870 Wingmaster, good deal?

[RightCoastBiased]

I have been looking for a used 870, preferably a Wingmaster. When I went by a semi-local gun shop today they had a used 870 Wingmaster in good condition for $289. If I had the money, I probably would have put the %50 and started waiting the 2 week period. I asked an employee if it had been around for a while and if it was likely to sell before I get paid on friday. He told me it had been around for awhile and that was due to the fixed, full choke. Apparently the put a lot of folks off. I figured buying a new barrel wasn't a big deal. This gun will be doing everything for me. Trap, skeet, sporting clays, home defense and possibly hunting. I was a bit bummed to see prices on barrels for the gun ranging from $150-$300.

Here is where my dilemma starts. Why spend another $200 when I could, for $300 and change, get a Mossberg 500 with two barrels?

Mossberg is even located not 10 minutes from my house, which is great considering the money stays local.

So, why not the Mossberg? Why not the 870?

And I am aware that I can look around and possibly find a deal on an 870 that more suits my needs. Let's just leave this debate for the used 870 i am looking at and any mossberg 500 combo.

Thanks.

 

[Milkmaster]

The 870 Wingmaster would still be my choice. Used barrels can be had for around $100. Look at gun shows, gun stores and pawn shops.

If you get the Mossberg, then you have...well...a Mossberg!

 

[PapaG]

The 870 will be smoother, last longer, and bring more money back when you decide to trade or sell it. Don't sweat the fixed choke. Be sure it has a ribbed barrel. And be sure it is a real Wingmaster and not an express.
Barrels are out there for around 100 bucks. I have a dozen or so, with and without chokes. If I want to shoot trap with my full choke barrel and will be at sixteen to eighteen yards I use a fast opening wad. For handicap, I use AA wads and hard shot. You can make a fixed choke do what you want.

 

[RightCoastBiased]

It says "wingmaster" on the receiver. What else would one look for?

And what are ammo are you using when shooting trap/skeet with a full choke?

 

[The-Reaver]

Wingmaster magnums are IMHO the best shotgun's Ever made.. They are for sure the only pump guns I will ever own. & for 290 bucks I would for sure pick it up.

 

[BBroadside]

One thing to think about is, you can extend the magazine on a Remington 870 without any gunsmithing. I don't believe that is true for Mossbergs. Big magazine Mossbergs are born that way, and rarely or never come with long barrels. This may be relevant since some home defenders want big magazines.

Me, I was sure I was going to get a magazine extension on my 870 Express, but I haven't yet. I don't regret my purchase, but if I had seen an 870 Wingmaster in good used condition for the same price, around $300, I probably would have chosen it.

Also you may note that there are a few quite short barrels threaded for screw-in choke tubes. Mine is 20" and came with open sights and a rifled tube. 870 is a GREAT weapons family.

 

[jbkebert]

I had a 870 Wingmaster 12ga. vent rib 3" mag with a fixed full choke. I had a gun smith cut the barrel back 3" the vent rib back 4". The barrel was externally threaded for interchangable chokes. Cost me around $125

My father has the gun now but between him, myself, and my brothers. That gun has killed tons of ducks, geese, pheasant, dove, and quail.

Mossberg is not in the same class as a Wingmaster.

 

[Hillbillyz]

I have several 870's and one Mossberg. Like others have said the 870 is just smoother to operate and of a higher quality. Also the Mossberg has a rattle to it. The side has more play in it that makes noise in the field.

 

[my762buzz]

When I went by a semi-local gun shop today they had a used 870 Wingmaster in good condition for $289.

I probably should have bought a used one too. My new one has magazine tube dimples and a MIM extractor. Fortunately it did come with a real metal trigger housing.

 

[BigN]

Go back and get the wingmaster. It's a sweet trap gun. If there's a 28-30" barrel on it, you don't need to take the full choke off, really smokes the birds and makes you a better shooter.

 

[RightCoastBiased]

Thanks for all the info. I will probably be going back and putting down the money tomorrow and start my waiting period. Can't wait to dust some clays with this thing.

