Finally added a pump - wingmaster

[Virginian]

Most people believe a ventilated rib barrel points better. I do too, now. But, back in my shallow youth, I special ordered a non-vent rib 26" Skeet barrel for my 1100. I figured it would be lighter and point quicker. Silly me, as now almost everyone agrees you need at least a 30" bbl and a 34" is even better. In my blissful ignorance I went on to have league high average and shoot the most straights.

 

[starnbar]

Good choice

 

[Armored farmer]

Riiiiiight. I've seen what you like to hunt with. The other America's shotgun that resembles this thing.

View attachment 1063513

GUILTY

 

[kudu]

About 6-8 years ago I found a very nice Upland Special 12 ga Wingmaster at a gun show. IIRC $500. Very little use, wasn't even any wear on the pump slide rails. Straight stock beautiful walnut with 25" barrel vent rib and was a later model with choke tubes. I went to our gun club a week later and shot 2 rounds of skeet with it and ran a 50 straight. Had the I/C choke in it and I was smoking the birds. I cleaned it and put it in the safe and haven't shot it since. I can say it's the only shotgun I have never missed a clay target with.

 

[Armored farmer]

Armored farmer, my favorite upland shotgun is my '75 870 Wingmaster in 20ga. It's my go to for Dove and Quail. It's just a natural for that. And a little trap now and then!

Two of my greatest memories from 50 years of hunting... are taking my limit of quail(8), and my limit of doves (15) with my .410 870.

 

[mingo]

Another 870 fan here. I have 4 of the vintage ones. One 12ga magnum that I bought new in 1971 with a 30" full choke. I then bought a 26" IC for skeet shooting and a slug barrel for deer hunting. It has thousands of rounds through it and still is my favorite Turkey gun. I also have one 16ga wingmaster from the late 60's as well as 2 12ga wingmasters from the 60's....the 12 has a vent rib, while the 16 has a plain barrel.
They still are used for hunting every year, and just fun to enjoy and fondle!

 

[Pistolpositive]

Yet to put any shells through my new-to-me 1970 870 wingmaster as my only range is hosting a college competition.
This afternoon did find the mod indicator on the barrel. Measured the vented rib barrel and basically 29 inches from receiver to tip.

 

[RKRCPA]

My 870 came from my Dad who bought it new. Serial number puts it at 1951 production. Plain 28" barrel, plain walnut stock and corncob forend.

 

[Boattale]

Yet to put any shells through my new-to-me 1970 870 wingmaster as my only range is hosting a college competition.
This afternoon did find the mod indicator on the barrel. Measured the vented rib barrel and basically 29 inches from receiver to tip.

Shotgun barrel length is from the front of the bolt with action closed to the muzzle. Easy to measure - just mark a cleaning rod and voila it's done.

 

[DustyGmt]

I bought one years ago for $200 and it was in 99% condition. I have a friend who's uncle gave it to him still in the box, 20 years basically unfired. Less than a 25rd box of shells through it and he wound up selling it to me for $200 and it was really one of those "Hey man, I know you're not really in the market for this type of gun but I need cash so if you can swing it, I'll let it go for $200". I bought it even though I had very lil interest in shotguns at the time and I thought 870's were a dime a dozen and it sat in the corner for a couple years until I needed some currency toward a rifle I wanted and let it go for what I paid.....

I still kick myself to this day for that stupid mistake. It had an engraved reciever and beautiful wood, don't know wth I was thinking but I made it my mission to buy another, this time with a good trap gun in mind, I ended up paying considerably more. Live and learn. They are great guns and I keep an eye out for them now. If I find another for a decent price I will be all over it. I shoot trap with a '69 TB and I love it. Excellent made shotgun.

I had the opportunity to buy the twin TB to my 12ga in 20ga last year and it was in excellent, LNIB condition but I hedged against it because I don't have much use for a 20ga and it was $750........

 

[Sniper66]

I grew up shooting my dad's 870 and have loved shooting them ever since. At 75 years of age, the gun I regret selling the most was a beautiful 870 Wingmaster with 30" full choke vent rib barrel. I bought it for $470, shot lots of turkeys with it, and really enjoyed it. The sold it for $500 to buy semi-auto Beretta. It just doesn't feel as good as the 870...dumb mistake.

 

[paul harm]

Back in the 1970s I started shooting trap to improve my wing shooting. I bought a 870 field gun. Then realized one just had to have a trap gun to shoot trap so a deal came along on a Monty Carlo stock, forearm in TB grade. That and a vent rib barrel was also added. Now I was rocking till a TC stock and forearm showed up. That gun served me well for many years. Just last week a model 31TC was added to the trap gun collection. Always wanted one because I heard so much about the smooth action. Maybe I'll get out next week and give it a try.
You'll be happy with the 870. The vent rib give the heat waves [ if you shoot a lot , like a 100 bird event in hot weather ] a place to go other than make the target disappear. That, and they look cool.

 

[paul harm]

By the way, it was Rudy Etchen that fired perfect rounds of trap doubles in a tournament 50 years apart with the same 870. That should tell you something.