So before I start here, I know someone is going to be offended. I get it. The blued steel and walnut Wingmaster is a thing of beauty and I own several of them. I'm in no way advocating that this is the right approach for everyone, or even anyone other than me. Those who know me realize that I work on LOTS of guns for myself and others and love traditional looking forearms as much as anyone.
Now, let's talk about this specific gun. This came to me as a 1970's Wingmaster missing its stocks and no barrel, but the rest was there. I think I had about $200 into it, a bit on the high side for what it was. It was at best 40% finish with light surface rust on the outside, as though it had been stored in a damp area. No deep pitting though. So to be clear, this was not a beautiful and complete gun. but the action was still buttery smooth. It was also a 2,3/4" gun.
I needed another water fowling gun as a backup and loaner. My oldest kid and my wife are interesting in trying goose hunting this year, so more guns were needed. I normally use weatherproofed and synthetic guns for lying in wet layout blinds in muddy fields. It's not a friendly environment for "looker" guns.
First step was conversion of the receiver to 3", which involved re-riveting a 3" ejector, new spring, etc. This thread shows how it's done: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1353691-Converting-a-2-3-4-quot-Wingmaster-to-a-3-quot-Wingmaster-Magnum-(instructions)?highlight=convert
Next step was getting a vent rib barrel with removable chokes. I picked up a new (take off) 28" VR Express barrel from Dlask for $140 that I carefully inspected to ensure the VR was reasonably straight, good function, etc. I've bought a number of these and they are a great buy, cheapest "new" 870 barrels available. I converted this one to click detent (like an older Wingmaster barrel). It's not the same barrel (I've done a few of these), but here is a thread on how I convert the Express barrels to click-detent: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1351025-Fun-with-Express-barrels-fitting-a-Wingmaster-Police-detent?highlight=convert
I wanted this gun to be jam-proof when hunting with cold hands, so I converted it to Flexi-tab, including a new carrier, new tabbed elevator and a new chromed Wingmaster bolt with flexi-tab relief.
The receiver was lightly draw-filed and sanded to about 180 grit to get any residual pitting out of it. I also pulled out the latches and cleaned up some rust underneath. When the guns are cerakoted, they are first externally sandblasted, so no need to polish more than 180 or so on the outside.
I wanted to be able to adjust LoP as the wife or kids may be using this gun, so I opted for Magpul SGA furniture. Some people might think this is only for tactical types, but trust me, this is not so. The stock is ergonomically great for snap shooting and is very adjustable. It's also reasonably light and bullet-proof.
I also wanted QD swivels for easy sling use and removal for long hikes across sticky and muddy fields. The push-button ones are much easier to use than studs, but unlike a stud, a flush-fitting mag cap with a QD hole would not protrude past a magpul forestock. So I machined a steel QD cup and modified a replacement uncle Mike's 870 mag cap to build a rock solid QD-compatible front cap that extends just past the forestock. (if you want more details, I did a thread on making it here: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1345628-where-to-find-Mesa-Tactical-870-mag-cap?highlight=QD)
I had decided early on the gun would be a waterfowl specific tool, and I've had good experiences with Cerakote so I went that way again, choosing Magpul FDE. Color-wise this is reasonable mono-color compromise for a water fowling gun.
Finally, most of the prospective users will be lefties, so I installed a steel Williams big-head left handed safety in the trigger plate. For those wondering, yes, I detail stripped the trigger plate before cerakoting it. Not something I recommend to people for basic cleaning, especially if (like on this one) the hammer pin is riveted in. I had to peen in the rivet, then re-rivet it when done. It's a bit of a pain to do, but doable. Many trigger groups are thankfully not riveted though
So here it is. It's fully functional, 3" compatible, flexi-tab equipped, and utterly weather proof. I outsourced the cerakoting to Tactical Ordnance and had them cerakote under the latches before putting them back in, os even that is no longer a susceptible corrosion area. It's got interchangeable chokes and is still as buttery smooth as an older Wingmaster. It's got a brand new bolt, carrier and elevator and a delrin hi-viz follower from S&J Hardware. I also painted the front bead in bright white hard enamel to make it a bit more visible. (Oh, and not that I don't trust the MIM extractors, I've never had one fail, but this one does have a forged police extractor in it because for the extra $2 in price - why not?).
