Old 870s

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swoter

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FullSizeRender.jpg Just thought you might like to see a couple of old 870s. According to Remington the top was made in 1951, and bottom in 1960. I've had the top one for probably 30 years, just bought the bottom last week. It came with a 30 inch full choke vent rib barrel. I put the modified on it. Took it apart to clean and it looked like it had 60 years of grime built up, but functions just fine after the cleaning. Lots of wear on the receiver, looks like it was carried a lot over the years.
 
During the first August following my marriage in 1978 I got out my shotgun and began cleaning it and checking it out. My bride asked me what I was doing, and I replied that I was getting ready for Dove season. She said "Where are we going Dove hunting?"

We?

So, we took a quick trip to the local toy store and found an 870 in 20 ga. that probably dated from about 1960. I took her for a familiarization session with some clay targets.

She shot her limit on opening day.

We no longer have that shotgun, but I still have her.
 
Old 870's?.... Does mine qualify if it's 30 years old this year? Picked up a new 12 ga. 870 "Special Purpose Deer" in 1987. Back then Remington didn't offer fully rifled barrels on their slug guns, (not that I can recall anyway). It's not blued, but has what looks like a parkerized finish and just a cylinder bore barrel with rifle sights. But it always was as accurate as any other smoothbore back then using foster slugs. Had the receiver drilled & tapped for a Weaver base in the early '90's and put a 2.5x Leupold on. Put on a Remington fully rifled replacement barrel in about 2001 and even had a trigger job done on it a few years ago. It's my dedicated go-to slug gun that has harvested a lot of venison in 30 years. Only time it doesn't go out is if I'm handgun hunting or in a rifle zone. It thrives on 2&3/4" Winchester Sabots even though it will accept 3" shells. The 2&3/4's are a bit more accurate and over the years I've discovered that deer can't tell the difference. Have never had a lick of trouble with it and its been through all kinds of hellish snow storms, rain, sub-zero temps, etc. and just keeps working. It's a keeper for sure.
 
My trap gun is a 1972 870TB, my backup is my brother's TC from the same year. My backup to the backup is a 78 Wingmaster with Classic Trap wood and a 70s trap full barrel.
Hate to admit it but I traded a 50s 870 for a Savage 24V in 222/20.
(Do have an express that is only five years old but it hides in the closet)
Older is gooder.
 
During the first August following my marriage in 1978 I got out my shotgun and began cleaning it and checking it out. My bride asked me what I was doing, and I replied that I was getting ready for Dove season. She said "Where are we going Dove hunting?"

We?

So, we took a quick trip to the local toy store and found an 870 in 20 ga. that probably dated from about 1960. I took her for a familiarization session with some clay targets.

She shot her limit on opening day.

We no longer have that shotgun, but I still have her.

What a wonderful story.

John
 
I got my first Wingmaster in October of 1974. The next morning I killed two geese with the first two shots. I have probably owned 55+ shotguns, some costing 40 or 50 times what that Wingmaster did. I have never shot another gun as well as I did that shotgun.
 
I've had a dozen 870's................still have one.
It's a newer Supermagnum Turkey rig.
Wouldn't mind putting old style Police wood on it just to make it different.
(like the OP's shotgun in bottom of pic).
 
I had two new Wingmasters, 12 and 20 gauge, in the mid to late '70s. Both were extremely well built and super reliable. Sold them both when I needed cash; always figured I could find two more just like them but never have.
 
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I've always owned an 870 since I bought one right after I turned 18. Not that same one the whole time, but I've always had one. My current one is a Tactical Mag.
 
I have had at least one 870 in the rotation since 1985.

For me seeing an old 870 at a gun shop or pawn shop is like seeing that special dog at the dog pound and its eyes are saying "PICK ME PICK ME"
:)

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
Not sure how old my oldest 870 is but it came with both a 28" mod choke barrel and a 26" cyl choke barrel, both vent rib and 2 3/4" chambers. Bought used from a buddy's uncle. Carried it on more than a few quail hunts down in Oklahoma.
 
Bought mine in the very early 80's for $289Cdn. with an non-ribbed, 30", F choked barrel Looks just like the lower one pictured except its finish isn't as worn. Even says 'Wingmaster' on it. Mind you, Wingmaster's were not always high end kit.
 
Bought mine in the very early 80's for $289Cdn. with an non-ribbed, 30", F choked barrel Looks just like the lower one pictured except its finish isn't as worn. Even says 'Wingmaster' on it. Mind you, Wingmaster's were not always high end kit.

I beg your pardon, sir. Unless you are comparing a Wingmaster to a TB/TC Trap 870 or an SB/SC Skeet 870 (which were all Wingmasters), you are totally off base. High end kit ? What is that? The Wingmasters from the early 50's were not fancy guns, but they ran and ran. They were even better insofar as action gets slicker the more worn they got. Show me an 870 better than a Wingmaster other than what has been posted. Do you like the Express Models? If so, you have no clue about Wingmasters.

Jim
 
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the truth be told if you buy a 870 rem express, you are getting a basic 870 wingmaster for less than 1/2 the price of the gussied up 870 and over 96 percent of the parts are the same. how do i know you may ask, and here is the anwser. eastbank.
 

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Bought mine from J. C. Penny's for $160.00 back when Penny's sold guns. It's never let me down.
 
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