New shotgun what do we think of the wingmaster?

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Uplandguy

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All,

As the name suggests I do a lot of upland hunting. I easily get in 90 days of hunting a year with most of that upland/waterfowl and the rest big game.

I am looking at a new shotgun (upland only) and the wingmaster fits well and the price is right, buuut I have heard varying opinions on their current quality. I am only interested in a new gun. If you have an opinion express it. If you would suggest an alternative let me know too. My price range is 1000 to 2000. I generally prefer doubles or pumps over semis but that is likely an old prejudice on my part.

Thanks.
 
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The current wingmasters are still really nice. Like any shotgun these days, it's better to buy in person, but I would not hesitate getting a brewing master, even via mailorder, any more than any other brand of shotgun.

The Wingmaster is no express 870. It will be truly nice.

That said, if all you do is upland, some other options to ponder in that price range:

- a used Suhl-made over/under upland gun in 20, 26 or 12.
- a current production Ithaca 37 in 20 or 12.

Both would also be awesome upland options.
 
I had looked at buying a new wingmaster a couple years ago and had handled one at my LGS. I was very impressed with it at that time but chose instead to by a semi. You hear a lot of comments like "Why don't they build guns the way they used to" the fact is that many are not willing to pay the price for these quality firearms and opt for the cheaper 870 express. I think they are a beautiful and well built gun and would not hesitate to buy one. I may be bias toward Wingmasters as I still have my first shotgun which is a 1956 Wingmaster that I bought used when I was 17.

In all fairness I have not shot one.

G
 
G-manz35 nailed it. The current wingmasters are as nice as any pump built, but when guys compare the $1000 (approx) price tag one on to a $500 express model, most people are too cheap to pay for the much nicer fit and finish and the lighter contoured barrel, which are the two chief differences between models.

We live in a generation of people trained to buy cheap and replace at the first sign of trouble, vs buying top quality and enjoying it for decades or generations.
 
I have been a Wingmaster fan for 40 years and that hasn't changed with the new production guns... I couldn't even hazard a guess at how many thousand gamebirds and animals have fallen to my Wingmasters... two turkeys did earlier this week.
 
I've owned Wingmasters dating from the 60's to the mid 2000's and they are quality shotguns no matter when they were made. Quality might have slipped here and there but the same can be said about any shotgun maker. The only ones I'd avoid are those from the era when Remington installed that dumbass locking safety. For upland I've found the 12 gauge to be a little heavy but the 20 gauge Wingmaster is a delight.
 
My son just bought a new wingmaster. It is very nice, smooth action, nice finish and the checkering is sharp. My shotgun is an express and it is a totally different gun.
 
I am a big fan of wingmasters based on fit finish and design simplicity.....

But.... I will take this in another direction...... If you like doubles and have a $1k - $2k budget for a dedicated upland gun, a sxs or over under is the way to go IMOP...... There is just something so classic and enjoyable about a slow walk over a dog with a nice double gun......

My personal upland gun is a Yildiz spz-01..... It has an aluminum receiver which makes the gun weigh in at 6.5 pounds.... A joy to carry..... Which is important to me as my typical upland hunting day involves leaving the house at first light with a bag full of sandwiches and water and returning at last light followed by cleaning birds with a tall glass of jamiesons then a huge dinner and a woodstove induced pass out.....

At $1k, it comes in at the bottom end of your budget.... And I fully admit there are nicer options out there in your price range to explore...... But I sure love mine......

image_zpsiuinvijo.jpeg
 
Uplandguy said:
All,

As the name suggests I do a lot of upland hunting. I easily get in 90 days of hunting a year with most of that upland/waterfowl and the rest big game.

I am looking at a new shotgun (upland only) and the wingmaster fits well and the price is right, buuut I have heard varying opinions on their current quality. I am only interested in a new gun. If you have an opinion express it. If you would suggest an alternative let me know too. My price range is 1000 to 2000. I generally prefer doubles or pumps over semis but that is likely an old prejudice on my part.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

The ceiling of your budget will easily get you a nice used 20ga double gun or a new semi.

As far as a slide action shotgun may be concerned, admittedly, I'm not a fan. However, that has only to do with personal preference for certain action type(s) and nothing to do with build quality. I've owned/used most of the more prominent brands of pump shotguns albeit for short durations - among those, were a couple 870 Wingmasters in 28 and 20 built during the 80s, both with excellent overall finish. Personally, I would like to think the Wingmaster receiver design with the chrome bolt visible is the best looking among the lot. The 20ga 870 LW Special Field has a place in my safe. :)
 
Even the brand new Wingmaster's are nicely finished, metal parts go together well (no forcing or contorting even the first time you assemble - can't say that with many models).

They really should try and make more of a distinction between them and an 870 Express. They do not belong in the same model class at all.

At the same price point with similar fit/finish/quality you would also have a Browning BPS Upland Special - I personally find this "feels" a little heavy (actually does weight a little more than a pound heavier than a Wingmaster), but having said that, I might be inclined to choose the Browning - aside from the bit of extra weight, the gun just feels good when I shoulder it. Maybe something to consider.
 
galamb said:
Even the brand new Wingmaster's are nicely finished, metal parts go together well (no forcing or contorting even the first time you assemble - can't say that with many models).

They really should try and make more of a distinction between them and an 870 Express. They do not belong in the same model class at all.

At the same price point with similar fit/finish/quality you would also have a Browning BPS Upland Special - I personally find this "feels" a little heavy (actually does weight a little more than a pound heavier than a Wingmaster), but having said that, I might be inclined to choose the Browning - aside from the bit of extra weight, the gun just feels good when I shoulder it. Maybe something to consider.
Click to expand...

I had owned a 20ga BPS Upland Special for a period. Other than being a bit on the heavier side for a 20 (still quite acceptable), it is an excellent bird gun with few great features that some may or may not prefer. Build quality is no different than the Wingmaster.
 
Ahsan Ahmed said:
I had owned a 20ga BPS Upland Special for a period. Other than being a bit on the heavier side for a 20 (still quite acceptable), it is an excellent bird gun with few great features that some may or may not prefer. Build quality is no different than the Wingmaster.
Click to expand...

If you like the bps, you may love the new production Ithaca 37 in 20. Built in a small 20 frame, steel trigger guard, and much lighter than the bps. Interchangeable choke vent rib bbl like a bps.
 
Superbrad said:
I am a big fan of wingmasters based on fit finish and design simplicity.....

But.... I will take this in another direction...... If you like doubles and have a $1k - $2k budget for a dedicated upland gun, a sxs or over under is the way to go IMOP...... There is just something so classic and enjoyable about a slow walk over a dog with a nice double gun......

My personal upland gun is a Yildiz spz-01..... It has an aluminum receiver which makes the gun weigh in at 6.5 pounds.... A joy to carry..... Which is important to me as my typical upland hunting day involves leaving the house at first light with a bag full of sandwiches and water and returning at last light followed by cleaning birds with a tall glass of jamiesons then a huge dinner and a woodstove induced pass out.....

At $1k, it comes in at the bottom end of your budget.... And I fully admit there are nicer options out there in your price range to explore...... But I sure love mine......

image_zpsiuinvijo.jpeg
Click to expand...

We speak the same language!
 
Thanks I will try to find one to see how it fits. I don't know why, but I really prefer a steel trigger guard...

Thanks all for.your opinions, I will digest this. Glad to hear the wingmaster hasn't slipped.
 
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