I have an old wingmaster from the 70's that is rated for 2 3/4" shells. Does that include modern day 2 3/4" high brass shotgun slugs with the appropriate rifled barrel?
Yep.
I have 2 870's a new model and the old 870 wingmaster, If I sighted my slugger with the newer 870 and the wingmaster WILL accept modern day 2 3/4" slugs if I were to switch barrels would that effect my accuracy and scope that has been sighted in from 1 shotgun action to the other?
Almost certainly, you'd need to re-zero after switching barrels from receiver to receiver. If you just removed the slug barrel and then re-installed it on the same receiver, you might have to re-zero, unless you could get your magazine cap to the same degree of tightness it had before.
Someone made mention of possibly using an ejector for a 3" shell if the barrel is rated for 2 3/4-3" shells can this be done on the older action. Is the body that houses the firing pin on the older wingmaster made of steel and could it handle a 3" shell SAFELY
The bolt can handle it, but you need BOTH a 3" chamber AND a receiver that can handle 3" shells. With a 3" chamber and a 2 3/4" receiver, you may find yourself with a single shot if the fired shell won't clear the ejection port- a hassle, but not dangerous.
Shooting 3" shells in 2 3/4" chambers is not a good thing to do, however, as it runs up chamber pressures due to the mouth of the opening shell protruding into the forcing cone of the barrel as the projectile is trying to clear that area. Remember, the stated length of shotgun shells is the FIRED length of the shell...
The last 4 digits of serial# on the older 870 ends with 971v
The V a the end of the serial number tells you it's a 12 gauge receiver set up for 2 3/4" shells. The serial number of a 12 ga. 870 set up from the factory for 3" shells ends in M.
No need to shoot 3" slugs anyway, 2 3/4" will do plenty- on both ends.
hth,
lpl