 

[PapaG]

I don't shoot skeet with the full choke...I have another barrel, imp cyl, that I've used. For trap, I use reloads I make up with windjammer wads and #8 shot for the sixteen to twenty yard events and I use Winchester AA wads and hard #7 1/2 shot for the longer distances. For skeet, I load windjammer wads, #9 shot and use the imp. cyl barrel on the 870 or a skeet choked barrel on my 1100.
I picked up a new 26" vent rib, gloss blued, Remchoke barrel for $125 a short while ago...works great for skeet.

 

[stnjohnson]

I know you said you're going to go back and get it but I thought I would reinforce that. I bought a mossberg 500 as my first shotgun for home defense. Don't get me wrong, it's a very adequate shotgun for any purpose but after shooting my friends older wingmaster I have a bit of buyers remorse. Oh well, I'll have to get another.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Buy the Wingmaster.....

 

[RightCoastBiased]

50% down, 2 weeks to go.

Looks like the gun is a '67 Wingmaster. In really great shape.

Thanks for pushing me in the right direction! I knew this is what I wanted to begin with and glad I am going to end up with it.

 

[jbkebert]

Fine looking shotgun you bought yourself. No way in heck you'll be disapointed.

 

[788Ham]

Thats a dandy shotgun! My folks bought mine about 1973, still have it. That shotgun has smoked some big geese in Eastern Colo., I'd never part with this one. Sure has a pretty finish on them, not made this way today!

 

[Virginian]

Wingmasters do not have any MIM parts, including the extractor. You can get the barrel threaded for choke tubes for about the price of a used barrel by a very competent gunsmith (Mike Orlen), and then you don't have to get used to any different handling characteristics switching barrels.

 

[Old Unc']

like comparing a Mustang GT to a Ford Focus. Just think, you'll have two barrels for your WM!!

 

[MtnSpur]

Looks like a keeper. Congrats. There's a Wingmaster sitting in my gun safe begging me to take her out for a spin I think.

 

[Maj Dad]

Great Gun!

Like Virginian said, you can get the bbl threaded for choke tubes with 3 chokes included for $125 from Carlson's ( http://www.choketube.com/instal.html ), among others. I have a '74 vintage Wingmaster with a 28" modified bbl that has really worked well for ducks, dove, skeet and trap. Technical experts will correctly inform you that modified isn't the best for any of them, but I haven't been able to tell the difference in use. I am sure my skeet & trap would do better with different chokes, but I use it for fun, and it is ideal for that! I will eventually get the changeable choke tubes, but it shoots great as is.

 

[EMC45]

870 VS Mossberg 500?!?!?!?! No comparison!......................Not even close! You chose wisely!

 

[RightCoastBiased]

Like Virginian said, you can get the bbl threaded for choke tubes with 3 chokes included for $125 from Carlson's ( http://www.choketube.com/instal.html ), among others. I have a '74 vintage Wingmaster with a 28" modified bbl that has really worked well for ducks, dove, skeet and trap. Technical experts will correctly inform you that modified isn't the best for any of them, but I haven't been able to tell the difference in use. I am sure my skeet & trap would do better with different chokes, but I use it for fun, and it is ideal for that! I will eventually get the changeable choke tubes, but it shoots great as is.

Thanks for the link, I'll definitely be looking into something like this.

 

[my762buzz]

Wingmasters do not have any MIM parts, including the extractor. You can get the barrel threaded for choke tubes for about the price of a used barrel by a very competent gunsmith (Mike Orlen), and then you don't have to get used to any different handling characteristics switching barrels.

This one was bought new from a sports retailer.

The extractor is MIM. Take a close look.
The mag tube has dimples also.

 

[gamestalker]

Between myself, 5 Son's, and other family member's we have too many 870's to honestly count without a great deal of thought. Several are quite old, a couple are Wing Master's, and all have worked flawlessly without exception. However, I have owned 1 Mossberg and will not ever buy another one. They are limited as to what can be modified on them, they are not as smooth operating to any extent as 870's with a constant effort required when cycling to complete the full stroke or it misserably hangs up. The first few months of ownership of the 500 required a firing pin replacement for no apparent reason, I've never had to replace anything on my 870's.