Wingmaster. Wow.

the spank said:
All this talk of how smooth a Wingmaster is to pump. All I can say is my experiences tell me alot of people have never shot a broken in model 12 or especially a pre-64 pigeon grade model 12 target grade gun. I owned a handful of 70's manufactured 870 Wingmasters at one time and they were nowhere near as smooth as my pre-64 model 12's or my browning model 12 repro's.
Click to expand...

I have many of them in fact still own a few and my model 31 remingtons are smoother as is my 50's wingmaster factory skeet guns. Yes I would agree not as smooth out ofn the box unless heavily used
Those 50's examples I can look at and they will cycle almost by themselves
Yes a model 12 is smooth but so are some used wingmasters
Not sure what you have for a repo other than that grade 5 28ga but I have a full set of grade 1 and none of those cycle like an original model 12 IMO in fact both the 20ga and 28ga I had to modify to get the rounds feeding right into the chamber especially the 28 ga. The 20ga would dump rounds on the ground She was a single shot for some time :(
Just my 2 cents which is worthless :)
Cheers
 
Last edited:
enefgee said:
I have a 1952, it is well used, 2 3/4 only and I had to re-stake the shell latches. It is not for sale, it will not be refinished, the marks and wear on it are testaments to its history. The action is as smooth as butter, and while I don't normally ascribe personality to a gun, this is as close to being a friend as any gun has ever gotten. They simply made things better back then.
Click to expand...

There was surely more hand fitting and care went into the assembly of the early 50's models. I have examples from the 60's, 70's and 80's to compare against and the early 50's are noticeably smoother to cycle
Cheers
 
I've tried a few and recently an older (mid 70s) production gun. Like often on these older Wingmasters the receiver was pitted although there was some blueing left. It did not cycle any smoother than a Canuck Regulator with 200 rounds through it and it is for sure a heavy beast. Despite having a short 18.5" barrel it weights more than a regular BPS hunter with 28" barrel.
 
I know they’re well made shotguns but I really have no interest in a Wingmaster, I would consider one if it was a walnut stocked 3” magnum model with a blued 14” or 20” rifle sighted barrel. Something along the lines of an old school police style police shotgun, the 28”-30” barrel and high gloss stock finishes don’t do much for me. The deep bluing I can get into though and I’m definitely a fan of the 870 platform.
 
Have a question for all the model 12 lovers. Where do you get them fixed today in canada and where do you get parts for them when they fail and they do
As good as they may be parts wear out if used
Last guy I remember that could work on them properly was a smith at Epps but he is long gone
Wingmasters I can fix in the dark with minimal tools not so on a model 12 when it goes bad
I just put a new factory choked tubed barrel on a 1965 16ga wingmaster cannot do that with my 16ga model 12
Cheers
 
Last edited:
You say "model 12 lovers" as if it's distasteful! :)

I don't particularly qualify as a lover of models 12's (or pump guns in general) I have had a few m12's over the years as well as 870's but I was merely thinking that for every 870 fan out there I'd think there would be an m12 fan. At least there was when the m12 was still being made which was in a time when a lot of people seem to think that the best 870's were being made. Of course the 870 has the advantage of still being in production.
We're in opposite ends of the country 3macs1 but thinking back 30 years, it seems to me that in the circles I traveling in there were far more m12's on the trap line than 870's, but I could be wrong.

There's a gunsmith in Calgary that is extremely knowledgeable about m12's and he seems to have no trouble getting parts but I have no idea about he rest of the country though.
 
Last edited:
I have an old wingmaster that I shoot trap with. Last year it would not ####, took it apart and the sear and hammer catch were virtually non existant. $40 bux later installed a new hammer and sear and she is going again. Bought it used at an auction about 15 years ago. One can only imagine how many rounds have gone down the pipe to wear out those parts. Good old gun!
 
Wingmasters are great, and while I've had a few 870s....only one Wingmaster, and it was a 20ga large frame. I've shot old Wingmasters though, and certainly plenty of 870 Express. The Express gets allot of bad press, but our family 870 Express (20ga Youth) has been a gem, and it still basically looks like it did when I bought it maybe 7-8 years ago. No comparison to Wingmasters of course, but a PERFECTLY functioning gun, every time.

I inherited an Ithaca 37 maybe 5 years ago, 16ga, made during WW2. It is by FAR the slickest-cycling shotgun I've ever owned/used. Like 3Mac suggested...it can almost cycle itself. Quite something to see.

I'm mostly drawn to old Wingmasters, but since you can't use choke tubes on the original barrels (often fixed/FULL choke) their "usefulness" in my life is very limited. I have a couple of old girls with fixed chokes as it is, so adding a WM means they see even less time in the sun. Doesn't mean I don't still want one. :)
 
Falconflyer said:
You say "model 12 lovers" as if it's distasteful! :)

I don't particularly qualify as a lover of models 12's (or pump guns in general) I have had a few m12's over the years as well as 870's but I was merely thinking that for every 870 fan out there I'd think there would be an m12 fan. At least there was when the m12 was still being made which was in a time when a lot of people seem to think that the best 870's were being made. Of course the 870 has the advantage of still being in production.
We're in opposite ends of the country 3macs1 but thinking back 30 years, it seems to me that in the circles I traveling in there were far more m12's on the trap line than 870's, but I could be wrong.

