870 Wingmaster

[Gohon]

Got a question for the experts. When my Dad passed away, one of his most prized possessions was a Remington 870 Wingmaster 12 gauge , that was given to him for Christmas 1957. I have decided to have the gun re-blued and to refinish the stock to bring the gun back to it’s original condition. Out of curiosity I picked up a box of Winchester Nitro 27’s #8 shot and set up a pattern board. The barrel is 28 inch with mod stamped on the barrel. At 35 yards I was amazed to see a 30 inch pattern that a humming bird couldn’t have flown through. So I then measured the chock to see what it really was, expecting it to have been a little shot out after a half century of use. To my surprise it measured .0701 which is right between a full (.691) and modified (.709) choke according to the Remington web site. Sorry it took so long to get to the question but my question is, has choke standards changed since this gun was manufactured and if so why. My only guess at this point is that shot shell quality has gotten so much better that they are shooting tighter patterns than they did 50 years ago so chock restrictions have changed also. Am I on the right track? I thought about replacing the barrel with a 26 inch tube with RemChokes but this gun has such a beautiful pattern at 35-40 yards I may just stick with it as is. Thanks in advance.

Jerry

 

[kudu]

Welcome Gohon,

If it were my gun I would leave it as is unless it were in poor condition. A little honest hunting and handleing wear is fine. If the gun is covered with rust then it may be a candidate for rebluing.
As for the barrel keep it stock and if your shooting habits warrent it buy another barrel for the gun to make it more versatile. If you want versatility with this barrel mix up the shells for different distances. Target loads with hard shot tend to pattern tightly where as hunting or cheap promo shells with soft shot will open a pattern up quite a bit for a more open pattern. Play around with different shells to find what best suits your shooting habits. The mod choke is a wonderful choke for trap.

 

[Gohon]

Good point on the target loads. I've noticed shooting the Remington STS loads in my 20 ga. the patterns have tightened up a little and have increased my range a litle. With a choke restriction at .700 in the 12 ga. I guess it is closer to a improved modified than the modified as marked.

 

[9mmMike]

Jeepers, that sounds like a twin to the Wingmaster that I just got.
Thread here (with pic) .
I just shot mine for the first time today and it was a real treat to shoot an 870 other than my 20" rifle-sighted jobs.
A real classic.
I will be getting mine reblued by Hot Flash , eventually. It is in OK shape but there is rust under the blue. No pitting but the blue is thin to non-existant in places and I'd hate to see it get worse.
I have had Hot Flash do a receiver for me before and he was very professional and very quick to turn it around.
Mine does not have the sentimental value as yours does though and I envy you that. I hope that you get many years out of your dad's gun and enjoy it the way it was made.
Good luck,
Mike

 

[Gohon]

Yep, looked at the picture Mike and if side by side we would have to look at the serial numbers to tell them apart. Will be taking mine up to Tulsa the first of the year to have it reblued. Refinishing the stock and forearm will be a good winter project for me. You get a chance mic the choke and see what you get.
It may be tighter than you thought.
Jerry

 

[Dave McCracken]

Take good care of your father's shotgun, family guns are an intrinsic part of our heritage.

The barrel that came on my Number 6 870 was marked full and has .040" constriction.

The barrel on the TB, ca 1978, had .038". I had it opened to .025" when the cone was lengthened, between the two it's still a little overchoked for 16 yard trap with my top grade reloads.

With modern ammo, .030" gives about the same patterns as these older barrels did with ammo of the time. Mayhap tighter.

IOW, 30 POC( Points Of Constriction) qualifies as Full with top ammo now because it meets the 70% at 40 yards criteria.

Both 6 and the TB wear new LC barrels with Remchokes now. I can use as little as 14 POC for 16 yard single trap and smoke them if I do my part.

Newer shooters have no idea what a quantam leap in performance followed the introduction of the one piece plastic wad.

 

[9mmMike]

Finally had the barrel mic'd.

.018 choke
.725 bore

It is marked "mod"

Mike

 

[Blue Line]

it may be too late but I wouldn't have the gun redone - thats character it has on it not scratches! I have one of Dad's old shotguns and I know every mark there is his and funny how it might seem - I like them, all of them. Hang onto that gun.

 

[Flatfender]

+1

If it's in pretty good shape, leave it alone.

If was an old Wingmaster you bought at a gun shop I say go ahead and do what you want.

Years ago I reblued and refinished one of the inherited rifles from my grandfather. In my eyes now, it lost it's character a bit and it's not quite the same gun I remember him carrying it. I wish I would have left it alone.

 

[Gohon]

Yep, as some of you have suggested I decided to just leave the gun as is. Wouldn't be the same gun if all the history engraved on it were removed.......Thanks.