While poking through my local gun shop not looking for anything in particular I spotted a 12 gauge Wingmaster. Nice gun, reasonable price but already have one and don't need a second.
Then the man behind the counter goes into the back room and comes out with a green box (always a bad sign that they saw me coming). Inside was a small-frame 20 gauge Wingmaster Magnum from the pre-J lock, pre-magazine dimple era, 28" barrel, choke tubes, all the accessories and for the same price as the used 12 gauge on the rack.
My cursory check over revealed a sticking extractor which the boys in the shop worked on while I waited. Their conclusion was a little rust. Because I got side tracked with the extractor I left the store with my new Wingmaster without giving it the usual once-over that I typically give a new gun.
At home the gun got a complete strip down and check over. I noted some ominous looking orange under the rib and some discoloration on and in the barrel. Feeling a little frustrated and cursing myself for not looking closer at the store I began cleaning it. When I swabbed the barrel and checked the bolt and extractor it became clearer that what the store and I thought was a little rust was in fact the original packing grease. A closer look at the bolt face confirmed that this gun wasn't just in excellent condition it was unfired.
A quick email exchange with Remington revealed the my gun was made in 1991 so for 15 years it sat unfired. In the interim the old packing grease had hardened and it was a bit of a chore to get it out but a little time with some solvents, rags and brushes it cleaned up very nicely.
The only remaining question was the choke tube. If the rest of the gun was as it came from Remington around the time of the first Gulf War I suspected it might be tough to get out. I up ended the barrel and dunked the muzzle in oil and after soaking a couple of hours the choke tube came out easily.
This guns day's of being unfired are now down to one. It goes to the range tomorrow for a long over due introduction to service.
Then the man behind the counter goes into the back room and comes out with a green box (always a bad sign that they saw me coming). Inside was a small-frame 20 gauge Wingmaster Magnum from the pre-J lock, pre-magazine dimple era, 28" barrel, choke tubes, all the accessories and for the same price as the used 12 gauge on the rack.
My cursory check over revealed a sticking extractor which the boys in the shop worked on while I waited. Their conclusion was a little rust. Because I got side tracked with the extractor I left the store with my new Wingmaster without giving it the usual once-over that I typically give a new gun.
At home the gun got a complete strip down and check over. I noted some ominous looking orange under the rib and some discoloration on and in the barrel. Feeling a little frustrated and cursing myself for not looking closer at the store I began cleaning it. When I swabbed the barrel and checked the bolt and extractor it became clearer that what the store and I thought was a little rust was in fact the original packing grease. A closer look at the bolt face confirmed that this gun wasn't just in excellent condition it was unfired.
A quick email exchange with Remington revealed the my gun was made in 1991 so for 15 years it sat unfired. In the interim the old packing grease had hardened and it was a bit of a chore to get it out but a little time with some solvents, rags and brushes it cleaned up very nicely.
The only remaining question was the choke tube. If the rest of the gun was as it came from Remington around the time of the first Gulf War I suspected it might be tough to get out. I up ended the barrel and dunked the muzzle in oil and after soaking a couple of hours the choke tube came out easily.
This guns day's of being unfired are now down to one. It goes to the range tomorrow for a long over due introduction to service.