There's a gunsmith in Calgary that is extremely knowledgeable about m12's and he seems to have no trouble getting parts but I have no idea about he rest of the country though.
Click to expand...

But it is not 30 years ago. They have done their time. Only us old guys seem to still buy the odd one and it has to be special
One thing I know for sure the prices have fallen on them big time
I have not seen much interest with the black gun guys either. The 870 dominates there
Just my opinion
Cheers
 
I'm not disagreeing with you, I was just saying that I've seen as many m12's in competition as I have 870's, and still do for that matter.
The 870 has the distinct advantage over the m12 of still being in production so it's obviously going to be more popular today. The m12 was too expensive to manufacture and couldn't compete with the price point of the Remington to it went away, not because it wasn't a good product but simply on account of economics.
Modernizing the 870 so it appealed to the black gun guys is one of the few really smart marketing moves that Remington has made in the last few years, and they haven't made many!
 
Falconflyer said:
I'm not disagreeing with you, I was just saying that I've seen as many m12's in competition as I have 870's, and still do for that matter.
The 870 has the distinct advantage over the m12 of still being in production so it's obviously going to be more popular today. The m12 was too expensive to manufacture and couldn't compete with the price point of the Remington to it went away, not because it wasn't a good product but simply on account of economics.
Modernizing the 870 so it appealed to the black gun guys is one of the few really smart marketing moves that Remington has made in the last few years, and they haven't made many!
Click to expand...

Been many years since I have seen any model 12 or 870's in any competitions down this way
Years ago that was all there was I agree
Cheers
 
3macs1 said:
Have a question for all the model 12 lovers. Where do you get them fixed today in canada and where do you get parts for them when they fail and they do
As good as they may be parts wear out if used
Last guy I remember that could work on them properly was a smith at Epps but he is long gone
Wingmasters I can fix in the dark with minimal tools not so on a model 12 when it goes bad
I just put a new factory choked tubed barrel on a 1965 16ga wingmaster cannot do that with my 16ga model 12
Cheers
Click to expand...

I have rebuilt 2 now from swamp rotten/broken condition to full up slick shell cycling machines once more.

Parts from Numrich Gun Corp are dirt cheap and plentiful. A lot of them are aftermarket and lot are original OEM.
Some hand fitting/filing can be required especially on the ejector spring part from shotgun to shotgun. Also I had to hand fit the little bolt locking tab replacement to get it fit the original OEM bolt but I'm talking 3 strokes with a rat file and good to go.

Most common failure on them (after about 60 years of service lol) is a broken firing pin tip. Firing pins can be had for the 12ga models for like $20 from Numrich last time I ordered parts to rebuild one.
Every gun show I've been to has several parts bins of fully stripped Model 12's in pieces. I picked up a coffee can full of Model 12 guts and screws and parts for like $30 at the last show.

I'm not a "gun smith" by any means but aside from refacing the interior barrel/receiver thread ring to correct head space with a non matching barrel assembly (which is seldom required anyhow) there is very little that can't be done on a work bench with a good set of files, attention to detail and some patience on these old beasts. It's becoming a hobby of mine and I'm always looking for tossed aside Model 12 that someone gave up on to put it back in the service ;)
And to be honest you could do this with a mounted belt sander or grinder with fine stone to slowly bring the ring down to proper size to ensure the barrel assy mates up with the receiver face then just adjust the tension ring to get proper tight fit anyways...
 
I got three older Wingmasters in excellent condition, and whenever I see another one out there for sale, I am all eyes and ears...
Have to fight myself, just not to buy another one.

I got Win Mod 12 as well, and love it. It's a tank.
 
Travis Bickle said:
I have rebuilt 2 now from swamp rotten/broken condition to full up slick shell cycling machines once more.

Parts from Numrich Gun Corp are dirt cheap and plentiful. A lot of them are aftermarket and lot are original OEM.
Some hand fitting/filing can be required especially on the ejector spring part from shotgun to shotgun. Also I had to hand fit the little bolt locking tab replacement to get it fit the original OEM bolt but I'm talking 3 strokes with a rat file and good to go.

Most common failure on them (after about 60 years of service lol) is a broken firing pin tip. Firing pins can be had for the 12ga models for like $20 from Numrich last time I ordered parts to rebuild one.
Every gun show I've been to has several parts bins of fully stripped Model 12's in pieces. I picked up a coffee can full of Model 12 guts and screws and parts for like $30 at the last show.

I'm not a "gun smith" by any means but aside from refacing the interior barrel/receiver thread ring to correct head space with a non matching barrel assembly (which is seldom required anyhow) there is very little that can't be done on a work bench with a good set of files, attention to detail and some patience on these old beasts. It's becoming a hobby of mine and I'm always looking for tossed aside Model 12 that someone gave up on to put it back in the service ;)
And to be honest you could do this with a mounted belt sander or grinder with fine stone to slowly bring the ring down to proper size to ensure the barrel assy mates up with the receiver face then just adjust the tension ring to get proper tight fit anyways...
Click to expand...

How about fixing one out of time. I recall those being a pure joy to work on and fix only to find out that somewhere along the line some untrained bubba reworked the trigger which was common back in the day
By that time you have no hair left :) To fix a new trigger or a rebuild needs to be fitted which is not something may can do right today IMO including gunsmiths
Cheers
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom