What's the Difference...870 Express/Sportsman/Wingmaster

Jimmyjames8

Jimmyjames8

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Just starting to shop around for a 20 gauge shotgun for my 12 yr. old son. Want something of quality, but don't want to break the bank. He wants a pump so I naturally started with Remington. I realize the Wingmaster is the top of the 870 line, Express bottom side. Do they still produce the Sportsmen?? If so what is the average price. I can't seem to find the Sportsman model online, did they faze it out with all the Express models? Like to buy local - southern Ontario.
 
I believe that Remington briefly brought back the sportsman, Cabela's had some and I believe they still may. It featured a laminated stock and 3 chokes as well as a fiberoptic sight I didn't get a chance to thoroughly examine the model I saw. I feel that it my be a step up from an express but still not a wingmaster.
 
There are a couple nice bps 20 ga guns in the EE.I would opt for the wingmaster or a bps . buy quality now it will pay down off years down the road .
 
Ok... I understand quality. Let me ask you this. I found a New Sportsman 870, 20 gauge. What is the difference between Wingmaster and Sportsman. Is it as simple as the quality of wood? Is the Sportsmans guts closer to Express or the Wingmasters? What are your thoughts..... Should I buy Sportsman, I like idea of low gloss wood.
 
I have both an older Wing, and a new to me Sportsman. To the best of my research, the Sportsman was Remington solution to cheapen the cost of the original Wing masters. They were introduced in 1984, and only made for three years. In 1986 the lowered the cost/quality with the Express.

The Sportsman has all the same internal guts and metal work of the Wing master, it lacks the deep shiny wood and fancy checkering, as well as the bluing seems to be a little duller, but for all intended purpose it is a Wing. I have already changed some parts back and forth, and all are fully interchangeable.

If you can find and older Wing, or Sportsman you cannot go wrong. Also some of the 1980's Express' are quite good as well. It got real ugly with the Express after about 1992.
 
Jimmyjames8 said:
Ok... I understand quality. Let me ask you this. I found a New Sportsman 870, 20 gauge. What is the difference between Wingmaster and Sportsman. Is it as simple as the quality of wood? Is the Sportsmans guts closer to Express or the Wingmasters? What are your thoughts..... Should I buy Sportsman, I like idea of low gloss wood.
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Wingmasters are in their own class.
Not sure if you remember the full sized chevs in the 60's
There was the base plain model the biscayne, then belair, impala and finally the caprice
Same goes for these guns. They are all 870's but the wingmaster is the top of the line and the express the base.

Also are you talking sportsman or sportsman field which is what one can buy today the other has not been made for probally 25 years. The sportsman's field is just an express with nicer wood
 
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Remington's are the Dodge of pick-up trucks.
If you make it, they will buy.............not eye...........:wave:
I do appreciate yer concern.

3macs1 said:
You have never owned a vintage wingmaster or a 60's 427 impala to say that. Shame what you missed out on. Hard to imagine why remington would have sold over 11 million of them if they were junk. Cheers
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kamlooky said:
Remington's are the Dodge of pick-up trucks.
If you make it, they will buy.............not eye...........:wave:
I do appreciate yer concern.
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Ya think.. Well I find that funny since my everyday driver is a 89 dodge 4x4 mint with original paint. What are you driving today that is 24 years old??? . I still shoot my 1st wingmaster bought in 1965 with never an issue . Pound for pound hard to beat a wingmaster. As they say the tools are only as good as the the one that owns them.
Please share what you have that has out worked my old truck and 870's . Also have quite a few different pumps to compare them against like a set of bps, model 12's, 31's, ithaca 37's etc but if I had to keep one style it would be wingmasters and they are not junk that is for sure:)
 
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Well wunce upon a tyme................
A 1942 Willy's eye nick'd named Willy.
Yup, just like pecker, kuz a pecker it was.

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/Lookys%20Stuff/DSC02891.jpg.html][/URL]

And there was Augie that I would do a bumper pull with yer Dudge.
Fer the "a la carte" too.

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/Lookys%20Stuff/DSC02920.jpg.html][/URL]

A Ford in my testing years...........

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/Lookys%20Stuff/DSC02906.jpg.html][/URL]

Mizz Lewky way back yonder........

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/Lookys%20Stuff/DSC02915.jpg.html][/URL]

And my old work horse...............1988 Ferd F-150 that thought is was a big truck.
Good ole 300-6.

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/Lookys%20Stuff/DSC02898.jpg.html][/URL]

The toys when I was a ruff tuff cream puff..........
All myne........

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/Lookys%20Stuff/DSC02901.jpg.html][/URL]

What else ya wanna know............yup Remington isn't a flavor here, nor Dudge.
I learned me lesson after number two on the D......chit and R.......chit.

Hey Macattack, don't take things so purr sunn all.
I'm entitled to my opepinyun tew.
It was asked and I replied.

Funny how Renmington and Dudge go hand in hand..........aye?
 
Back on track. The Express and Sportsman Field will suit you well as a hunter. A Wingmaster is nice but not needed if you just want a working pump. The real difference (beyond cosmetics) in Remington pumps is when you take apart a Police Magnum. These guns are built with much more wear resistant parts and components for super reliable performance in life or death situations. I own a 870 16 gauge Express and I am a certified 870 Police Armourer and I endorse this message.

regards, Darryl
 
Never mind years ago what old iron do you still have. :) I would be here for a week if we were talking pics of old iron I had.
Do like the jeep and the 69/70 chev. Those who know me would recall I probally had a dozen or so of those 67-72 chev / gmc trucks over the years and yes yours would pull the bumper off my dodge but not my 69 gmc I built in 87 for bogging. I will find a pic. 70 454 390 hp out of a chevelle with 205 trans case 4 speed and 488 gears, 14 bolt gm rear, dana 60 front with 4 wheel posi and 12" lift with 17x40's.
I'm not a dodge man but big block chev impala and chevelle just hated the 89 chev trucks so bought a 89 dodge
She is still mint which is quite a task in eastern canada
take care and thanks for sharing the pics :)

My apologies to the OP for going off track but Wingmasters are far from junk and I have a few in all gauges and just keep buying them when I find deals. No comment looky on anything FORD :) and it is nothing personnel just not fair to the OP to label 870's as junk and you know what they say about opinions. take care :)
 
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That old chev would run mustangs light to light.
Front and rear posi's locked up tighter than a drum.
Turbo 400 shift kitted and a 375hp 396 big block.
Man that gal pulled.
Would smoke all fours.
The only thing it wouldn't pass was a gas station.

Old iron I still have?
Laugh2
A 1971 CT 70........with regi's..........Laugh2 bite me.
A 1980 CT 70
A 1980 XL 100
A 1984 XL 200 with regi's.
My 1999 PSD F-350
A 1997 Zuki...............daily driver.

I have lernt................:wave:

Oh, no Remlingtons of any sort.
 
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