Success! A Very AWESOME Day For my Grandfathers 870 Wingmaster!!

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CamDelle

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I have a 1956 remington 870 wingmaster with full choke that takes 2 3/4 Shells. I inherited this gun 29 years ago and Have never fired it. The last time it was used was before 1969. As I am getting into guns and hunting this year I was going to add it to my growing arsenal ( LOL) to go out bird hunting. Emailed remington and they told me not to use it. Really is a shame as it is in great condition.

Talked to a gunsmith and he said he could bore it out to use it for $75.00 but I would be limited to what I could do with it.

So now I am in the market for a new pump or semi auto. I would like to stay under $600.00.

I am really interested in the weatherby pa-08 or the sa-08.

Anyone have any suggestions?
 
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Buy a brand new express barrel and a new mag cap to go with it. They will slide right on no problem.

Problem solved.

By the way, that Wingmaster is thrice the gun you will get for anything new under $600
 
I'm sorry, but what's the actual problem with the gun? Is the barrel damaged? If so I'd do exactly what Saber suggested; New barrel. Keep the old one for authenticity.
 
I have the same 870 made in the early 50's. I inherited it from my uncle. It has been in continuous use since it was new, either by him or by me. I use it all the time (with lead shot) for chicken. I do not use steel shot in it so it doesn't go out for waterfowl anymore. I have an 870 Express for that but the Wingmaster is just fine to use with lead shot.

What the heck is supposed to be wrong with yours??? Surely Remington means that you simply shouldn't use it with steel shot??
 
I shoot a 58/59 wingmaster for trap every weekend, why do they say yours is no go? Any new barrel will fit ( and use your existing mag cap). The new barrels that ship with the guns now lack the detent ball, but the barrels sold separately still have it. The extractor will not handle 3" shells, but I would think you are good to go on 2 3/4" shells.
 
Yes, unless the gun is damaged, I think Remington meant not to use steel shot in it, especially if it has a full choke. It sounds like it has a full choke if a gunsmith said he would open it up. But I also don't understand why it wouldn't be good for anything else if the choke was opened up. It would still be fine for upland game, especially if you are in brush or shooting at birds that are not that far.
 
CamDelle said:
thx for the help

Where would I get the barrel and whats the mag cap? Also wont I still be limited to 2 3/4 shells?
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Any gunshop can order you in a new barrel. The magazine cap is needed because the cap is different on the wingmaster barrel so the original wont work. A cap that fits an Express gun (to match the new barrel) will.

Im assuming since your smith told you he could bore out the barrel, the gun is still sound. Remington must be telling you not to use steel shot. On a side note, boreing out the barrel to modified choke will get you by in the vast majority of your bird hunting applications. You'll still be limited to 2 3/4" shells, but thats really not much of a limitation. If you have no intention of wterfowl hunting and only want to shoot upland birds, then you dont need to do anything. Use lead shells and have at it.
 
jaydog said:
Why doesn't Remington want you to use it?
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Noltz said:
I'm sorry, but what's the actual problem with the gun? Is the barrel damaged? If so I'd do exactly what Saber suggested; New barrel. Keep the old one for authenticity.
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Joe549 said:
Not sure what I am missing, but why would Remington tell you not to use it??? Is this just their way to try and make you buy something new??
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I am thinking it has to be for steel shot use. Certainly no other reason not to use a fine classic shotgun like that.


Mark
 
As others have stated above I think you have a fine classic shotgun there and in good original condition too. Hunt it as is and with 2 3/4 inch shells for upland game birds and buy another shotgun for everything else. Any modification will spoil it and decrease the value.

If your are budget-challenged a new 870 Express in 3 or 3 1/2 inch with the screw-in Rem-Chokes will take you all the way and you could eventually buy a slug barrel for deer too if that is your thing.
 
One thing no one has mentioned---if he puts a barrel on it for three or three and a half inch shells, the ejection port may not be long enough to kick out the empties. It can be an issue if it was an older 870 that was chambered only for two and three quarter inch shells.
 
Yes Sorry all. Gun is in perfect shape. I did mean for steel shot. Sorry my first year as a gun nut. I am planning to go after migratory so that is the issue I was talking about.

Was thinking it made more sense to get a new gun?
 
Mike K. said:
One thing no one has mentioned---if he puts a barrel on it for three or three and a half inch shells, the ejection port may not be long enough to kick out the empties. It can be an issue if it was an older 870 that was chambered only for two and three quarter inch shells.
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None of the vintage or current wingmasters will handle 3 1/2" only those with super mag receivers produced in 2002 and maybe 2003 as far as wingmasters go. However all others or shall I say 95% have the exact same receiver on a 2 3/4" and 3" as far as opening goes.
Have heard about a receiver with a 1/4" difference but have never seen one and I have had and worked on many many of these.
My earliest is a 1959 and her ejection port handles 3" no problem and she was an original 2 3/4" skeet model. take care
 
Full choke is pretty much obsolete with modern shells for both upland and waterfowl hunting in my opinion. But the cure is simple and inexpensive. I think your gun will be better for almost all purposes if you have the choke reamed out to modified, or between 0.015 and 0.020" restriction. Doing so will make your gun better for all upland bird hunting with the exception of turkey. It will make your gun a decent waterfowl gun with steel shot #2's or thereabouts ( #1- #3 all work well for me). You do not need a longer chamber for shooting waterfowl if you watch your shots and don't try to stretch the range past about 40 yds. I prefer to shoot steel 2-3/4" 12 ga shells out of a modified choke for nearly all my waterfowl hunting. Enjoy the gun you were given, it has LOTS of hunts in it yet!
 
If you would be ok with 2 3/4" shells, just get a new remington 'extra' barrel. It will have the detent ball and work with your existing mag cap. You can get a 28" wingmaster barrel for ~250, it will come with 3 chokes. An express barrel is less. A used takeoff from the ee may or may not have the detent ball.
 
I find it interesting that Remington would tell you not to use steel shot at all. I bought an 870 barrel a few years ago and it came with a leaflet stating that fixed full choke barrels for the 870 (among others) are safe to use with steel shot sized #1 and smaller.

That being said, full choke is generally not conducive to best patterns with steel shot. Either have the existing choke reamed out or buy a new barrel with choke tubes.
 
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