I just bought a Remington 870....It is used but in like new condition...The dealer who also a friend of mine told me that he had sold it originally to a local Police officer in I want to say he said the late 70's early 80's...He also said that it only been fired a very few times and I do believe it the bore, the wood and the bluing all look brand new...He saif theat the Officer stored it at his home for a HD weapon...it has about a 19 1/2 barrel that is marked 2 3/4 inch shells or shorter...it is stamped Wingmaster...the action is very tight and smooth(unlike my Mossberg 500 but this not to dis the Mossy...I really like it)...what is the best way to find the age of the piece??? I was told that it was an older model riot gun (not by the dealer) could this be true? also sometime loading shell in the mag the shells will get wedged in the of the tube like the tube diamenter was a little too small...any ideas on how to fix this...wold it be wrong to add an extended tube to a classic like this...what would be involved in add an extended tube would this be a gunsmith job...
870 Questions
- Thread starter Karate
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Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
You indeed have a genuine classic. The less you do to it (except for shooting and maintenance) the better IMO. It should have a 20" cylinder bore barrel with a plain bead sight. I have an old riot gun from that era also and they are really nice.
I don't understand from your description what exactly the problem is in loading the magazine. Do you have trouble getting a shell _into_ the magazine tube through the loading port? How exactly does it jam?
You can check with Remington to get the manufacture date of your new old shotgun. If it has a small diameter 'corncob' forearm it an older version. Give Remington a call at 1-800-243-9700, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm EST.
Enjoy it, and stay safe-
lpl/nc
I don't understand from your description what exactly the problem is in loading the magazine. Do you have trouble getting a shell _into_ the magazine tube through the loading port? How exactly does it jam?
You can check with Remington to get the manufacture date of your new old shotgun. If it has a small diameter 'corncob' forearm it an older version. Give Remington a call at 1-800-243-9700, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm EST.
Enjoy it, and stay safe-
lpl/nc
It does have the small diameter corncob forearm
Answered one of my own questions...I found while playing around with it that the forearm (slide???)was sliding backward (I was actually doing it by not knowing any better) just a little bit and this was causing the ejector (is this the right term) to move down slight and keep the shells from lining up with the tube...New to shotguns what can I say...other than the Mossy that I took in on trade for a S&W 37...I only have a Stevens S/S.
It does have the plain bead front sight and I will probably leave the mag just like it came from the factory and forget about the tube extender
Answered one of my own questions...I found while playing around with it that the forearm (slide???)was sliding backward (I was actually doing it by not knowing any better) just a little bit and this was causing the ejector (is this the right term) to move down slight and keep the shells from lining up with the tube...New to shotguns what can I say...other than the Mossy that I took in on trade for a S&W 37...I only have a Stevens S/S.
It does have the plain bead front sight and I will probably leave the mag just like it came from the factory and forget about the tube extender
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
"I found while playing around with it that the forearm (slide???)was sliding backward (I was actually doing it by not knowing any better) just a little bit and this was causing the ejector (is this the right term) to move down slight and keep the shells from lining up with the tube"
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I was wondering if an unlocked action might not be your problem. Better to load 870 magazines with the action locked (hammer cocked and bolt all the way forward). Otherwise the partially open bolt can interfere with the shell lifter and block access to the magazine.
Adding a magazine extension is a temporary mod, and if the necessary clamp is mounted carefully it won't mar the finish on the barrel. But many of us oldpharts here think it is better by far to learn to shoot a gun just like yours 'as is' before hanging bling all over it. With a corncob forearm yours is very likely a 1960's era gun or maybe older, I don't know when they made the change to the newer style forearm.
Good used 870s are widely available and not expensive, use one of those for a 'project' gun if you want to build a maximum-kewl-points blaster and keep that classic in bone stock condition. Give it a good coat of Johnson's paste floor wax (grocery store, in the yellow can) and take good care of it. It has the same cachet as a classic car if left unmodified, hacked up it's just one more used 870.
JMHO, YMMV of course.
lpl/nc
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I was wondering if an unlocked action might not be your problem. Better to load 870 magazines with the action locked (hammer cocked and bolt all the way forward). Otherwise the partially open bolt can interfere with the shell lifter and block access to the magazine.
Adding a magazine extension is a temporary mod, and if the necessary clamp is mounted carefully it won't mar the finish on the barrel. But many of us oldpharts here think it is better by far to learn to shoot a gun just like yours 'as is' before hanging bling all over it. With a corncob forearm yours is very likely a 1960's era gun or maybe older, I don't know when they made the change to the newer style forearm.
Good used 870s are widely available and not expensive, use one of those for a 'project' gun if you want to build a maximum-kewl-points blaster and keep that classic in bone stock condition. Give it a good coat of Johnson's paste floor wax (grocery store, in the yellow can) and take good care of it. It has the same cachet as a classic car if left unmodified, hacked up it's just one more used 870.
JMHO, YMMV of course.
lpl/nc
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
Once more I find myself agreeing with Lee. You've a classic, a superb shotgun that will work as is and last a very, very long time.
pauli
Member
blued shotgun? personally, i'd wax it.
Deavis
Member
They used to blue the 870? Interesting. I know they blue the Wingmaster but I thought the 870 had always been parkerized or Rem's equivalent of that. Interesting!
No_Brakes23
Member
I love super tacticool Mall-ninja 870s, but I also urge you to leave the rice off this gun and just shoot it the way it is. 870s are cheap as can be; if you want to have a hot-rodded shotgun go buy an express or police and play with that.
VG
Member
I inherited a Remington 870 Police made in 1978. It is blued and marked Wingmaster, but has the Police wood. It has a 20" Improved Cylinder barrel. The box was marked 870 Police.
A call to Remington Customer Service gave me the year of manufacture and confirmed it was a Police model.
A call to Remington Customer Service gave me the year of manufacture and confirmed it was a Police model.
No_Brakes23
Member
Now that you mention it, I remember carrying a "Wingmaster" on guard duty aboard MCAS Yuma. It was either stainless or the blueing was just that worn. It had a crudely fashioned bayo lug and synth furniture.
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
Yes, slugs can be shot from this weapon. Avoid the sabots, they work best in fully rifled varrles. The Forster and Brenekke slugs are what you need.
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
The 60s and 70s saw some of Remington's best work, IMO. You have a great example of a working 870.
Do you hunt quail? This, as it is, makes a terrific quail tool. Good for grouse and woodcock too.
Homer Simpson voice,"Waterhole Dove,Mmmmm"....
If you have to dress up an 870, get a beater with little or no finish left. Add all the bling you want. Shoot both of them. The usual flagon of mead says your scores and times are nigh identical.
Enjoy!!
Do you hunt quail? This, as it is, makes a terrific quail tool. Good for grouse and woodcock too.
Homer Simpson voice,"Waterhole Dove,Mmmmm"....
If you have to dress up an 870, get a beater with little or no finish left. Add all the bling you want. Shoot both of them. The usual flagon of mead says your scores and times are nigh identical.
Enjoy!!
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