Does anyone have a 28 ga Wingmaster?

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DaleCooper51

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A friend of mine brought his 28ga BPS to the skeet range a few weeks ago and I got to shoot a couple shells from it. I just swung, shot, and smiled. Im not a huge fan of the bottom ejecting guns, but this was more than a little fun to shoot. It got me thinking about a 28 ga wingmaster. I have 12 and 20 ga ones and have been mulling over a 28ga gun.

Does anyone have one? If so what are your thoughts and experiences with it? I occasionally load 3/4 oz in my 20 ga with mixed success and Im torn between just finding a good light 20ga load or getting a 28 ga which would require a press, hulls, wads, etc.

Any experience welcome.
 
I used to have one only because it was an inexpensive solution to me wanting a 28ga. It shot good but I just decided to stick to 20 gauges.
 
I have an 1100, and have shot an 870 quite a few times, and have been toying with the idea of getting one. The 870 is a little lighter than the 1100, and the 1100 is a blast to shoot. I sold my SxSs. If you liked the BPS, you will love the little Wingmaster. I prefer the 28 gauges with the 25" barrel. I think that's perfect for the 28 gauge; the 27" Sporting barrel seems long to me.
The BPS is a very well made shotgun, but it doesn't lend itself to "featherweighting" too well without a machinist, and I will not own another gun that has to be loaded thru the magazine again if I can help it. It is an excellent alternative to the left handed Wingmasters for the Southpaws who like the bottom feeding.
 
I have had both, a BPS 28 and a Wingmaster 28. Personally I liked the BPS better except for the fact that you have to put both shells in the mag and push the slide relese to chamber the first round.

I like the fact that you can just drop the first round into the open chamber of the 870 better.

But to me , the BPS was smoother when going for the second shot.

I shot sporting clays with mine so it was 100 shots compaired to 25 per round of skeet.

And as for the 3/4 oz load out of the 20 ga, the 28 has a lot better pattern with 3/4 oz than the 20 does because the shot cup is longer and smaller around on the 28.

Another plus with the BPS, if you are going to reload your shells, they will all be right at your feet instead of all over the place like with a side eject gun.
 
I do- but here's the deal.

There are orginal guns and new guns. The original 870 28 gauge was built on the same frame as the .410, so it's very light, very quick, points well, and swings quite naturally. It acts like a .410, but hits like a 20- that's the idea of the 28, the ultimate field gauge.

The new 28 gauge 870 is built on the 20 gauge frame, so it does everything like a 20 gauge but you lose the option of using the heavy 20 gauge only loads. It's sluggish and isn't as quick to point.

In new guns, I'd skip the 870 28 gauge unless I just HAD to have a 28 gauge. If you can find a nice original gun, jump on it.

I found mine on accident, was looking for a .410 and found matched LNIB .410 and 28 Wingmasters for the price I was expectng to pay just for the .410. For the 28 alone, it was the best money I've ever spent on a shotgun.
 
Ok, I'm glad I got here in time!

I looked at ordering a 28ga wingmaster from my gun dealer. His source had it was $700, when he could finally find one. I went with the BPS for $500 and I'm glad I did. I added weight to the front via lead weight inside the magazine tube at the front. I also added weight at the back and balanced everything out. It's a heavy pump to start with, but for skeet I like a heavy gun as it helps my swing. I also added a shim between the receiver and the buttstock as it patterned too high for what I like in a skeet gun.

Oh, and it's easy to single load a BPS, flip if over, pump it back almost all the way. Note I said almost, you can see the two bars slide up to the top of the receiver, allowing you to single load, then close the action. With practice it becomes very quick.

I'm a big BPS fan, being a lefty. I really haven't fired any other pumps that are that smooth out of the box. I've got a 20ga, 28ga and .410, love 'em all.
 
The new 28 gauge 870 is built on the 20 gauge frame, so it does everything like a 20 gauge but you lose the option of using the heavy 20 gauge only loads. It's sluggish and isn't as quick to point.
Click to expand...

I thought they were on lighter frames. If that's the case, then I'll probably stick with my 20. It has a 28" barrel and I like how it swings. I think a 25" barrel would be a bit whippy. It wouldnt be bad if it was a on a scaled down frame.

Thanks for the replies.
 
