Thinking about building a tac shotgun

Moose308

Moose308

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Victoria, BC
Situation: Going through my gun case, I realize I have an old 870 Wingmaster sitting there, never being used. It likely will never be used, since it is 2 3/4" only, 28 barrel, fixed full choke. It has long-ago been superceded by an 870 super mag for duckhunting chores.

So it got me thinking, it would be nice to have a tactical shotgun as a toy. Now, I know what the first answer will be. "Just buy a new 3" shotgun". However, I was thinking about breathing new life into an old gun.

So I was thinking, what are your thoughts on using an old 2 3/4" Wingmaster as a tactical gun platform. It is in good mechanical shape, but obviously I would need to do lots of work to get it into shape. I would think I would need to,

-Replace the stock. Has nice wood, but I would likely want a black syth stock.
-Covert it from 2 3/4" to 3". This is a big step. But I would want max ammo compatibility.
-New barrel. I was thinking something like a 21 vented rib, rem-choked barrel.
-Refinish. Flat black Duracoat would be fun.

I know that I could just buy a premade tactical 870 for about $450 brand new, but I figure, even if this project comes in at less than $400, then I save $50. Right?

Or...is there even a market for old 870 2 3/4" wingmasters? I could always sell, and buy a new tacti-cool shotty. But I can't see anyone wanting one.
 
Have a look at Tactical Ordnance's website, in the gallery. I believe one of his re-done 870's is a Wingmaster.
 
I've got an old Wingmaster I use for 3 gun and as a quad/bush gun. I put a mag extension, side saddle and a single-point sling mount on, shortened the LOP with my mitre saw and she's good to go. I've never felt short changed by it being a 2 3/4" gun.

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I have built 3 from wingmasters, and you won't find a better gun. Unless you're hunting with it , don't worry about 3 inch. The gong doesn't care and try shooting 75 or 100 3 inch magnums in your t shirt on a summers day. Chopp the barrel to 18 1/2 inches put a new bead or ghost ring sights and you can add all the doo dads you want. The most expensive part would be a short barrel, my dlask was $300.
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Agreed with the above... I've never shot 3", but at the same time I've never felt the need. There was another guy recently who had a thread about revamping an old $80 Wingmaster he'd picked up at the shop, also 2-3/4". True, there are additional costs with building one out of a pre-existing platform... like drilling and tapping for a rail, sights, synthetic furniture, etc... but as you said, even if you spend $400 on the project, you still come in at less than the cost of a new Express. Not to mention the fact that the Wingmaster began its life at a higher quality than the Express in the first place.

The only difference is, for that extra $50, you get a "spare" shotgun. I'm assuming the barrels and such will swap between the Wingmaster and the Express, so if nothing else you might be able to pick up an Express (possibly even used on the EE), swap the parts you want (like the barrel and furniture) over to your Wingmaster, and sell the Express Receiver (and possibly some of your parts) to recoup some losses. If you've got a bit of patience, you may be fortunate enough to catch one with the parts you want for cheap.

In any event, have fun with it... not much point in doing it otherwise, is there?
 
Moose308, Ive always got alot more satisfaction out of building rather than buying. The wingmaster is a great platform to start with. What I would recommend would be sell the parts you dont want on the EE and replace them with parts you do want. Somebody might want a 28" wingmaster barrel, and the wood is always in demand. Or you can cut the barrel and add a +2 extension. Parts arent to expensive if you keep it simple you could do it for alot less than $400
 
3" capable sounds nice, but realistically I myself, never really needed it for hunting.
That includes 2 3/4 brenneke/foster slugs, birdshot for upland game & the odd buckshot round for varmints. I guess for the ultimate survival tool, you could make a good argument for this extra option.
 
Sell the wingmaster to someone who wants to hunt. Buy yourself an 870 Police. Then start adding stuff onto it.
 
00Buck said:
Sell the wingmaster to someone who wants to hunt. Buy yourself an 870 Police. Then start adding stuff onto it.
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What are the differences between the Wingmaster and the Police? I'm assuming the synthetic furniture and parkerization (or whatever coating), and possibly a 3-1/2" chamber, but anything else?
 
For the new stock, I am thinking about buying a Mesa tactical Leo adaptor from GP tactical (found pretty common though).

You can get creative and put Magpul colapsable stocks on, different pistol grips (aslong as the grip does not have that extended backstrap like on AR15s)

I was also thinking about changing the color scheme to OD green on black.
 
Haagen_Dazs said:
For the new stock, I am thinking about buying a Mesa tactical Leo adaptor from GP tactical (found pretty common though).

You can get creative and put Magpul colapsable stocks on, different pistol grips (aslong as the grip does not have that extended backstrap like on AR15s)

I was also thinking about changing the color scheme to OD green on black.
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The od green and black combo looks really good, i have done this to a bunch of 870,s looks good
bbb
 
pope_face said:
What are the differences between the Wingmaster and the Police? I'm assuming the synthetic furniture and parkerization (or whatever coating), and possibly a 3-1/2" chamber, but anything else?
Click to expand...

Differences are not huge but...

You'll put your tacticool stuff on the wingmaster and in the end you'll still end up craving a police model. So you might as well get the police from the start.

It saves you building the same gun twice and having to sell the first one on the EE to buy the one you should have gotten in the first place.

Also if you buy the MCS 870 don't pay $2,000 for it.
 
00Buck said:
Differences are not huge but...

You'll put your tacticool stuff on the wingmaster and in the end you'll still end up craving a police model.
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I'm not trying to pick a fight or anything, but why would you crave a Police model over the Wingmaster? Especially if the differences are not huge?

I think if he has the Wingmaster, and the basic features suit his needs (aside from his desire for being able to use 3" shells), then there's no reason for him to go to the Police model... unless the cost of modifying his Wingmaster exceeds the cost of getting a Police model.

This is just my own opinion, but if I had the option of modifying something I already had, vs buying something new and modifying that, and both gave me similar results, then I'd much rather go with the former. The money saved could be better used for ammunition. Still, I don't know the cost of a Police Model, so I could be way off base.
 
If it's tacticool it might as well be the tacticoolest. He's not going to use it in combat so obviously it's the fun an cool factor that's driving the purchase. For a few extra bucks he can get the coolest one right off the bat.
 
Speaking as someone that's never handled a police model, I personally would build the wingmaster. Aside from the 14" barrel, I don't really see any advantage to it for a guy like me that's lucky to run 200 rounds a year through it, shooting non aggresive targets. I guess I just don't know what I'm missing .... and If it means I could save $200-300 and build a similar gun, plus spend a few nights tinkering, how do you go wrong? Sounds like a win/win to me. :)
 
00Buck said:
If it's tacticool it might as well be the tacticoolest. He's not going to use it in combat so obviously it's the fun an cool factor that's driving the purchase. For a few extra bucks he can get the coolest one right off the bat.
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Ah, that makes sense.

Still, there is something special about building anything (guns, cars, houses) with your own two hands. It may not look, feel, or function the best on the block, but if you built it yourself with pride, then more power to ya.
 
The Wingmaster is a great action. I have seen way to many Express 870's with problems to even consider one. Heres my WM I put together over 20 yrs ago, The knoxx stocks we not around then, would like to change the folder. Came with a 20" slug barrel and sights, ported the barrel, added mag ext and Surefire, good to go camping,fishing or whatever.

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Put that old girl to use, you won't regret it IMHO:D
 
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