Old Wingmaster 3'' compatibility

[vpsalin]

I bought a 3'' chamber deer barrel with rem chokes for my 1966 Wingmaster. I tried an old 3'' 12GA shell (1 7/8oz #4) I had laying around in it today, once fired, I pumped the slide back the magnum shell went flying 3-4 feet away!

I bought the barrel for turkey hunting thinking that I would have to use it as a single shot only because the receiver is not supposed to eject 3'' shells but it handled it no problem.

I will definately be testing a full box of 3'' turkey ammo soon!

Is this type of thing common/normal with old 2 3/4 receivers?

 

[dfrombc]

I just picked up an older wingmaster and it will digest 3'' shells. I found that I have to work the pump with a bit of force to have them eject though. If I casually work the slide the shells get stuck.

 

[blasted_saber]

My non magnum receiver cycles 3" shells just fine.

Just be sure the chamber in the barrel is 3"

 

[vpsalin]

Man ok, this is maybe one of the best kept secrets around. Ok another thing is that I was expecting the 3'' magnums to recoil like crazy but it was surprisingly tolerable, do old (15-20yrs) shells recoil less by any chance?

 

[3macs1]

There was a date and serial number when remington fitted only the 3" parts in the receivers including the 2 3/4 factory guns.
Unfortunately no body seems to know when
My experience with them is more 2 3/4 guns will eject 3" than won't
Cheers

 

[MAC10]

Thanks for raising this point.

Is ejection the only issue? What about the extra pressure of 3 inch loads in an older receiver made for 2 3/4 shells?

 

[blasted_saber]

Thanks for raising this point.

Is ejection the only issue? What about the extra pressure of 3 inch loads in an older receiver made for 2 3/4 shells?

Ejection is the only issue. No concerns about pressure. If the shell ejects fine, you're golden.

For the noobs who may be reading this, this only applies if the CHAMBER on the barrel is marked 3". NEVER attempt to fire a 3" shell from a 2 3/4" chamber

 

[Moose308]

My wingmaster will cycle UNFIRED 3" shells just fine. FIRED 3" shells get hung up during the ejection stage. They get caught on the ejection port mouth, likely due to the 2 3/4" ejector kicking them out too soon.

So yes, always use a 3" compatible barrel. Pressure is not an issue. But ejection of fired shells may be problematic.

 

[vpsalin]

My wingmaster will cycle UNFIRED 3" shells just fine. FIRED 3" shells get hung up during the ejection stage. They get caught on the ejection port mouth, likely due to the 2 3/4" ejector kicking them out too soon.

So yes, always use a 3" compatible barrel. Pressure is not an issue. But ejection of fired shells may be problematic.

Do you rack it really hard?

 

[Moose308]

Do you rack it really hard?

No. If you need to morter your shotgun to get it to eject, something is wrong.

Is it possible it could eject by racking it so hard you bend metal? Perhaps. But I don't see the point.

 

[vpsalin]

The shells is what seems to be taking the beating!

 

[jim1226]

You can have a gunsmith ream out the ejection port a bit, and the fired hulls will clear.

 

[canucklehead]

You can have a gunsmith ream out the ejection port a bit, and the fired hulls will clear.

Yeah that's the wrong way to fix the problem. Simply install a 3" ejector (you need a tool and maybe a refinish, but cleaner/better than just opening the port!)

 

[jim1226]

Yeah that's the wrong way to fix the problem. Simply install a 3" ejector (you need a tool and maybe a refinish, but cleaner/better than just opening the port!)

Well, it worked for me.