Thingster, I hate to tell you, but the 870 and the 1100 only have two frame/receiver sizes, and the 20, 28, and 410 are all still built on the same size receiver.
When Remington first decided to pursue a lightweight 20 in the 870/1100 guns, they were looking at an intermediate size. But, since the receiver is forged steel, they decided to try putting a 20 in the 28 sized receiver. Although I have never seen any, there were some initial issues with a few receivers cracking, and so the original LW20 1100s got modified into the LT20 1100s. The 870s never had a problem. So, in actuality, the 870 and 1100 20 gauge lightweight shotguns were actually built on the 28 gauge receiver.
Forgot, the "3-1/2" Super Magnums" are another receiver.
Trying to flip over a BPS and calmly and gently single feed one shell with the geese still in the decoys proved totally beyond my abilities.
 
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I have a 70s vintage one sm helped me select in Tulsa about four years ago.

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Very light and fast handling and quick to point. I've used it on doves and clays. It came with a fixed skeet barrel which would have been OK for skeet, but not for my uses. I found a NIB mod barrel for it on Ebay, and it patterns much better.

My wife had only fired one shot from a shotgun in her life, and vowed she wouldn't do that again. After Steve convinced her to fire the 28, she claimed it as her own. I finally found a Baikal SXS that she likes even better, so I got my 870 back. :)

I haven't shot it much lately, because the price of components went up about the time my business dropped off, but this spring we'll be shooting it more. My twin grandsons turn nine in May, and there's nothing like a 28 ga to train a new shotgun shooter, especially a kid or a recoil-shy person.
 
I thought they were on lighter frames. If that's the case, then I'll probably stick with my 20. It has a 28" barrel and I like how it swings. I think a 25" barrel would be a bit whippy. It wouldnt be bad if it was a on a scaled down frame.
Click to expand...
That was my decision too. I preferred the 20 gauge 870 with a 28" barrel over the 25" 870 in 28 gauge. Just because a gun is on the same frame size does not mean that it handles the same. The 28 gauge Wingmaster felt very different than the 20 gauge and was sold to someone who would appreciate it. I still have a 28 gauge 1100 Skeet and a 28 gauge o/u.
 
Dale,

I purchased one of these new about 2 years ago and love it. I do a lot of preserve hunting here in Missouri, and I use it on everything from pheasants to quail.

Polished blue steel receiver, and nice checkered walnut for a field grade gun. It weighs only 6 pounds and the 25" barrel is great for upland shooting.

I have to admit, since it's a 28 and not a 20, it's got a bit of the "snob factor" working for it too... at least that's what all my hunting buddies say!

Oh, and by the way, mine isn't for sale.
 
I currently own two of the wingmasters in 28 gauge. It was my first gun when I turned 10 years old. That one was bought used in 87 at a gun show. I think mine was made around 1981-82 range. It was recently past down to my oldest son on his b-day. I picked up a 2nd one a couple of weeks ago for my other son. The original to give you an idea on how much it has been shot. We started out with 200 hulls and reloaded them again and again until they started to split. Then another 200 hulls reloaded to the same. I am currently on my third set of hulls. These are great little guns and I was very happy to pass them to my boys for thier first shotguns.
 
I got my Wingmaster in the 80s. I had a center bead installed and a Bradley front bead installed. 1st time out rabbit hunting with it got my limit. Been looking at a CZ sxs 28, but for now the Wmaster meets my needs.
 
28 gauge!

<looks for Art's Grammaw>

Whoa, I just had another Innernetorgasmicexperience.

<checking for Art's Grammaw>

I think I got by with that....*wink*

*sad-frump*

I had, but I don't have a 870 28 ga of my own anymore. In fact *sniff* all my 28ga guns are gone, and the reloaders, and components too.
Bad stuff happens to good folks...

I was only $4,799.00 short of the $4,800.00 price tag on a Model 12 in 28 gauge in Tulsa.
Oh. My.
I used to have one them too...*sniff* , *tears*

Though I don't have, I am happy for those that have 28 ga guns, like the 870, and I don't mind assisting someone in getting one at all.

I help real good.
I have references.

*grin*
 
we have both...

My 13 year old has a BPS with a youth stock. He got it when he was 10...were weren't sure if he was going to shoot right or left handed.

I got my wingmaster the same time, so we could do stuff together.

Both are fine guns. I don't think one could go wrong with either.
 
I have an 870 Exp. in .28ga. its NIB but it is very tempting to get it out.

You can't go wrong sith an 870 in any configuration.
 
I picked up an early 90's 28 Wingmaster with Briley screws about 5 years ago.
Ran less than a box through it, cleaned it up and put it in the safe.

It belongs to my 7 year old daughter.

Hijack_ Anybody got a youth stock they want to sell?
PM Me-
 
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