Thoughts on a new 16 guage 870 Wingmaster?

[sjcslk]

This seems to be an 870 friendly site, so I thought I'd ask the question here. I have a 16 guage 870 Wingmaster I bought a few years ago. On an upland site, a while back a guy referred to this gun as "handling like a shovel". I'm guessing he is saying this partly because I believe this 16 guage is on a 12 guage frame (but I'm not sure if it is). Is there a bad rep for this gun?
Mine has a 26 inch barrel & it doesn't feel as balanced to me as my 12 guage Wingmasters with longer barrels. I'm asking for input because I'm debating on selling the gun or getting a 28 inch barrel for it. I'm thinking the 28 inch barrel may give me the better balance I would want.
In a way, I hate to sell it because all my other guns are vintage & this is the only one I can shoot steel shot out of without concern.
Thanks,

 

[MAKster]

There is nothing wrong with an 870 in 16 gauge. The reason why these guns are no longer popular is because 16 gauge shells are much harder to find and more expensive. Stores sell an endless variety of 12 and 20 gauge in birdshot, buck and slug loads, but you will be lucky to find one box of 16 gauge shells in a store.

 

[SwampWolf]

Whereas there's nothing wrong with a Model 870 chambered in 16 gauge and I agree that the biggest reason not to have a 16 gauge is because, as MAKster explained, the sixteen gauge doesn't have much in the way of factory loadings when compared to the 12 and 20 gauges, I personally am not enamored with shotguns that have receivers bigger than they need to be (i.e., a 16 gauge barrel affixed to a 12 gauge frame). Actually, imo, the biggest (if not the only) reason for stepping down in size in terms of gauges is to get a shotgun with a more petite profile, lighter weight and (maybe) better handling/pointing attributes for upland bird shooting. Sticking smaller barrels on bigger frames seems counter-productive to me-though, I have to say, the description "handling like a shovel" seems a bit on the extreme side...

 

[Mark8252]

Hard to find??

16ga shells are hard to find?? Not in Colorado. They are sold even at Walmart same price as 12 and 20ga..
Any sporting goods store here has them...and I mean any.
Curious to know where you folks live.

 

[fatcat4620]

Down here in TN I have never seen 16 gage in any store. I would have to agree with MAK and Swamp.

 

[eastbank]

i have a rem 1100 in 16ga made in the 70,s and it is lighter than my rem 1100 in 12ga made in the same time frame. and 16ga shells are not to find here in pa. last fall i bought a case of 16ga federal 1 1/8 oz 4 shot for 50.00 at a flea market. pic, are of my 1100 in 16ga and extra barrel. eastbank.

 

[SwampWolf]

It's not so much that you can't find 16 gauge shells, it's that the sixteen gauge has nowhere near the variety and selection in terms of shot loads and types, velocity variables, shell lengths, etc., that are routinely available in twelve and twenty gauge factory ammunition. I have nothing against the sixteen and would quickly concede that, theoretically, the sixteen should be the perfect compromise when compared with all the other gauges. But the lack of depthh and breadth in terms of "bench strength" makes it a less than viable alternative to the twelves and twenties.

 

[monkyboy1975]

"There is nothing wrong with an 870 in 16 gauge. The reason why these guns are no longer popular is because 16 gauge shells are much harder to find and more expensive. Stores sell an endless variety of 12 and 20 gauge in birdshot, buck and slug loads, but you will be lucky to find one box of 16 gauge shells in a store."

That depends on where you shop. My local Dick's sporting goods (even wallyworld for that matter.) even stock 28 GA.

 

[SwampWolf]

That depends on where you shop. My local Dick's sporting goods (even wallyworld for that matter.) even stock 28 GA.

I think you'll find that "even the 28 gauge" is more readily available than the 16 gauge is at most stores.

 

[OldMac]

16 is almost always on the shelf at Walmart in Knoxville TN.

 

[fatcat4620]

I guess if 16 gage was a snake it would have bit me.

 

[chas08]

"handling like a shovel".

I've never felt a Wingmaster in any gauge that felt that bad. The 870 is not scaled to gauge like it's predesessor the model 31 was. That is its only shortcoming as I see it. I have a model 31 in 16and it is sweet for a pump but then so is the model 37 and model 12 they are scaled to gauge also. I've never had trouble finding ammo for the 16's I own. The UPS man drops them off at my doorstep a couple of flats at a time.

 

[monkyboy1975]

I think you'll find that "even the 28 gauge" is more readily available than the 16 gauge is at most stores.

I must be lucky in my area as I have seen pretty good stacks of both gauges. But yes, probably the biggest killer for the 16 has been ammo variety; which can in some part be fixed if you reload (granted you'll still suffer in the slug department without some of the new fancy slug designs out there, or the lack of a 3" chamber.) And my guess is that since most of the major manufacturers simply slap 16GA barrels on 12GA frames don't help matters any. If I were to buy a new 16GA pump, I would probably go with the new Ithaca.

 

[SwampWolf]

If I were to buy a new 16GA pump, I would probably go with the new Ithaca.

Same here. If I were to...

 

[monkyboy1975]

Same here. If I were to...

My racking hand and trigger finger keeps telling me yes, but my bank account and SWMBO keep saying NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!:banghead: