Remington 870 Express virus Wingmaster??

[Maintz]

Looking to buy a Remington 870 20GA....
Used to own a 870 Wingmaster 12 GA so familar with that gun...
I know that the wood & barrell finish is different BUT what about the meat & bones of the action, steel etc...??____
Hard to justify paying Twice the amount for nice walnut & shiny barrell.... I think I saw an ad at Acedemy for a 870 Express for $225......
Thanks,
Bob

 

[HSMITH]

Meat and bones are EXACTLY the same. I had a lengthy conversation with a former production line supervisor that worked 870's for 20 years. The Express is a great value.

 

[Maintz]

Ghost Sights for 870

I had a AO Ghost Sight on my Marlin 336 & loved it....
What is rhe best sight to use on the 870 with a rib....
Looked at the MCM but requires a gunsmith to install...
I don't want a fire sight but a true Ghost Sight for my turkey hunting...
Many thanks,
Bob

 

[Dave McCracken]

The only difference is cosmetic. The Express turkey version makes a great all round shotgun, BTW.

 

[Red Label]

I am going to need to differ here. Either I had a supremely well made Wingmaster made in 1976 or I've got a really poorly built express made in 1999. My old Wingmaster was as slick and as smooth as any gun could be compared to my express. I could kick myself for ever getting rid of that Wingmaster and the guy I sold it to will not part with it.:banghead:

Steve

 

[trevman11]

I own both a wingmaster and an express model and these are the big differences. I think its a bit more than just cosmetics:

Express has a plastic trigger assembly housing, wingmaster a metal one.

Wingmaster has a stainless bolt, the express a blued steel version.

Wingmaster weighs slightly less due to contoured barrel.

Wingmaster is much smoother to cycle than the express (this of course probably changes with use)

Think that's about it. Not saying its worth the extra money, still think the express is a better value, but the Wingmaster is a pretty nice pump in my opinion. Happy hunting!!

Trev

 

[Maintz]

I know what you are saying!!

I owned a 870 Wingmaster around 6 years ago, wish I still had it..
Bob

 

[Gordon]

Of course the barrel extensions being different I don't think the express takes the same Mag extensions. I have 5 870's: 3 12ga magnums, two matching with all the bells and whistles 18" vanged for practical games and a spare with 30" full choke opened for steel shot for hunting. I have 2 20ga Old models on the big frame. One is a 18" practical game gun and one has 28" modified vent rib barrel for hunting. They all have been gone thru with shell stops replaced and fitted , new Wolf springs ect. I also have an 1100 Mag game gun with all bells and whistle and a matching oneSkeet Grade with a 26" skeet barrel. I left Winchester Model 12's and 42's in 60's. I left Deerslayer 37's and High Standard Flite Kings in 70's . Since 77 its been 870 all the way, the perfect repeating shotgun IMHO. But I wouldn't touch an Express or a Model 1187 with a 10 foot pole. I hate front wheel drive cars too. I don't care how lucrative either are to a companies bottom line. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Trevman....

All new 870s have the plastic TG.

The WM bolts were hardchromed, not stainless. A minor point, since they seem to be nigh immortal in either finish.

Remington barrels have been through several design changes, at least one of which was done by lawyers, not gunmakers. Some like the heavier barrels better. Depending on mission, I may.

The 20 gauge YE here is as smooth at most WMs. A little use and a little polishing did it. A few more K rounds oughta do it.

All in all, I'd rather have older WMs than Expresses or newer WMs. QC has dropped in recent times.

A couple notes about the new Expresses and WMs....

That rough finish in not Parkerizing or a similar finish. They just don't polish things smoothly before bluing. Some folks say it rusts more easily, but all those open pores seem to hold oil to me. Some goose fans and guides on our Eastern Shore melt wax into the exterior with hairdryers for protection.

Mnay recent barrels are bored non concentrically.
The one on Frankenstein, my parts 870s, is like that. Shoots fine, but looks bad. Some do not shoot so fine, I hear.

Surprisingly, many Expresses still come with decent weight triggers. Luck of draw, I guess.

Stocks have become increasingly utilitarian. However, old wood is out there, and nice wood on a minty old WM is a pretty thing indeed. My TB gets drooled over at PGC frequently.

 

[Red Label]

I admit that my 20ga Express is the first gun I grab when I'm just going out scouting or bunny hunting or darn near anything. Its just a plain good gun. I just don't worry about hurting it because its already ugly. I still wish I had my pretty old Wingmaster though. Got to find another one!

 

[Maintz]

Old 870 verses a new 870..??

After reading some post on the 870 Express, fit & finish seems to be a problem..!!!! Does the new Wingmaster also have the same problems.???? I think I will try to buy a USED 870 Wingmaster 20 ga., may take a little time but willing to wait...

 

[Dave McCracken]

Yes, the new WMs have problems also. It's worth the wait to find a good ol' WM.

 

[PJR]

It's worth the wait to find a good ol' WM.

It sure is. But good ones, even so-so ones, are getting harder to find. It seems shooters just won't part with the Wingmasters. But then I'm part of the problem, I won't either no matter what other guns I might happen to own.

Paul

 

[Maintz]

Old Wingmaster with fixed choke...

I owned an old WM with a fixed modified barrel so I am familar with that vintage... I went to a local gun dealer that can order a new Wingmaster for $469.00... I asked him when they started using Rem Chokes & he said 5 or 6 years back.... My QUESTION is did Remington change the gun (cheap'in) when they came out with the Rem Chokes.???____.

 

[Dave McCracken]

It's been more than 5 or 6 years, more like 10 or 12, IIRC.

The cheaper changes are accumulative. They didn't all start at the same time.

As a WEG, any WM pre 1985 or so is probably a classic. Early Rem Choke guns seem to be OK.

There's guns I've sold, and some I may sell, but it'll take an offer way over market value to get any of my 870s out of the house.

One thing, in my highly biased opinion, newer 870s are good shotguns, older ones are GREAT shotguns...