Another Grail Gun Achieved

A fellow gun club member and former co-worker stopped by my work and asked if I'd like some Remington hulls. Well of course I did. So I stopped over at his place Thursday right before going to the club to set up for Trap. (I fill the Pat Traps and load boxes of clays in the house before shooting starts) He gave me about 500 mixed Rem. STS, Nitro, and Win. AA hulls.
At the last annual meeting (2019) he had told me about his 870 Trap gun. As I was getting ready to leave Thursday, he wanted to show me that 870. He got it out, and I admired it, put it up to my shoulder, and tried not to drool too much. It was an 870 TB, with beautiful wood. He had put an adjustable comb and a pad on it. I started to hand it back to him, and he said " I wouldn't take less than (redatced) for it." I told him I had to get to the range, but I'd call him soon. I went and picked it up Saturday after work. He also gave me 6 boxes of Winchester promo Trap loads, a nice bonus.
I have wanted an 870 TB since I shot a friends back in 1979, when I was using my Dad's beat-up, back-up, 1100 for Trap. I bought a Wingmaster right after I turned 18, but couldn't afford a TB then.
Another gun I waited 40 years for, I will be trying it out Thursday.



It looks like a longer barrel here, but it is 30" Full. Here's a better shot of the wood:

I guess the Trap gun collection is growing......

NIGHTLORD40K said:

Congrats, nice score!

Are the Trap Models rare?

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Not exceedingly, it's just the first time I've had a chance at one when I actually had the money. There were a lot of TB's made in the 70's and early 80's, not as many TC's. (Same gun, but even fancier wood)

bannockburn said:

That's some mighty fine wood on your new-to-you Wingmaster 870 Trap! Hope it busts clays as good as it looks!

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I'll find out Thursday!

Armored farmer said:

Congratulations @entropy , as you know, I have a weakness for 870s.
That one is spectacular. The wood is excellent. I am excited for you.
Shooting a pumpgun is smooth and natural motion. Remember to toss a round in the port and let the carrier do the work. I feel they are easier to load/ unload than a break barrel gun
Remington's have a notoriously tight choke, (i assume its full) you'll be making ink spots from the 16, and winning shootoffs from the back fence.
I'm happy for you!
Enjoy

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Thanks! I have a lot of years dropping a shell onto the carrier of a Remington, and either pulling the forearm forward, or hitting the carrier latch. And yes, they are easier to load and extract than a break barrel. I shot my Model 12 in Jan., and I forgot how easy a pump was to work on the Trap line.

Thursday I test fired the Stevens 755A, It's a Mod. choke, roughly, and it functioned just fine. Probably won't be shooting Trap with that one, though.

Master Blaster said:

Nice shotgun and the previous owner did a good job on the adjustable comb. Did you say it was a full fixed choke barrel?

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Yes, a 30" very full fixed choke.
I need to figure out how to get it to shoot where I want it to, however. With 4 washers on each post, at 13 yards, (testing POI) it shot 2" low and 2" left. With 8 washers per post (all that fit and would still allow the set screws to hold), it still shot 2" low and 2" left. This is with the comb neutral on windage. It should have shot 3 or 4 inches high with the 4 per post, and 8 or 9" high with 8. I only shot a 16 with it. Anybody know who can fix this? (Not the old 'bend 'er on the pickup hitch ball' trick either.)
Oh, the stock is real short (13 3/4" LOP), and I still need to play with the adjustable plate on the back. I might replace it with a Gra-Coil or SPS unit, but only after I am sure that I can adjust it out without messing with the barrel.

I've been told that, but I've shot short stocked shoguns, (and rifles, for that matter) and still shot them well. 16/25 is not well for me. But, since I plan on putting a recoil device on it anyway, I might do that first.

Well, it wasn't a bad day. I did shoot a 24 with my Ljutic. Of course, it was on one of the three rounds the club sets your average with. (the first three rounds you shoot that you don't designate 'practice' first.) Not the best sandbagging I"ve ever done.

I wanted to include the quote in the story, but not mention what I paid for it.