870 express vs wingmaster

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dirt dog

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buying a new gun this year its going to be a remington 870 replaceing the model 12 witch has done its job for years, are there any differences other then external finish and price
thanks dd
 
I have both. The Wingmasters are way better finished. Old Wingmasters ('50 and 60's early '70's) seem to have more attention in the overall construction. Now I have an early express from the first year of production and I have owned a late model express. They shot as well and are as dependable as the Wingmasters. The difference in a shooting sense is ZERO. I even prefer the express style ratchet on the mag cap over the old Wingmaster detent and ball style. Another plus is all expresses have 3"(some have 3.5 ") chambers and screw in REM CHOKES. Alot of Wingmasters do not. I cannot justify the cash difference between the two (current models prices) unless you want a pretty gun then go with the Wingmaster. The Wingmaster will be smooth from the hop. The express will take about a thousand rounds to get as smooth, but it will. To sum up you are right the differences are external finish and price.

regards, Darryl
 
There are lots of internal differences as well as the finish, the trigger group is plastic on some of the express shotguns, and the bolt system is different.
A set of Express action bars will not fit a Wingmaster, etc.
Cat
 
Also the vintage 60's & 70's wingmasters are much better quality than the wingmasters produced say after 1987.
All are better quality than express but some of the early express are a good gun also.
 
The Wingmaster is always going to be the better model.

That said, I use an older Express for hunting, and it's never failed me. I hear that the newer Express models occasionally have issues, but the older Express is very sturdy and reliable. It goes bang when required to do so, and has been in all sorts of weather conditions, freezing rain, snow and minus temps, and has been dropped in the mud on one hunt. When the muzzle was cleared of mud, the hunt continued with several rabbits easily bagged.
 
Why replace your Model 12? An 870 Express would be a major step down. If you must have a new gun, go with the Wingmaster; besides the plastic trigger group, finish, and non-standard magazine cap retention, Remington tends to cut corners on QC with the Express to keep the price down.

It's not like Wingmasters are that expensive. Wholesale Sports is listing them for less than $700 right now.
 
tjhaile said:
Why replace your Model 12? An 870 Express would be a major step down. If you must have a new gun, go with the Wingmaster; besides the plastic trigger group, finish, and non-standard magazine cap retention, Remington tends to cut corners on QC with the Express to keep the price down.

It's not like Wingmasters are that expensive. Wholesale Sports is listing them for less than $700 right now.
Click to expand...

replaceing the model 12 due to the fixed mod choke, would now be able to shoot 3" shells and getting a rifled barrel for it due to getting a good piece of hunting property but we can only use shotgun on.
 
dirt dog said:
buying a new gun this year its going to be a remington 870 replaceing the model 12 witch has done its job for years, are there any differences other then external finish and price
thanks dd
Click to expand...

Any decent gunsmith should be able to convert your Model 12 to a screw-in choke system for around $100.00 The Model 12 usually has thick enough barrels to handle the conversion. With a rifle choke tube it would allow you to hunt big game, as well as waterfowl/upland game. The Model 12 is a great shotgun. It would be a shame to see it gather dust.

However, if you simply want to buy a new gun, have at it. Remington offers their base Express model in a combo that includes both a dedicated deer barrel and standard hunting tube with Rem Choke system. It is a functional combo and with proper care will offer good service.
 
got a call from an older friend this afternoon he is moveing to an apartment and is getting rid of a few guns stuff he dose'nt use anymore 1 he has is a 870 express from the late 80's has real wood stocks and is 3" it has the rem chokes in it has i/c, mod, full and some kind of rifled choke for slugs the gun has been used but not abused over a decent peice he asking 150$ for it i think this is ok for what it is.
thanks all for your knowledge dd
 
A bit off topic but anything new (to me) makes me curious.... :)

Is there a difference (other than the somewhat embellished stock) between an 870 Express and 870 Sportsman Field?

I do not see the later model on Remington site (a special run perhaps). However, retailers have put up images of the shotgun.
 
Ahsan Ahmed said:
A bit off topic but anything new (to me) makes me curious.... :)

Is there a difference (other than the somewhat embellished stock) between an 870 Express and 870 Sportsman Field?

I do not see the later model on Remington site (a special run perhaps). However, retailers have put up images of the shotgun.
Click to expand...

They are starting to show up at the gun shops Ahsan. Epps has them in stock and at very reasonable prices. I have not had one apart yet but from what I have read on them Remington is trying to have them ressemble the old 70's style but at prices a bit more than express and under wingmaster.
They have real walnut stocks with the old fleur-di lis checkering and real bluing plus come with three choke tubes vs one with the express.My guess is the internals are express parts since if not they would be wingmasters and almost double the price??

Here is one for you off topic. I had a new 3 1/2" yes 3 1/2" blued 12ga wingmaster in my hands last week. I didnot know remington made those??
 
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