1970 Remington 870 Wingmaster 12ga (should I buy it?)

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S8i8

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Local Cabelas has the following used shotgun for sale at $269

Remington 870 Wingmaster 12ga
- 30" fixed full choke barrel (NOT vent rib, stamped 2-3/4)
- 18" Imp Cyl barrel (NOT vent rib, stamped 2-3/4 or 3")
- Fleur de Lis wood stock
- Seems to be 1970? (DTX date code on 30" barrel)

Shotgun seems to be in great shape
- Furniture has a minor scrape at bottom front of fore end
- Stock seems perfect (beautiful wood)
- A bit of wear on magazine tube
- Other metal seems to be in great shape, no rust

My uses would be trap shooting and home defense. Someday I might try hunting birds of some sort. Already have Rem 1187 20ga autoloader (which I love and will be keeping).

Curious about vent rib vs. not, fixed choke, or other thoughts you might have about the quality of this purchase opportunity or suitability for my purpose.

Thanks!

Doug
 
They're great guns. If you're only interested in HD and some informal trap, I'd say its a good buy. If you want a vent rib, sell the plain barrel and put it towards one.
 
+1

I'd buy it in a heartbeat over a new 870 Express for the same or more money.
The older Wingmasters were SO much smoother & better there is no comparison to the new Express models.

You are getting the gun for less then $169 if you figure what an extra barrel would cost you.

rc
 
Local Cabelas has the following used shotgun for sale at $269

Remington 870 Wingmaster 12ga
- 30" fixed full choke barrel (NOT vent rib, stamped 2-3/4)
- 18" Imp Cyl barrel (NOT vent rib, stamped 2-3/4 or 3")
- Fleur de Lis wood stock
- Seems to be 1970? (DTX date code on 30" barrel)

Shotgun seems to be in great shape
- Furniture has a minor scrape at bottom front of fore end
- Stock seems perfect (beautiful wood)
- A bit of wear on magazine tube
- Other metal seems to be in great shape, no rust

My uses would be trap shooting and home defense. Someday I might try hunting birds of some sort. Already have Rem 1187 20ga autoloader (which I love and will be keeping).

Curious about vent rib vs. not, fixed choke, or other thoughts you might have about the quality of this purchase opportunity or suitability for my purpose.

Thanks!

Doug
That is excellent value for older Wingmaster with extra barrel. Unless you want easy way to mount iron sights for say turkey hunting the VR is basically worthless on hunting gun.
 
Well, I do like a vent rib for use on ANY flying targets, but I used to shoot Skeet quite successfully with a NON-vent ribbed specially ordered Skeet choked barrel on my 1100. That should work fine for trap as is. I can shoot trap with a field dimensioned gun a lot easier than i can shoot anything but trap with a trap dimensioned gun.
 
I have a similar Remington in a 20 ga. I found a light contour skeet barrel for it last summer. I paid $250 for the gun and right at $200 for the barrel (ebay auction). My wife shoots it a lot. You are not going wrong with that deal. Bring some shells and cycle them them through the gun, make sure it works well. Freedom Arms is less than friendly to the old Remington. It's like Freedom arms wants to kill any reminders of what a Remington should be.
 
Vent ribs are nice but unnecessary for your purposes. Fixed full choke is fine for casual trap shooting, and the 30" barrel is arguably a plus. Improved cylinder is ideal for typical home defense distances.

Sounds like cosmetically it checks out. How's the action? If they'll let you, cycle some 12 gauge snap caps.

Consider the cost of a flexitab conversion kit since this will be an HD gun (though there's a valid argument against its necessity).

For what's being offered in apparent condition at said price -- great deal.

Basically: Buy. Now.
 
Thanks for the replies. The shotgun is on 5-day hold for me, so it should still be there. I'll head back up this evening.

Anything specific I should check / look out for? Got the suggestion to try cycling some snap caps through it. Anything else?

Thanks!

Doug
 
Anything specific I should check / look out for? Got the suggestion to try cycling some snap caps through it. Anything else?
Couple good reads to get you started:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/used_shotgun.htm

http://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/guns/shotguns/2007/09/how-buy-used-shotguns

Mostly just a very thorough going over with a flashlight looking for rust, dents at the muzzle or cracks/oil in the wood, and then cycling the slide a few times. Confirm action, trigger and safety function. Light up the receiver and make certain there's no corrosion, rust or damage; same inside the barrel.

If all check out, you're likely good to go. 870s are simple and durable which is why the used market is filled with so many older examples still going strong.

And for added peace of mind -- on the off chance you end up buying and there's a problem, parts are plentiful and fixes usually easy.
 
And naturally, spent shells will seldom if ever cycle through a gun correctly in the first place.

So that won't prove anything.

My advice is to buy then dang thing before somebody else gets it.

If an older Rem 870 Wingmaster doesn't work?
I'd like to see it!

rc
 
At that price I seriously doubt it will still be there. I sure wouldn't have walked out without it.

Fear not. I had them place a 5-day hold on it for me. I went and picked it up this evening and it's now tucked away in my safe at home!

Giving it a good look-over it seems that IF this shotgun was ever fired it was only fired a few times! Essentially brand new! Cycles snap caps like a champ. Safety works. Trigger works. I'll try to take it out this weekend for a test run.

Thanks to all who replied!

Doug
 
These stories of sweet older 870s keep reminding me of the value of what our community has collectively lost.

Sales of the Freedom Arms 870 may be high but eventually the young buyers will figure it out....

If it still looks good on the inside, buy it and enjoy it.
Then report back here.

edit: congrats on the buy.
 
And naturally, spent shells will seldom if ever cycle through a gun correctly in the first place.

So that won't prove anything.
And that's why I suggested snap caps. Just didn't want OP to think another poster was suggesting live rounds to test cycling...
 
What, S8...it ISN'T ALREADY in your 'Artillery Locker' ? ? ? ?

Older 870 Wingmasters are a real joy. Shoot it like ya stole it, and give it cleaning every now-n-then.
 
Miles (and Hap);
Please don't forget I recommended buying that Wingmaster (I woulda!), but I think that it is generally accepted that it's not your grandfather's Remington Arms Company anymore.

Home defense? The shorter the barrel and more open the choke the better, plus stay away from birdshot and 00 Buckshot as well as ghost ring sights.
 
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