spiroxlii
Member
I walked into a local pawn shop today intent on finding a S&W Airweight revolver or a P3AT so I could have a smaller carry pistol for when I go out for a run.
I did not find the pistol I was looking for, but I have a serious sickness. I can not walk into a gun shop with enough money to buy a gun and leave empty handed. An HD shotgun was also on my list of weapons to acquire, so I forgot all about buying a smaller carry pistol when I spotted a few nice pumps on the wall.
First I handled two different Maverick 88s. They were ok, but felt a little rough when I cycled them (to be fair, though, they were brand new and might have smoothed out with some use). Then I picked up an NEF Pardner Pump. It was cheaper than the Mavericks, but it actually felt better in my hands. It had some nice weight to it, and I liked the way it fit against my shoulder and cheek. I probably would've bought the NEF right then and there if I hadn't happened to look over at the wall rack one more time.
That's when I saw my 870. Most of the other pump shotguns up on the wall had black synthetic stocks and were in various stages of tacticoolness. This 870 Wingmaster had a lightly worn wood stock that looked warm and inviting. When I held it and cycled it, it felt smooth and natural in my hands. I forgot all about the Mavericks and the NEF when I found out that the Wingmaster could be mine for $200 out the door (tax and everything included).
Some info about my new Wingmaster:
1. It takes 2 3/4'' shells only, but I don't really care about using 3'' shells.
2. It has an extended magazine tube. The guy who sold it to me mentioned that he thought it held 8 rounds. I was able to load 7 shells into the magazine, so perhaps he meant 7 in the tube plus 1 chambered.
3. I don't know the exact barrel length, but the barrel and the extended mag tube are nearly flush with each other.
4. The barrel that's on the gun now has a bead front sight, no vent rib, and is marked "cyl," which I assume means cylinder bore.
Now on to the questions...
1. For HD distances, I think this barrel should be fine with 00 buck. I know nothing about choke tubes. My only other shotgun is a single shot H&R .410 with a full choke barrel. If I wanted to change from cylinder bore to mod or full choke for hunting or recreational shooting with my Wingmaster, can I add some kind of tube to my current barrel, or do I need to switch out barrels?
2. The guy at the pawn shop showed me a box of 12ga 00 buck shells that were only 2 inches long. They were called Centurion Mini-Buck shells, and they held 6 pellets of 00 buckshot. I'd heard of the Centurion Multi-Defense shells loaded with a combination of one .650" round ball and six #1 buckshot pellets, but this was the first time I'd seen the Mini-Buck 2'' shells. Their main attractions seem to be reduced recoil and increased mag capacity. The writing on the box claimed that they would cycle properly in most pump and auto shotguns. Does anybody here know if that's true? Have you tried them?
I did not find the pistol I was looking for, but I have a serious sickness. I can not walk into a gun shop with enough money to buy a gun and leave empty handed. An HD shotgun was also on my list of weapons to acquire, so I forgot all about buying a smaller carry pistol when I spotted a few nice pumps on the wall.
First I handled two different Maverick 88s. They were ok, but felt a little rough when I cycled them (to be fair, though, they were brand new and might have smoothed out with some use). Then I picked up an NEF Pardner Pump. It was cheaper than the Mavericks, but it actually felt better in my hands. It had some nice weight to it, and I liked the way it fit against my shoulder and cheek. I probably would've bought the NEF right then and there if I hadn't happened to look over at the wall rack one more time.
That's when I saw my 870. Most of the other pump shotguns up on the wall had black synthetic stocks and were in various stages of tacticoolness. This 870 Wingmaster had a lightly worn wood stock that looked warm and inviting. When I held it and cycled it, it felt smooth and natural in my hands. I forgot all about the Mavericks and the NEF when I found out that the Wingmaster could be mine for $200 out the door (tax and everything included).
Some info about my new Wingmaster:
1. It takes 2 3/4'' shells only, but I don't really care about using 3'' shells.
2. It has an extended magazine tube. The guy who sold it to me mentioned that he thought it held 8 rounds. I was able to load 7 shells into the magazine, so perhaps he meant 7 in the tube plus 1 chambered.
3. I don't know the exact barrel length, but the barrel and the extended mag tube are nearly flush with each other.
4. The barrel that's on the gun now has a bead front sight, no vent rib, and is marked "cyl," which I assume means cylinder bore.
Now on to the questions...
1. For HD distances, I think this barrel should be fine with 00 buck. I know nothing about choke tubes. My only other shotgun is a single shot H&R .410 with a full choke barrel. If I wanted to change from cylinder bore to mod or full choke for hunting or recreational shooting with my Wingmaster, can I add some kind of tube to my current barrel, or do I need to switch out barrels?
2. The guy at the pawn shop showed me a box of 12ga 00 buck shells that were only 2 inches long. They were called Centurion Mini-Buck shells, and they held 6 pellets of 00 buckshot. I'd heard of the Centurion Multi-Defense shells loaded with a combination of one .650" round ball and six #1 buckshot pellets, but this was the first time I'd seen the Mini-Buck 2'' shells. Their main attractions seem to be reduced recoil and increased mag capacity. The writing on the box claimed that they would cycle properly in most pump and auto shotguns. Does anybody here know if that's true? Have you tried them?
