quite a colletion of them also like more than your fingers and toes add up to in every gauge
Cheers

Congrats to the OP. Take care of it and it will outlast you. I know my first one I bought in 1965 is going to

 

[rci2950]

??? Shotgun collector here also and like comparing an apple to a watermellon comparing a true wingmaster to an express
Hell of a lot more than finish being different
Take each apart side by side and look at each component not to mention the metallurgy then tell me what you think
I have quite a colletion of them also like more than your fingers and toes add up to in every gauge
Cheers

Congrats to the OP. Take care of it and it will outlast you. I know my first one I bought in 1965 is going to

My first shotgun was a 12 gauge Express. I have in 3 years put 5 bags of shot though it without a failure. I purchased a Wingmaster a few years after. And yes the metal is nicer on the wingmaster but I do believe that today both new manufacture wingmasters and express use powdered metal for the extractor etc. The difference between the metal in the receiver and barrel in both is simply a bead blast finish vs a blued finish. The stock on the Express is laminated and the Wingmaster is Walnut. Components are interchangeable in each. I can interchange stocks barrels mag parts trigger group bolt in each.

 

[3macs1]

My first shotgun was a 12 gauge Express. I have in 3 years put 5 bags of shot though it without a failure. I purchased a Wingmaster a few years after. And yes the metal is nicer on the wingmaster but I do believe that today both new manufacture wingmasters and express use powdered metal for the extractor etc. The difference between the metal in the receiver and barrel in both is simply a bead blast finish vs a blued finish. The stock on the Express is laminated and the Wingmaster is Walnut. Components are interchangeable in each. I can interchange stocks barrels mag parts trigger group bolt in each.

Generally IMO

The Express is Remington's "Cheap budget" gun, made to compete with the cheaper made Winchester and Mossberg guns.

The Wingmaster has always been and still today Remington's top-of-the-line sporting gun.



The Express has little to no hand labor or fitting of parts vs the polishing and de-burring the better quality Wingmaster and Police guns get.
If you don't think that matters you have never cycled a vintage wingmaster vs the express
Plus the express has plastic and MIM parts. None of my wingmasters have either

My first new shotgun like you was a 870 but a wingmaster in 16ga in 1965 which I still have to this day along with many many more 870's including one of the rare 3 1/2" versions. I cannot tell you how many bags of shot my sets of 870 skeet guns or the TC trap has had through them but it would be in the 1000's probally since we were buying 100 bags a year in those days and most still have 100% original parts with zero failures

Also have a complete set of express in this batch which were not too bad when they first came out but sure went down hill after the early 90's

Any how I will stick to my first statement like comparing an apple to a watermelon an express vs a wingmaster
Cheers

 

[catnthehatt]

I'm not a pump gun fan form the most part, I am a SXS hammer gun guy, and also have a few O/U guns.
However, I have shot and owned everything fro Kreigoff to Gamba trap shotguns, and my all time favourite is a 870 Wingmaster TB.
In fact, i own a pile of Wingmasters and one Express and use them as loaners when we have a club shoot
Cat

 

[3macs1]

I'm not a pump gun fan form the most part, I am a SXS hammer gun guy, and also have a few O/U guns.
However, I have shot and owned everything fro Kreigoff to Gamba trap shotguns, and my all time favourite is a 870 Wingmaster TB.
In fact, i own a pile of Wingmasters and one Express and use them as loaners when we have a club shoot
Cat

The tb is a great gun and would be 60/70's vintage probally with press checkering and a lower grade wood than a TC but mechanically the same as the TC. That being said that so called lower grade wood was still sweet and way nicer than wood supplied today on production guns
Cheers