Old smooth bore slug barrel (870 Wingmaster)?

[sjcslk]

What would the choke be on an old 870 smoothbore slug barrel (about a 1970 Remington Wingmaster barrel)? Also. how would this pattern as a home defense barrel with 00 buck shot? thanks,

 

[heeler]

Well the choke if you can call it that is probably improved cylinder or just plain cylinder.
Call it effective easily out to 20 yards which is 60 feet.
In other words more than enough and then some for home defense.

 

[Dave McCracken]

It'll work if you do your part.

 

[Black Knight]

What length is the barrel? Is it 18" or 20". Both have been used in police and sheriff patrol cars over the years. The cylinder choke has been doing duty with law enforcement for decades. Back in the 1970s (before the 870P came out) my local city police used 870 Wingmasters with 20" smoothbore slug barrels with bead sights. The 2 Remington 870 Wingmasters I have at home for HD have 20" cylinder choke barrels with rifle sights on them.

 

[sjcslk]

slug bore

Its 20 inches. Its probably like the 2 you have. Do you know if I can have the sights, both front & back, removed and just have a bead put on?

 

[Red Label]

I'm sure you can have the sights removed by a good gunsmith if you like and a bead put on.

One shotgun that I wish I had back was a 20ga Wingmaster with two barrels. The slug barrel with the sights saw double duty as my deer barrel and my HD gun at night. Why do we sell the guns we love?:banghead:

 

[FLNT4EVR]

Why would you want to? At home defense ranges your not going to miss,and at anything farther they will serve you quite well.

 

[sjcslk]

sights

Well, because my eyes aren't what they used to be & the sights don't accomadate me well. For home defense, they seem like they would get in the way. Pointing & shooting seems harder to do with the sights on. I could buy one of the 18" EXP's instead, but I'm not sure if the muzzle blast & noise would be that much more than the 20 inch slug barrel.

 

[Black Knight]

Any competant gunsmith should be able to change the sights for you. You may want to consider the newer fiber optic sights if you eyes are having trouble. I havn't tried them but I have seen people with them and they seem OK, not my cup of tea though. The bead sight is also good for general duty. That is what my local city police have on theirs. At work we have the Mossberg 590 and they have the bead sights. They work for us.

 

[Dave McCracken]

The cheapest sight upgrade is also one of the best. Hobby stores sell little bottles of Testor's enamel paint for models. The Bright Yellow added as a small dot on the front sight really speeds up sight acquisition.

You have one of the best available HD barrels there. I've one on my deer 870 but I use a peep sight. I used it for 3 gun back in the 80s. If it's slower than a bead, it's not much slower once you learn to run it.....

 

[GLShooter]

The barrel with a brighten front sight will do fine. I've won a bucket full of Gold with mine in IPSC SG matches over the years and it has killed a bunch of pheasants and squirrels to boot.

Greg

 

[sjcslk]

slug bore barrel

Thanks, I think I'll try the paint & then some practice. It may end up being what I really want.

 

[GLShooter]

It will serve you well for many years as is.

Greg

 

[Armored farmer]

For not much more $$ than having the sights removed, you might find a used barrel that is more to your liking.

I would prefer the sights for HD, but that's just me.

 

[EMC45]

I have a 20in. Remington Wingmaster barrel that has rifle sights and is smooth bore. It will shoot a slug nicely, but will scatter buck shot all over. This is in 12ga.