870TB Questions

[Kestrel]

I found an older 870TB in a shop. It's the first one I've ever seen. The wood was nicer than any regular Wingmaster I've ever seen. It had about a 30" barrel and had a fixed, full choke. It also did not have the flex-tab (just to let you know how old it was).

What does "TB" stand for? Is this a trap gun? Why would it be full choked? I've never shot trap, but I thought for the clay sports, you used something a lot more open, like IC or skeet chokes? Is it a lighter contour barrel?

Also, it was in excellent condition. Not new condition, but very, very nice (the blueing was excellent, but the recoil pad was a little hard from age). Approx. what kind of price should this gun be? (They had not priced it, yet, when I saw it.)

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Dave McCracken]

T stands for Trap. A, B, and C grades only the wood varied, D and F had engraving. Some stocks had Monte Carlo Combs, some didn't. C grade up had cut checkering, A and B had impressed.

Trap targets are usually taken between 30 and 35 yards. Haandicap runs them out close to 50. This takes more choke than Skeet, where the longest shot is about 21 yards. Most T grade barrels are Full, or Modified, and many of the Full ones verge on Extra Full. Length was most often 30", though they ran from 28" to 36".

The barrel on the TB here may not be original to the shotgun. It runs 30", bore diameter's .733", a mild overbore, and the choke's .695, for 38 POC. Shoots tight. These barrels are among the best factory barrels made.

Myth has it that the letter grades received special attention to finish and fit. I do know that the triggers on these are very clean.

Myth also has it that the TCs had overbore barrels like mine, and many a trap hustler would buy both a TB and TC, swap the barrels, sell off the TC and keep the TB with the TC barrel. Maybe.

Besides the letter grades, a fancy trap 870 called the Grand American was made.
So was a variant called the Sunray, with a blonde finish on the wood.

The few I've seen for sale around here have run from $400 up. As with all 870s, they last a long time.

 

[Kestrel]

Dave,

Thanks for the reply. I'm going to see how much they want for it. (Knowing this shop, if they sell for $400+, they'll want $700+ for it...)

Steve