What do you guys think?
Now, let's talk about this specific gun. This came to me as a 1970's Wingmaster missing its stocks and no barrel, but the rest was there. I think I had about $200 into it, a bit on the high side for what it was. It was at best 40% finish with light surface rust on the outside, as though it had been stored in a damp area. No deep pitting though. So to be clear, this was not a beautiful and complete gun. but the action was still buttery smooth. It was also a 2,3/4" gun.
I needed another water fowling gun as a backup and loaner. My oldest kid and my wife are interesting in trying goose hunting this year, so more guns were needed. I normally use weatherproofed and synthetic guns for lying in wet layout blinds in muddy fields. It's not a friendly environment for "looker" guns.
First step was conversion of the receiver to 3", which involved re-riveting a 3" ejector, new spring, etc. This thread shows how it's done: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1353691-Converting-a-2-3-4-quot-Wingmaster-to-a-3-quot-Wingmaster-Magnum-(instructions)?highlight=convert
Next step was getting a vent rib barrel with removable chokes. I picked up a new (take off) 28" VR Express barrel from Dlask for $140 that I carefully inspected to ensure the VR was reasonably straight, good function, etc. I've bought a number of these and they are a great buy, cheapest "new" 870 barrels available. I converted this one to click detent (like an older Wingmaster barrel). It's not the same barrel (I've done a few of these), but here is a thread on how I convert the Express barrels to click-detent: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1351025-Fun-with-Express-barrels-fitting-a-Wingmaster-Police-detent?highlight=convert
I wanted this gun to be jam-proof when hunting with cold hands, so I converted it to Flexi-tab, including a new carrier, new tabbed elevator and a new chromed Wingmaster bolt with flexi-tab relief.
The receiver was lightly draw-filed and sanded to about 180 grit to get any residual pitting out of it. I also pulled out the latches and cleaned up some rust underneath. When the guns are cerakoted, they are first externally sandblasted, so no need to polish more than 180 or so on the outside.
I wanted to be able to adjust LoP as the wife or kids may be using this gun, so I opted for Magpul SGA furniture. Some people might think this is only for tactical types, but trust me, this is not so. The stock is ergonomically great for snap shooting and is very adjustable. It's also reasonably light and bullet-proof.
I also wanted QD swivels for easy sling use and removal for long hikes across sticky and muddy fields. The push-button ones are much easier to use than studs, but unlike a stud, a flush-fitting mag cap with a QD hole would not protrude past a magpul forestock. So I machined a steel QD cup and modified a replacement uncle Mike's 870 mag cap to build a rock solid QD-compatible front cap that extends just past the forestock. (if you want more details, I did a thread on making it here: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1345628-where-to-find-Mesa-Tactical-870-mag-cap?highlight=QD)
I had decided early on the gun would be a waterfowl specific tool, and I've had good experiences with Cerakote so I went that way again, choosing Magpul FDE. Color-wise this is reasonable mono-color compromise for a water fowling gun.
Finally, most of the prospective users will be lefties, so I installed a steel Williams big-head left handed safety in the trigger plate. For those wondering, yes, I detail stripped the trigger plate before cerakoting it. Not something I recommend to people for basic cleaning, especially if (like on this one) the hammer pin is riveted in. I had to peen in the rivet, then re-rivet it when done. It's a bit of a pain to do, but doable. Many trigger groups are thankfully not riveted though
So here it is. It's fully functional, 3" compatible, flexi-tab equipped, and utterly weather proof. I outsourced the cerakoting to Tactical Ordnance and had them cerakote under the latches before putting them back in, os even that is no longer a susceptible corrosion area. It's got interchangeable chokes and is still as buttery smooth as an older Wingmaster. It's got a brand new bolt, carrier and elevator and a delrin hi-viz follower from S&J Hardware. I also painted the front bead in bright white hard enamel to make it a bit more visible. (Oh, and not that I don't trust the MIM extractors, I've never had one fail, but this one does have a forged police extractor in it because for the extra $2 in price - why not?).
What do you guys think?
Last edited:
