Woo-Hoo! My first shotgun...

[TMann]

Just picked up a Remington 870 Wingmaster this afternoon. I've been shooting handguns for several years, but this is my first shotgun. I bought it used from a local gun shop and I'm heading off to the range (indoor) after dinner. It came with a 20" barrel with a fixed choke with rifle sights. The left side of the gun is marked "Remington 870 Magnum", while the right side is marked "Wingmaster Deer." Some lousy photos are attached below; I'll take some better ones in the next few days.

I have a couple of questions:

1. Should I assume that this gun has a cylinder choke? There are no specific choke descriptions marked on the barrel.
2. Given the indeterminate choke on this barrel, can I shot slugs from this barrel? Would it matter if they're rifled slugs or non-rifled slugs?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

TMann

 

[Virginian]

Almost certainly cylinder bore. Rifled or Forster type slugs are best. Sabots work best with a rifled barrel. Now get you a 28" barrel with RemChokes and you are good to go for anything.

 

[Black Knight]

That looks like a 20 inch barrel. If so then it should be an Improved Cylinder (IC) barrel. The choke is slightly less than cylinder bore. If it is an IC barrel you should be fine with slugs. Also check to see if the barrel is smooth inside or if there is any rifling. I believe there were some barrels with rifling so slugs would be more accurate. I have 2 870 Wingmasters (non-magnum) with 20 inch smooth bore rifle sight barrels. I use them for home defense at this time.

 

[TMann]

Black Knight: It is indeed a 20" barrel, (I measured it by inserting a wooden dowel down the barrel and measuring from breech to the barrel tip.) As far as the choke, would it be marked somewhere on the barrel?Also, what is the tightest choke that would work with a slug?

TMann

 

[brandon_mcg]

nice gun.

 

[Naybor]

Agree on probably Improved Cylinder. That works best for slugs. Also is very good for rabbits in brush.

You NEVER want to use a tight (full) choke on slugs. Squeezes them too much and may in fact blow the barrel like a peeled banana skin.

If you can find a 26 or 28" barrel with screw in choke inserts you will be ready for anything.

Congratulations! Nice shotgun!!!!!

 

[mnrivrat]

The smooth bore deer barrels were generaly choked IC . (Improved Cylinder)

IC generaly works best for the standard rifled slugs . You can shoot these slugs through pretty much any choke, but the IC has proven to be the best overall choke for them.

While you can shoot sabot slugs thru a smooth bore, they will not perform nearly as well as when fired thru the rifled barrels , and pretty much a waste of money trying to use them in smooth bores.

 

[GCBurner]

Remington called that model the 870 Magnum, but I believe it's just chambered for 2 3/4" shells. The barrel has rifle sights, but it's not rifled, it's choked Improved Cylinder. A friend of mine has one, and it shoots pretty good with the Breneke slugs at 25-30 yards, but he mostly uses buckshot.

 

[JEB]

very nice! if i could ever find one i would be thrilled with exactly the same thing!

yes slugs are safe to fire. regular rifled slugs (i buy the bulk winchester or remington value packs) will most likely give you surprisingly good accuracy. i had an opportunity to shoot one very similar to yours and was easily able to keep a +/- 5" group off-hand at around 60 yards (i have seen that gun shoot better than this but i was just blasing away for fun and to get a feel for it).

 

[Fat John]

If you can find a 26 or 28" barrel with screw in choke inserts you will be ready for anything.

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=560162

I've got a 28" barrel if you're interested.

 

[Rshooter]

I would have to agree on the Improved Cylinder. Mine likes Remington slugs the best.

 

[EMC45]

Very nice 870! Most likely it will have "CYL" on the left side of the barrel just in front of the receiver. Get some Remington Sluggers or some Brennekes and you will be good. I have that barrel and it will shoot slugs nicely, but shoots buckshot dismally.