870 or A5?

MisterDeluxia

MisterDeluxia

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I wana buy a shotgun this summer for geese and clay pigeons

is there years I should/shouldn't look for in both of them?

Im buying used and from what i find I'll buy one of them (870 or A5)
 
My grandfather has a old a5 from the seventies and i grew up shooting it, i love that gun! Never shot a 870 tho
You're right tho il probably reach out to someone to try a 870
 
My go-to shotgun is an 870 express. It fits me and I hit things with it. It shoots 2 3/4 or 3" inch shells, can take salt water and is easy to dismantle, dry, clean and oil so I take it out on the salt marshes and shoreline after snow geese.

Thanks to a good buddy FLHTCUI on this site I have a 1964 A5 too. It doesn't have choke tubes, it has a fixed modified barrel and it is in 2 3/4 only.

I use it for fields where I'll be shooting decoying ducks. It points well for me, but it is very different than the 870.

I have a friend who is a non-waterfowler with a Wingmaster. I'm working on talking him out of it.

I'm pretty much done buying more guns, but that one is calling me.

My first shotgun was a fixed choke 1957 Wingmaster but I sold it to get the Express with interchangeable tubes. That action was slick as snot on a doorknob.
 
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IMO, both good, both solidly built and heavy. But, parts support will lean to 870. Going A5 is not a bad idea. You get a nicely built gun with a proven action. But parts will cost a lot more. 870 is like a Honda Civic, lots of aftermarket parts available. Easier to strip and clean. My suggestion: Try both and decide. Win-win. After all, you will be the one paying for the gun and using it.
 
MD said:
My go-to shotgun is an 870 express. It fits me and I hit things with it. It shoots 2 3/4 or 3" inch shells, can take salt water and is easy to dismantle, dry, clean and oil so I take it out on the salt marshes and shoreline after snow geese.

Thanks to a good buddy FLHTCUI on this site I have a 1964 A5 too. It doesn't have choke tubes, it has a fixed modified barrel and it is in 2 3/4 only.

I use it for fields where I'll be shooting decoying ducks. It points well for me, but it is very different than the 870.

I have a friend who is a non-waterfowler with a Wingmaster. I'm working on talking him out of it.

I'm pretty much done buying more guns, but that one is calling me.

My first shotgun was a fixed choke 1957 Wingmaster but I sold it to get the Express with interchangeable tubes. That action was slick as snot on a doorknob.
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how is the recoil on the 870 compared to the A5?
 
I had some serious issues with my 870 when I first got it. Would fire one round and have to wait 10 seconds before you could rack the slide because of how poorly finished the chamber was. That being said after a few hundred rounds it smoothed out and functions properly. Try to avoid ones made around 2008 area.
 
Eaglelord17 said:
I had some serious issues with my 870 when I first got it. Would fire one round and have to wait 10 seconds before you could rack the slide because of how poorly finished the chamber was. That being said after a few hundred rounds it smoothed out and functions properly. Try to avoid ones made around 2008 area.
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Ive heard to look for pre 2008, some horror stories about them coming already rusted out
Dont know if the later ones were good tho
 
MisterDeluxia said:
Il probably end up going 870 since its cheaper but i think il end up with both later on
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^answered your own question. :) Exactly what I'd suggest. While I've never shot one, I've always felt drawn to those older A5s, though I know next to nothing about the various models/what separates a good one from a great one, etc. When the time comes, I'll be looking for an older A5 myself, and I'm ok with 2-3/4"....and hope it's a MOD barrel. However, what I see that gun being useful for (in my situation) is clays, grouse, and barn pigeons. If I had migratory birds like Geese in mind, I'd need steel shot...and I'd want a modern barrel with choke tubes for that.

While I've never shot an old A5, I have put countless rounds through my old Remington 11-48, also a recoil-operated semi. Assuming the recoil is comparable, there IS slightly less felt recoil than an 870 shooting the same load. For me, it's still an easy call=modern 870s will gobble up to 3" loads, and the 870 MAGNUM (not overly rare, in EXPRESS models) will take up to 3-1/2. I just don't think you can beat the simplicity/ease of care with the 870s. Once you've had it apart a few times, it's something you can almost do with your eyes closed.

Lastly-EXPRESS vs. "WINGMASTER". Yes, the Wingmasters are better-built/better-finished...but don't dismiss the 870 Express either. I've worked on a couple of them that were badly neglected, but I believe our family 870 Express (20ga Youth) has been around more than 10 years...and not a single hiccup. I have nicer shotguns, but it's the one most of us reach for..most. :) If you were to upgrade the extractor on the Express to the same one used on the Wingmaster *cheap upgrade* you've addressed the one item with potential to fail. Granted, I've yet to see it happen in mine (x God knows how many rounds) or my nephew's 12ga (x even more rounds). I don't see it as much anymore, but there has been allot written about the finish on the Express. It's not a top-shelf, highly polished/blued finish like the Wingmaster...it's more bead blasted/satin...with an inferior bluing of some kind? In any case, treat them both well and the gun will look new for at least a decade. (mine is, and going strong).

Put either gun away wet, and expect rust.
 
.22LRGUY said:
^answered your own question. :) Exactly what I'd suggest. While I've never shot one, I've always felt drawn to those older A5s, though I know next to nothing about the various models/what separates a good one from a great one, etc. When the time comes, I'll be looking for an older A5 myself, and I'm ok with 2-3/4"....and hope it's a MOD barrel. However, what I see that gun being useful for (in my situation) is clays, grouse, and barn pigeons. If I had migratory birds like Geese in mind, I'd need steel shot...and I'd want a modern barrel with choke tubes for that.

While I've never shot an old A5, I have put countless rounds through my old Remington 11-48, also a recoil-operated semi. Assuming the recoil is comparable, there IS slightly less felt recoil than an 870 shooting the same load. For me, it's still an easy call=modern 870s will gobble up to 3" loads, and the 870 MAGNUM (not overly rare, in EXPRESS models) will take up to 3-1/2. I just don't think you can beat the simplicity/ease of care with the 870s. Once you've had it apart a few times, it's something you can almost do with your eyes closed.

Lastly-EXPRESS vs. "WINGMASTER". Yes, the Wingmasters are better-built/better-finished...but don't dismiss the 870 Express either. I've worked on a couple of them that were badly neglected, but I believe our family 870 Express (20ga Youth) has been around more than 10 years...and not a single hiccup. I have nicer shotguns, but it's the one most of us reach for..most. :) If you were to upgrade the extractor on the Express to the same one used on the Wingmaster *cheap upgrade* you've addressed the one item with potential to fail. Granted, I've yet to see it happen in mine (x God knows how many rounds) or my nephew's 12ga (x even more rounds). I don't see it as much anymore, but there has been allot written about the finish on the Express. It's not a top-shelf, highly polished/blued finish like the Wingmaster...it's more bead blasted/satin...with an inferior bluing of some kind? In any case, treat them both well and the gun will look new for at least a decade. (mine is, and going strong).

Put either gun away wet, and expect rust.
Click to expand...

Il probably end up with a 870 for sure then, once i apply for my EE il start to look at whats selling 100% :)
 
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