1967 Wingmaster vs new 870P for home defense?

[Cesiumsponge]

$30 in parts will upgrade a normal 870 to 870p specifications except for the parkerized finish. I own both the express and police model. There are no notable interior differences. Both have sharp internal edges and my 870p barrel actually has more machining marks than my express. I wouldn't bother paying the premium asking price for a new 870p. Used? Definitely worth it.

 

[rodinal220]

Hapworth,I have heard the same but haven't seen them in person,do not doubt it,the 870P seems to be in flux,all depends when it was made,different decades/eras.
Yes,the 870 Express is just fine,me personally I would replace the MIM parts with the machined parts,cheap and easy to do.I just hate that Remington puts those dimples on the mag tube,no reason for it.The Express wont be as smooth as a Wingmaster but just lube it up and shoot the crap out of it,or cycle it 5k times,it will smooth out .

The Express was made to compete with the Mossberg 500.A few MIM parts,sand blasted surface and parked and crappy wood(dimples).Its still the same basic 870.

All my 870s and other Remington products are older ones.The product Big Green has been putting out in the last 5 or so years has been spotty.The Marlins I have seen out of Ilion are .

 

[mgkdrgn]

If you are not going to take that Wingmaster .. please tell me where it is so I can snag it!

In HD use, it will make just as big a hole in the BG as the "police" version.

 

[TreeDoc]

My cousin had the same question as the OP. I sold him his first shotgun last year. It was a 68' wingmaster that I had gotten from an estate sale. It is a beautiful shotgun, deep blue and not scratch or dent in the wood, looks as it had never been shot. Great first shotgun, a classic. At the recent Wanchmakers gunshow we picked up a 20" barrel for home defense. Today over turkey he said the shotgun was to nice for home defense and wanted to buy a lesser gun that could get 'beat up' and not care as much. I told him to buy an express model and not look back. Save the wingmaster for dove and pheasants.

 

[Hapworth]

UPDATE:

Was able to take a second, much longer look at the Wingmaster and am divided.

Its condition is very good overall. Handling marks; some thinning of blue along the magazine as to be expected; two small dings in insignificant spots; forend, stock and recoil pad all excellent.

Cycled snap caps no problem; good ejection. Trigger was light compared to what I'm used to on a shotgun -- not ridiculous, but felt in the four pound range. Safety functioned properly. I was pleasantly surprised to see it had the flexitab conversion.

Dealer was courteous and affable about my checks, but wouldn't let me remove the barrel, so I ran a dry patch through it and put a light down both ends. No sign of corrosion, rust or pitting. There were long marks running the length that might have been lead or might have been scratches, it was difficult to tell. None of my shotguns have those but I keep them well cleaned.

As I was doing this the dealer said that he didn't know anything about previous ownership or use, that he'd gotten it from another dealer. Then said that at another gun show someone was checking it out and racking it too hard and broke the forend and action bars.

That surprised me.

He went on to say he'd taken it to a gunsmith who'd replaced the broken parts and put some new parts in, which I figured explained the flexitab and perhaps the trigger.

He was willing to come down a bit on price, but when I asked that if I bought it and test fired it this week, should the weapon fail to function properly would he see that it was fixed as my intention was to buy a working gun, he said no, that once it was sold he was out of it.

I can understand that position selling at gun shows where it's to strangers and many yahoos, I'm sure, but that's near to a deal breaker for me with a gun somebody already broke and in a manner that, as described, I find unusual.

I've never had seller say they had no intention of making it right if they sold me a broken gun.

So I'm conflicted.

It passed basic, reasonable checks, and it's not like 870s aren't durable (although this one apparently broke oddly) and fixable if there's an issue. Odds are if I bought it, it would work fine and that would be that.

But it has required not inconsiderable work, and I also don't like it when sellers won't stand by what they're selling, whatever the reason

And there are many 870s, new and used, out there.

Thoughts?

 

[Youngster]

If it were $170 and immaculate, like the one I foolishly passed up in a LGS two years ago, but at the price they're asking? Meh.

 

[btg3]

At $450, I'd pass b/c over the last 2 yrs I found a couple of very nice late '50s vintage WM field guns with plain stock and corncob forend for half that price. Found blued 18-inch barrels for less than $50 and ended up a pair of sharp HD guns with classic old-school looks -- wood and blue steel without the hi-gloss and checkering.

 

[Uniquedot]

racking it too hard and broke the forend and action bars.

Never heard of such a thing...doesn't sound like an honest individual to me, but who knows perhaps the forend nut was loose and it allowed the breakage.

 

[Milkmaster]

I wouldn't buy it from him now on general principle. But that's just me. Plenty of other 870's out there that will be guaranteed to work by the seller. Don't fret about it and keep looking. You will know when it feels right and have no doubt. The saga continues...

 

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

These two Wingmaster's came out of the Mansfield Prison. I put a slug barrel with a rifled choke, on mine. My buddy kept the beadded barrel, but added an extended mag, and side saddle to his.

So don't be afraid to tweak the gun to your liking, there are only about a half of billion 870's out there right now. Well maybe not that many but it is close.

 

[Hapworth]

Appreciate the feedback one and all. At present and with some reluctance, I've elected against this particular piece.

 

[Uniquedot]

Appreciate the feedback one and all. At present and with some reluctance, I've elected against this particular piece.

If you keep looking you'll find a good deal. A fellow just sold a really nice one the other day on another forum for $250.00.

 

[AI&P Tactical]

Racking an 870 to hard broke the forend tube assembly? I would have simply walked away from the guy because he insulted you by telling such a whopper.

One absolute fact is that it takes no firearms knowledge to obtain an FFL, so there are stealers, dealers and clowns out there everywhere.

You may be better off with a private party sale if you keep looking on the forums. Especially if the guy has been a member there for a good length of time. Some very good deals to be had.