Have you ever seen this stamp on an 870 receiver?

[84wh1]

Got an 870 Wingmaster recently. The seller said it was 2.75 shells only however when i took the side saddle off, the receiver is stamped 3" under the wingmaster name. The receiver has no "magnum" stamp what so ever. Has anyone seen this before and if so, can you educate me a little. Cheers

 

[Scamaniac]

Don’t shoot shells longer than what the barrel is rated for. Most receivers made in the past 40-50 years will cycle 3” but the length of the barrel chamber determines your maximum length shell to open safely when fired.

 

[dwagonade]

I second what Scramaniac says. The receiver is rated for and capable of receiving 3" shells BUT that does not necessarily mean the barrel is. Check the barrel for markings as well, and if in doubt stick with 2 and 3/4". There may be a thread in this forum that tells you how to measure your chamber.

Update: found in other Shotgunworld.com forum while browsing the webs, "You need to take the gun to a gunsmith who has a set of chamber gauges or obtain a set for yourself and then you will be able to make an accurate determination."

Here is a link to the thread https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=256995

 

[84wh1]

The barrel is 3" so no worries there (its not the original WM barrel). I've just never seen an 870 wingmaster receiver with a simple 3" stamp. All the ones I've seen are "magnum" stamped ....

 

[gunnyee12]

Im wondering if it was stamped on after the fact. Maybe it started as a standard WM then the ejector replaced with a magnum one and stamped 3". Do the ejector rivets look like they've been changed? Does your ser# end in "M"?

 

[84wh1]

Im wondering if it was stamped on after the fact. Maybe it started as a standard WM then the ejector replaced with a magnum one and stamped 3". Do the ejector rivets look like they've been changed? Does your ser# end in "M"?

That was my thinking. Ill have to take a look at he rivets when I get home from work. As for the serial number, it ends in a V which apparently means that it was a 2.75 receiver....

 

[Butcherbill]

Seeing as the barrel is chambered for 3” shoot some and see if it ejects the spent hulls fine.

 

[3macs1]

IMO gun smith added that after he added the 3" ejector and side saddle which became all one could buy as a replacement part from remington
Not sure what year that was
I have seen similar markings before
Cheers

 

[struff55]

3macs1 is likely correct about the change up. That bring said the only differ between a 2 3/4” reciever and a 3” is the ejector and ejector spring . Same reciever .

 

[3macs1]

3macs1 is likely correct about the change up. That bring said the only differ between a 2 3/4” reciever and a 3” is the ejector and ejector spring . Same reciever .

Agree. They say some of the very first ones were different with a smaller slot for ejection but I have never been able to prove that. I have one from the first year production and it is no different than what is made today
Cheers

 

[84wh1]

Thanks for all the guys. The ejector and spring were definitely replaced from the factor 2 3/4" unit. The gun is at the shop getting cerakoated in FDE as we speak. Shes gonna be a work horse for sure.