Got my first 870

[RevolvingCylinder]

It's an older 12 GA(2 3/4") 870 Wingmaster. Rough on the outside but great inside. Being new to the 870 platform, I have a question to ask: Are newer 870 parts interchangeable with this old Wingmaster(barrels furinture, etc.)? Also, what would a reasonable price be for this shotgun(I'm wondering if I got a good deal)? Its serial no. is 605xxV and most of the bluing is gone.

Also, what is a good source for aftermarket 870 parts and accessories?

 

[Dave McCracken]

Congrats on your 870. Almost all parts will interchange, exceptions being the new Express mag caps, old shell carriers and bolts vs the flextab ones, and the Special Field barrels and receivers.

Before hanging Cool Stuff on your shotgun, shoot the snot out of it. Once it feels like a body part, you'll have a better idea of what's needed to up performance.

Enjoy....

 

[Fred Fuller]

Used gun prices vary a good bit according to where you are. Around here, a 2.75" chambered 870 as you describe would be priced roughly $125- 150.

Call Remington at their toll-free number, work through the phone tree and they will give you the year your new family member was manufactured. It's an interesting bit of trivia to know about your gun.

As to parts, don't worry too much about that. There likely isn't anything that needs replacing on your gun, no matter how it looks on the outside. Look at the owners manual on Remington's website for field stripping instructions, and break your gun down into its component parts for a good cleaning. I have found enough grass stems and weed seeds in the receivers of old 870s to make a birds nest out of in the past- heed what the old phart here is saying, OK?

You need to get really familiar with your 870. Its modularity makes it easy to field strip and clean, it needs to not be an issue with you to field strip it. DO NOT however go any further than field stripping- once you get it down to the major components as described in the owners manual, there are no user serviceable parts inside. Not till you learn more, anyway 8^).

Resist the impulse to buy one of every 870 accessory out there. Shoot it as it is for the time being. Shoot it A LOT. Oh, certainly you should make sure it fits you properly- any decent 'smith can shorten a stock and install a good recoil pad as needed. And if you anticipate family security duty for your new/old friend, perhaps a shorter barrel might be in order. Those are pretty easy to find, no need to go whacking off what might prove to be a really good wingshooting/claybird barrel when there are lots of factory built 18- 20" tubes available. Shoot it as it is, find out how it patterns and handles, then make decisions on what you want to do with it.

Please don't be one of those poor lost souls, the MySpace commando, who spends $$$ and time getting an 870 'just so' and picture perfect- and NEVER shoots it. Go shoot the thing, OK?

And be safe out there, while you learn what generations of shooters before you have come to know about 870s.

lpl/nc

 

[RevolvingCylinder]

I wasn't implying that I was gonna put a folding stock on it and bolt one of those shell carriers to the receiver.
The barrel is what I'm most concerned with(want an 18"-20" so it can double for home security) and maybe a nicer set of furniture in the future after I get it refinished. I want to use it as a home security/turkey/waterfowl/casual clay breaking shotgun.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Very good. That makes me feel better 8^).

Any 870 barrel (other than the Special Field versions) of the proper gauge should fit OK. You will want to be sure you get a barrel with the same magazine cap retaining system used on the Wingmaster- a spring-loaded detent set into the barrel ring that engages dimples around the inside rim of the magazine cap. Older Express guns used this same system as well, so older Express barrels will work for you. However, installing a barrel with a 3" chamber doesn't mean you can shoot 3" shells- your receiver is still set up for 2.75".

Newer Express barrels use a plastic magazine spring retainer to hold the mag cap, held in place by dimples in the magazine tube, with 'teeth' that engage nubs in the inside of the magazine cap. Some 'mid-term' models have the holes in the barrel ring for the detent with no detent installed, the newest ones don't even have the holes.

Best bet is not to buy a barrel sight unseen unless you can verify with the seller you're getting a barrel with the Wingmaster/old style Express magazine cap detent in the barrel ring.

There are a good many 18- 18.5" bead sighted smoothbore barrels, and a good many 20" rifle sighted smoothbore barrels available on the used market. And you can order straight from Remington as well, if you want a new one. Just be sure you get one with a detent in the barrel ring.

Welcome to the fold, enjoy your 'new' 870...

lpl/nc

 

[Dave McCracken]

" A home security/turkey/waterfowl/casual clay breaking shotgun"....

You have it. And much more.

A 20" barrel with open sights does slugs well, buck well and some models are Remchoked. I've one which has a rifled tube in it for deer season and an open choke tube for HD the rest of the year.

Get the thing fitting you, buy a messa ammo and let the 870 show you why 9 million have been made.

 

[RevolvingCylinder]

It's my second shotgun. I also have an older Ithaca 37. I appreciate the 870's barrel interchangeability, easier disassembly and availability of parts and accessories. The 37 isn't going anywhere. You can't have too many quality American slide-action 12GAs. It's my first 870.