Wingmaster. Wow.

I have a 1975 Wingmaster bought new by my dad. He gave it to me in 1980 when he bought a Citori. As people have said, it is super smooth. Have not used it in years due to travelling but never selling it as my eldest son will get it. Could fire off three shots to my dad's 2 on the Citori. He has since sold the Citori which was quite nice but the Wingmaster is just a workhorse. I used it for geese, pheasant, prairie chicken and huns. Superb gun that always brought dinner home. Never a problem. Looking at my first turkey hunt with it this fall. Great choice of a shotgun.
 
Well, using the www.rem870.com website it turns out mine is a 1994 model, not as old as some of yours, it's a 3" Magnum with a 28" vent rib barrel with removeable chokes.
It is still better than any Express I ever owned or handked6
 
I started hunting with a Wingmaster, I shot hundreds of ducks and geese and grouse and rabbit's with it... wonderfully smooth action, never a jam or hang-up... I should have hung on to it, but the Browning Shotgun bug bit me.
 
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hoytcanon said:
I started hunting with a Wingmaster, I shot hundreds of ducks and geese and grouse a rabbit's with it... wonderfully smooth action, never a jam or hang-up... I should have hung on to it, but the Browning Shotgun bug bit me.
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A nice glossy BPS is on my list
 
crossroads45 said:
A nice glossy BPS is on my list
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Actually, the BPS grip does not fit me well... it is too thick and too tight to the trigger for my big mitts... but the Citori line, particularly in the POW and Straight grip models fit me like a glove, as do the BSS Sporters... they shoulder and align perfectly.
 
I wouldn't pass on a recent manufacture Wingmaster, if you are looking for one to hunt with. My one gripe about mine is the walnut isn't as finely grained as some older ones I have had but it is much more versatile having choke tubes. I have considered getting a 20 to match it for upland birds.
 
I picked up a 1967 mint WM last year from the original owner, maybe 50 rounds he said. Came with original box and manual.

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I bought an 870 Wingmaster 12ga ... 3 years ago and brand new from a dealer ... and she is a beauty ... !! Functions flawlessly ... nice blueing ... and fit and finish is excellent.


However, one thing confused me ... and still confuses me ... :confused:

  • The left side of the receiver is stamped "Remington 870".
  • The right side of the receiver is stamped" Wingmaster".
  • The barrel is stamped "12ga, 2 3/4" or 3" - 3 1/2" only with Super Magnum Receiver"
  • And the serial numger ends in an "A" (suffix). (From my research this is supposed to indicate that it is a 3 1/2" receiver)


No stamping of "Magnum" or "Super Magnum" on the receiver.
The manual and the label on the box did not say anything about what length of shells one could shoot out of that gun.

The Wingmaster has the same bolt as my other 870 Magnums (Police).
I once owned an 870 Express with a 3 1/2" barrel and 3 1/2" receiver ... and it had a completely different bolt than my other 870 Magnums.
???

Up to now I have shot 2 3/4" shells and 3" shells out of that gun .... no issues!!! However, I am still wondering if I could shoot 3 1/2" shells ??

:confused:
 
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Try to slide a 3 1/2" in gently, if it seats all the way I'd figure that you are ok. If it doesn't drop in all the way, I wouldn't try it.
 
It will not feed or eject 3 1/2" shells. You could in theory use it kind of like a single shot, but I would recommend against it.
For a few years Remington made a supermagnum Wingmaster, and I would like to find one with a 26" barrel when I have some extra cash around, but they are clearly stamped as such. I assume it makes financial sense to just chamber most 12 gauge 870 barrels for 3 1/2" shells and finish them as required to suit the model they will mated used for.
 
All this talk of how smooth a Wingmaster is to pump. All I can say is my experiences tell me alot of people have never shot a broken in model 12 or especially a pre-64 pigeon grade model 12 target grade gun. I owned a handful of 70's manufactured 870 Wingmasters at one time and they were nowhere near as smooth as my pre-64 model 12's or my browning model 12 repro's.
 
the spank said:
All this talk of how smooth a Wingmaster is to pump. All I can say is my experiences tell me alot of people have never shot a broken in model 12 or especially a pre-64 pigeon grade model 12 target grade gun. I owned a handful of 70's manufactured 870 Wingmasters at one time and they were nowhere near as smooth as my pre-64 model 12's or my browning model 12 repro's.
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I have nothing against 870's but I do agree with you spank.
 
I have a 1952, it is well used, 2 3/4 only and I had to re-stake the shell latches. It is not for sale, it will not be refinished, the marks and wear on it are testaments to its history. The action is as smooth as butter, and while I don't normally ascribe personality to a gun, this is as close to being a friend as any gun has ever gotten. They simply made things better back then.
 
the spank said:
All this talk of how smooth a Wingmaster is to pump. All I can say is my experiences tell me alot of people have never shot a broken in model 12 or especially a pre-64 pigeon grade model 12 target grade gun. I owned a handful of 70's manufactured 870 Wingmasters at one time and they were nowhere near as smooth as my pre-64 model 12's or my browning model 12 repro's.
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And Ithaca 37's.
 
I posted about my Wingmaster earlier in this thread. i didn't bother noting that I have owned three M12, all from the 1950's. A 12 ga and two 16 gauges. YEP, they were smooth but not so much difference that it in anyway affected my hunting or shooting. And I can't say they were as "problem free" as my Wingmaster, especially as i used the Wingmaster more than all three others combined.

Besides, if smooth is what you want, just get an M31 from Remington.
 
My first shotgun was an old, well used 870 Wingmaster, with the full rib sight - which was pretty cool way back when..
Father purchased that old shotgun for $75 on my birthday in '74 from an old timer who thought it was at least ten years old at the time he sold it.
I used and learned to shoot on that fine old pump. It never let me down and I just got better and better with it.
Waterfowl or upland it was a pleasure to shoot. I sold it about six years ago and clearly I asked far too little for the pitted pump
as I practically had a bidding war of buyers on it. Should have kept it...pleasure to read a thread such as this..!
 
About the Winchester M12, I find that it wont fire if I dont make sure to pull the slide as forward as much as I can until I can hear a "click", I heard its a safety thing but it can be annoying sometimes...
 
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