Newer vs older 870 Wingmasters

[Rubone]

"I'm still curious about these standard frame 20 gauges. Do after market parts fit? Like if I wanted to put on a magazine extension tube ?"
They still work, but you need to put a 12GA one on.

 

[gregp74]

"I'm still curious about these standard frame 20 gauges. Do after market parts fit? Like if I wanted to put on a magazine extension tube ?"
They still work, but you need to put a 12GA one on.

Easy enough. Those are probably easier to come by anyway.

I'm 99% sure I'm gonna pick up a Wingmaster but still deciding on which way to go 12 or 20g. A 12g 870 seems kinda like the gold standard. I don't mind the idea of a 20g and its lighter recoil but ammo's probably not as prevalent. Most of the 20s I'm seeing that aren't super high priced are these old -x suffix ones with the standard frame. I like the idea of a heavier frame but also kinda throws a monkey wrench into things if it's got oddball parts or needs some 12g stuff and some 20. And the barrels aren't standard.

 

[gregp74]

Mrs. P and I have narrowed the choices down to a pair of older Wingmasters. The 12g was made in 78 and the 20g appers to be from a few years earlier. It's one of those ones with the X after the serial, built on the full 12g size frame..

One is the one my gunsmith has with the two barrels. It's in good shape except the end of one barrel is yucked up. I'm kinda thinking if we go that route I may have him shorten it a few inches and sell the other barrel.

I'm still kinda iffy on the 20 on the 12g frame. It sounds fine but I'm worried about parts being hard to find. I really don't know what commonly needs replacing and if it's going to be a weird mixture of 12 and 20g parts and some oddballs mixed in or what.

It's mostly gonna be for fun. Possibly as an extra home defense gun. I'm probably just going to let her decide. She's been riding me since I bought the pair of S&W revolvers last month lol

 

[jaguarxk120]

If you really want a 20 gauge, wait until a 20 comes up built in the smaller frame.
The 12 gauge is one of the nicest pump guns amde, handles well and finish should be outstanding.

 

[gregp74]

If you really want a 20 gauge, wait until a 20 comes up built in the smaller frame.
The 12 gauge is one of the nicest pump guns amde, handles well and finish should be outstanding.

She likes the idea of a 20g but I'm thinking lighter loads will make a 12 just as easy on her. And there's more ammo available (well in normal times anyway.)

 

[jaguarxk120]

I reload and shoot 7/8 ounce out of all my 12 gauge's.
I break clays as well as anyone at the range I go to.
That 7/8 load and Clay Dot powder I can shoot all day and not feel any
discomfort.

 

[gregp74]

Well we talked about it again and decided to go with the 12g made in 1973!

 

[dak0ta]

I picked this up a couple years back from the original owner. Had the original box and manual and he gave me some vintage ammo. I love the plain barrels without the rib, and these old AP model Wingmasters are very nimble in the hand, not as good as my Ithaca 37 though! Picked up a modern 18.5" and 28" Express barrel to shoot slugs and steel and keep this old girl hunting where she belongs.

 

[gregp74]

I picked this up a couple years back from the original owner. Had the original box and manual and he gave me some vintage ammo. I love the plain barrels without the rib, and these old AP model Wingmasters are very nimble in the hand, not as good as my Ithaca 37 though!

That is a beauty!

 

[TxWolf]

My aunt gave me an old 20ga 870 a few years after my uncle passed away. Of coarse it’s a fixed mod barrel. She said he bought it when they lived in the Texas panhandle and that was in the 50s to early 60s. It sat in my safe for a few years and I finally took it dove hunting last year. Shot it as well or better than any of my 12 gages I hunt dove with. There is a longer story to this but I won’t go into it all. She also gave me a Japanese arrisaka he brought home as a war souvenir from the South Pacific complete with bayonet. That rifle is probably the least valuable firearm I own. Yet One of the most valuable.

 

[gregp74]

I'm going to go broke. Last month when I was looking for a 22 revolver I ended up getting a pair of them. Now I just got done paying for the new shotgun and I spotted a couple different rifles and had to bid on one and put the other in my gun broker watchlist. Mrs. P may frown upon this.

 

[EIB0879]

I had a Rem 870 Wingmaster 20 ga circa 1971 that was slick as snot. it was effortless to shoot and cycle. I gave it to my son but it is still in my safe.