870 Wingmaster new purchase, some concerns

[XDX]

First, I'd like to thank everyone who have contributed helpful advice regarding shotgun ownership in various newbies threads. Being new to shotgun myself, I have picked up some information of here to make a purchase of a used Wingmaster on Gunbroker.

For $200 shipped, how did i do? Should I be worried about the cosmetic condition described by the seller as "Fair [ Flash pitting and surface scratches on receiver and barrel" ?? Is there good resale value on a barrel with pitting? I intend on getting an 18" to make it into a HD gun.

Here's the link

 

[Fred Fuller]

Sounds like a pretty fair price, but I'd have to see the gun in person to say for sure. I'd not worry at all about exterior surface condition on a Wingmaster, it's 'what's inside that counts.' 870s are awful hard to wear out, they can get bubba'ed at the kitchen table, but that's about all I look out for on a used one. 'Normal wear and tear' on an 870 is just break-in that you don't have to do.

It's a 2 3/4" only gun- no big deal there either. Don't be in too much of a hurry to unload the original barrel. You might want to do some claybusting or wingshooting some day. An extra barrel shouldn't cost so much you can't afford to keep the original barrel.

Go to the Remington website, download and print the owners manual for the 870. Start getting familiar with it, so you can field strip it and give it a good cleaning when it gets home. Start putting rounds through it as soon as you can, don't wait to get a shorter barrel for it- or anything else- to start shooting it and getting used to it.

Get yourself a can of Johnson's paste wax (at the supermarket, or at Lowe's etc- http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?acti...=111408&semkeyword=16+oz.+Fine+Wood+Paste+Wax ) and use that on all exterior surfaces, wood and metal. If you want it shiny, buff it, if you want it dull, just let it dry and leave it.

hth,

lpl

 

[logjam]

There are shotguns and there are shotguns. The 870 is one of the best.

The one you bought will probably be a bit beat up, as many are; as many were heavily used. If it was mine, I'd heavily use it.

You can dab a bit of cold blue on the bad spots on the metal. If you see rust you can soak 0000 steel wool in Liguid Wrench and work on the rust a bit. Most will come off. Then cold blue the shiny spots.

You can lay a soaked wash rag on the wood and apply a steam iron....this always causes my wife to blanch; I eventually bought an old one for just this use. After you've "steamed" out the scratches and gouges, then lightly sand the stock and apply some stain and and finish of some sort.

With a bit of patience and careful work your gun will look just fine. Standard grade 870's were never made to be museum pieces.

Don't fret about the 2 3/4 inch chambers. You'll find you'll do just fine with shells that fit.

What you have there, in an 870, is a tried and true, hard charging shotgun. The little 20's are light and fast.

I'm not even sure they still make them with wood stocks.

So enjoy your gun. Even if you only clean it up a bit it'll be a fine shooter.

Your price was about right. Even if it arrives somewhat screwed up, they are pretty easy to unscrew.

Logjam

 

[riverdog]

Good. That's a twin to the 870 I got for $225 OTD.

 

[AndyJ]

Phoenix is a reputable and honest dealer. I have purchased several items from them and the condition has always been truthfully represented.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I love those plain barrels they used to put on shotguns.

 

[PA4476]

don't worry about selling the orginal bbl to buy an 18" bbl. Just have that one cut off down to 18 1/2". It will cost you next to nothing.

 

[Rshooter]

If you got it on gunbroker you paid just a little more than someone else thought it was worth. Phoneix is a good outfit, their fair is some other outfit's NRA excellent. I agree about keeping the extra barrel. I also agree about 2 3/4 shells, I have a three inch police and two 2 3/4 police models, I cannot remember when the last time I bought a three inch shell though.

You do not need a lot of fancy stuff on a HD gun. You do need lots of practice. #4 buck, or 00 buck mostly for home defense. It is hard to come by recently so birdshot is fine for patterning and getting used to the gun but most indoor ranges will not allow it. Have fun and be safe.

 

[ilmonster]

Looks like you did well. I just bought a used 870 Police from a local dealer for $179, but it has stocks that are very beat up unlike yours (some new "used" ones are on the way for $30), most of the bluing is worn from the 18" barrel (but no rust). All you need to add to the stock is a Rem R3 or Supercell recoil pad and give the receiver a good cleaning (download a manual from Remingtons web site). There's not much that can go wrong with one. Used 18" barrels are bountiful if you don't want to cut yours. One good thing about used 870's is they are super smooth shuckers and typically have good triggers. Enjoy!

 

[logjam]

I went to my local sporting goods store yesterday and saw a half dozen Remington 870's on the rack. Price was about $600. Guns had wood stocks, looked nice. But they looked about like any 870 I've ever seen.

A Remington 870 is to shotguns what a 55 Chevy was to cars; you can get newer and much fancier guns, but none much better.