[Wolfe-Shooter]

I just came into possession of an old 870 Wingmaster and this is my first shotgun. I am excited to get started but had a question first.

I have heard of older guns not being compatable with steel shot which is the legal standard in Florida for waterfowl. I have heard of such a thing as Bismuth and other Tungsten alloy ammo which is softer.

How do I know if my particular gun is OK for the typical steel shot?

I dont want to damage the gun but I also dont want to go broke buying shells at $19/box (with fewer than normal in said box...).

Any advice?

Thanks in advance,

Brian

 

[Wolfe-Shooter]

Updated info.

Im lookin at the gun and the things I see stamped on the barrel are...

"Full" (The choke I presume)

Some patent info...

A Serial number of .....141410V

And what looks like the letters "T R X X" (whatever that means).

Any guidance would be appreciated.

 

[Researcher]

I wouldn't use steel in that barrel. I have an 870 Express super-mag which I'd swap with you any day though, and then you'd have one that was good for all the cheap steel you'd ever want to shoot. But sadly, I live in Minnesota.

To go after waterfowl with that lovely old piece you're probably gonna want to invest in some nice Impact Tungsten Matrix, or Bismuth loads. You can get 2 3/4" shells for as little as $13 to $15 per 10-round box at Mack's Prairie Wings on-line. Kent's Tungsten Matrix is equal to lead in almost every way, about 10% denser than Bismuth or 10% lighter than Hevi-Shot (which you should also steer clear of IMO).

Too bad about the ammo price, but that gun is worth it! The only other practical route - short of buying a new WingMaster barrel from Remington - is to get that fixed choke reamed out to Light Modified and then you can shoot steel to your heart's content. That service is about $40 around here.

-Dave

 

[wb]

Steel and full chokes don't go well together, you need at least a mod choke even in a newer gun. Get the serial number off the gun and call Remington they will give you the right dope.
:idea: There is the option of replacing the barrel with a newer model with choke tubes?

 

[Wolfe-Shooter]

What can I expect to pay for a replacement barrel for this gun?

Where is the best place to look for them? Remington's website? If so, could somebody link me to the proper section? I looked around there under the "Gun Parts" section but couldnt find anything relevant. Maybe I'm blind. Anyway, thanks for the advice. Much appreciated.

-BW

 

[grousetrapper]

Ebay often has replacement barrels. Also, Cabelas has barrels for the 870 from other manufacturers that you can get for less than $100. I would expect that you can get one on Ebay for much less.

Don

 

[Wolfe-Shooter]

I looked on Cabelas again and all I found was stuff in the $149+ price range. Am I not looking in the right spot?

Anyway, thanks again for all the help and suggestions.

 

[mountainview]

Check Midway and some other places to see who offers the best price, Cabelas is competitive on pricing but not always the least expensive. Blued barrels will run higher than the painted barrels used on the Express but would match and enhance the aesthetics better. Mossberg makes some replacement barrels for Rem shotguns and these are probably the least expensive. You may also want to consider getting a new Rem Express for a bit more money than the cost of a replacement barrel for your 870. That would give you a "nice" gun and a "working" gun to use as needed.

 

[Bonasa]

You may also want to consider getting a new Rem Express for a bit more money than the cost of a replacement barrel for your 870. That would give you a "nice" gun and a "working" gun to use as needed.

Excellent advice. Moreover, you could get that 870 Express with a 3.5-inch chamber and have all the versatility you could ever ask for in waterfowling. You didn't mention whether or not your Wingmaster has a 3-inch chamber. If it doesn't--i.e., is marked 2.75-inch shells only--then I really think mountainview's advice is best. I'd get an 870 Express or a Mossberg 500 or 835 to use as your dedicated waterfowl and/or turkey gun, and save the Wingmaster for lighter game. However, if you do opt for the replacement barrel for the Wingmaster, I think Mossberg has the best deal going--about $150 with vent rib and screw in chokes.

 

[WingMaster]

The letter V suffix on your serial number designates that your 870 receiver can only handle 2.75 inch shells. Remember that, as most new barrels will chamber both 2.75 and 3 inch shells, but you should only shoot 2.75.

Another good place to look for barrels is www.tjgeneralstore.com

 

[The Snipe Hunter]

I think either of the suggestions for a different barrel or a second gun for steel is a good choice. I got my first 870 almost thirty years ago and I've never had a problem with it. Welcome to the forum from a fellow Tallahassean!

SH