Rescued a 1966 Wingmaster

[DaleCooper51]

A couple weeks ago I ran across an old 26" IC plain barrel 12ga Wingmaster in need of a new home. It was priced to move, and I was in need of a beater field and house gun. From it's previous life, it came plenty of hunting scars, carry wear, rust, and close to 50 years worth of grime. It took about 3 hours worth of scrubbing, but a nice smooth gun was hidden underneath it all. The magazine spring was replaced and I added a trigger group with a left hand safety. Over the last 2 weeks, I shot 8 rounds skeet with it. I had some sticky extraction until I polished the chamber. The right shell stop needs to be re-staked at some point, but I added a few drops super glue to hold it for now. I also need to replace that rock of a recoil pad soon. Other than that, I just need to run some more shells through it.

 

[bannockburn]

DaleCooper51

Nice rescue and clean up operation! The wood still looks pretty good and the bluing appears to be fairly decent as well.

 

[plumberroy]

I have my eye out for a wingmaster slug gun of that vintage for the same reason . Being a 66 it should have been able to reverse the safety in it
I like older guns

 

[Onmilo]

Nice!

 

[Milkmaster]

Nice find! I hope you enjoy it.

 

[MrMarty51]

Wow, that is a very nice find. It looks to be almost perfect in the pics.
Did You happen to get any 'Before" photos ???

 

[content]

Nice snag/save on a great shotgun!

I'm still on the lookout for a first year 870.

 

[CoRoMo]

Wait... so, you're not going to chop the barrel down to 18", mount a tac-light somewhere and saw that stock into a bird's head grip?

 

[gamestalker]

You know what usually causes those to break free of the stake? When putting the barrel on, if the slide isn't moved to the free position, or centered around mid stroke, it engages the stop rail and pushes it back, thus breaking it free from the stake. I always show folks how to get it in the correct position to prevent re-injuring them, hold the gun barrel up, press the release, and the pump will drop into position by it's self. Remington also explains how to do it in the owner manual. I made that mistake with my first 870 many years ago.

Since then, I can't begin to tell you how many of them I've seen that have been broken free. But like you said, it's no big deal, and fixing them is easy also. The new 870's aren't much of a problem though, as they aren't the old staked type any more.

BTW, good find. I just love those old WM's.
GS

 

[LeonCarr]

Beautiful Shotgun...now take to the range and try to wear it out.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[DaleCooper51]

Thanks for the replies guys. I am definitely enjoying the gun. It is really smooth and the plain barrel is quick. It would make a very nice grouse gun. I think I am going to try a round sporting with it next weekend. It should be fun.

It is hard to see in the pic, but I would rate it about 70%. Unfortunately, I pulled it apart first thing and didn't take any before shots. It has a bunch of blue loss and freckling on the metal. The wood is pretty dinged up as well. I put a couple coats of paste wax on it and it has a nicely experienced look. Aside from the pad, I am really liking this one.

 

[Devonai]

I think the wisdom of the late Dave McCracken is appropriate here.

Buy ammo, use up, repeat.

BA/UU/R

 

[Virginian]

The staked shell latches are only so it is easier to put it back together anyway. I Superglued the latch on one of my 1100s about 5 years ago as a supposedly temporary thing, and now I don't remember which one it was. I'll never bother with staking again. Browning doesn't stake anyway. They just say don't take it apart.

 

[DaleCooper51]

The staked shell latches are only so it is easier to put it back together anyway. I Superglued the latch on one of my 1100s about 5 years ago as a supposedly temporary thing, and now I don't remember which one it was. I'll never bother with staking again. Browning doesn't stake anyway. They just say don't take it apart.

Virginian, it was one of your posts somewhere where I got the super glue idea. The main reason is so it doesn't fall out when I take it apart for cleaning.

Not a big deal, but annoying at times.