The 870 Wingmaster was introduce in 1950, so your 1931 date is out....this leaves it as a 1975 version as it clearly is not a 2005 model.
A great looking gun at a great price!

Well done

 

Thanks! I guess I shouldn't shoot steel shot in it, right?

 

You can shoot steel if you buy a replacement barrel. Mine is a 76, I have had it since new. I have the original barrel plus a newer rem-choke barrel.

 

Well, I have a newer one with Rem Chokes and Magnum receiver I can use for steel then; I don't want to change barrels to shoot this one. I have some older lead shot ammo I can use for pheasants.

 

Well, I have a newer one with Rem Chokes and Magnum receiver I can use for steel then; I don't want to change barrels to shoot this one. I have some older lead shot ammo I can use for pheasants.

Only shoot 2 3/4" shells in it as it is not a magnum and is NOT made to shoot 3" or 3 1/2" shells!
Enjoy hour new toy!

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I believe all 870 12 gauge receivers handle the same pressures but your barrels chamber may be too short or your extractor may not be rated for 3" shells. To check your 2 3/4" 870 you can still test the extractor with an unfired 3 inch magnum shell as many receivers were still paired with identical extractors. After purchasing a barrel with a 3 inch chamber you should be ready to go.

 

Shoot steel it will be fine.

 

When the steel shot for water foul rule in California came out we (my Dad and I) called Remington and they advised against shooting steel through the original barrels. We took it at face value. I haven't shot steel through the original barrel yet. It was Remington's advise back in the 80s. I will tell you the original lead barrel is quite a bit thinner than the steel shot Remchoke barrel.

 

Strangely enough I remember the phone call. They were concerned about steel shot scoring the barrels designed for lead.

 

Well then, from what ya'll are saying, I could change barrels with my 1986 870 Magnum for steel shot, as long as it is not magnum and is 2 3/4", if I wanted to. (If it will hook up.)

 

The magnum barrels as far as I know work in the 2 3/4 guns. My Remchoke barrel is a magnum. You just can't run magnum shells through it because it is a 2 3/4 receiver. Remington does have a table on their website showing which barrels are compatible.

 

Thanks guys! This is a great forum! I appreciate the information!

Terry

 

If you email Remington with your serial # they will tell you that if you change the ejector to a 3". You can shoot 3 " using a magnum barrel with you 75wingmaster.

 

That's nice to know, too!

 

Good to know. I didn't know this.

 

Remington barrels from 1950 and newer are fine for steel shot. The barrels rated for anything are not a bit thicker, except that the RemChoke barrels are a bit thicker in the choke area, but that's because of the choke design, not steel. They did not advise shooting anything larger than #2 steel thru anything tighter than Modified choke on the website last time i checked.

 

I haven't measured it, but the remchoke barrel is thicker and heavier. It's notably heavier in hand. I haven't chased this down beyond a phone call many years ago and maybe the barrel is thicker because it's a magnum rather than because it's for steel shot, I don't know. I stand by what I said. I am sitting here looking at both barrels right now. I'm not going to run steel shot through the lead barrel because Remington told me not to do it. I like my old original barrel because it is lighter and has better swing even though the Remchoke barrel is two inches shorter. Why would Remington tell me not to do it if they didn't have a concern? I'm quite certain they did a lot of testing on their guns when steel shot first came out. Given they manufacture guns and ammunition, I'm betting they understand metallurgy and the hardness of their barrels. I think I am going to stick with trusting what the manufacturer told me.

 

The pressure tolerance is the same amongst all of the 12 gauge receivers.. the barrels chamber and the extractor are the only things that may need to be changed out. Most extractors can eject a 3 inch shell and you can use an unfired 3 inch shell to test your 2/34" 870s ejector still. Just don't fire it until your barrel has been swaped.

 

You can shoot steel in barrels after 1963. Remington says steel shot is fine in fixed barrels choked no tighter than modified and shot larger than #2.

 

Thanks! I guess I shouldn't shoot steel shot in it, right?

You would probably get away with it, but Remington is likely to say you need to replace the barrel with a current barrel rated for steel shot.

Thanks! I guess I shouldn't shoot steel shot in it, right?

You would probably get away with it, but Remington is likely to say you need to replace the barrel with a newer barrel that is rated for steel shot before doing that.

 

I have 1970’s “vintage” 1100s. I shoot steel out of them all the time. Usually #4s. Original barrels …I/C and modified. Two are going to Canada tomorrow.

 

See post #20.