I recently acquired this 51 year old Remington 870 Wingmaster in 20 guage 3 inch magnum. It's super clean, whoever had it keep the stock and forearm covered with a neoprene camo overlay to keep the stock from getting dings and dents and it certainly did it's job.

870's seem to be as iconic in the shotgun world as the Winchester 94 is to lever guns. After a quick look at the Remington web site I see that over 10 million of all models of 870s have been manufactured.

__________________
Live long and prosper

Bought my 870 Express Magnum in 1988, right after they were introduced.

__________________
USN Submarine Service '66-'71

This was the basic police shotgun for a long time, still is mostly. I have a CHP surplus one and still runs beautifully. A little ugly, but that doesn't concern me a bit.

I've had 4 or 5 of em', and recently bought a Mossberg just to try something different and I liked it also but those old Wingmasters sure have some CLASS!

Mine's a nice one, with real looking laser engraving and a gold trigger, a Wingmaster. I think they only made that version for 2-3 years.

I want to see some hunting guns in this topic, not just "tactical"stuff, as usual with shotgun topics.

When I began my career in 1976 we had High Standard short barrel riot shotguns. About 1978 they were replaced by Remington 870s with rifle sights.

I have 2. First a 12 ga that has been trouble free for over 20 years. Second a 410 bought last year. Broken NIB. Had to send it back for repair before I could even shoot it...........Old 870's usually great. New ones NOT SO GREAT. Remington's quality has gone in the *******.

__________________
S&W Accumulator

I carried one everyday on Patrol and never felt that I was outgunned. We carried both slugs and buckshot. Our 870's were issued with rifle sights and mine was an exceptionally good shooter with slugs. Had mine adjusted for 50 yd zero and that old forged receiver action was smooth as butter.
Went on vacation and came back to find my old friend had been replaced/updated with one of the new cast receivered "Express" versions that was tight as a drum. I put a bunch of rounds through it and sat in front of the tv cycling the action to get it loosened up to where it was usable. Unfortunately the new replacement "Express" 870 had a MAJOR/FATAL magazine tube glitch that caused shells to stick in the tube. (But that's another story.)
I still keep one fully loaded around the house in retirement.

I'm a big fan of the 870. I bought my first one when I was 13-14 years old with paper route money I earned. 45 years later I still hunt Ducks, Quail, Pheasants and Turkey with a 870.

I have an 870 Express 12-caliber magnum, I bought it new I think in 1990, it has a 28 "barrel with interchangeable chokes and another 20" barrel with rifle sights, with this shotgun and the correct ammunition you can hunt from a I duck a wild pig and I can use it in the shooting club, it is also very solid construction, the Remington 870 in any of its versions is a classic among repetition shotguns.

870 receivers are neither cast nor forged. They are machined from bar
stock whether it says Wingmaster or Express on it.

A lot of my old hunting and trap shooting friends used them for years and shot a lot of rounds through them. They are a great shotgun, very dependable, easy to fix and well balanced. What's not to like??

I really like and prefer wood instead of synthetic but my 870 SP Marine Magnum might look a bit strange with wood.

Attached Images

20180125_001700 (Copy).jpg (101.3 KB, 42 views)

__________________
Dan
Ps 96 SWCA 2930 SWHF 524

Wonderful shotgun. Mine was given to me by my parents for Christmas in 1968. Improved cylinder. Tremendous on quail and dove. Where I live now, using slugs or buckshot, should be great for deer. Sincerely. bruce.

__________________
<><

This is my 870....

Attached Images

870-1 (2).jpg (154.2 KB, 74 views)

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I have about a 1977 model 870 Police with park finish , walnut used but not beat, its behind the door .

I too bought my first one with paper route money for my 14th birthday... still have it and the box... 870 Wingmaster 20 gauge light weight... great pointing gun... since then have added others... 2 - 12 gauge magnum express... one for my son... one for me... was my pheasant n quail gun... now set up with slug barrel for house fun... if needed... I know it will function withour any issues...

Here is my 1971 Wingmaster after it was converted by Scattergun Technologies.

Attached Images

	20200122_094811.jpg (8.3 KB, 34 views)
	20200122_094912.jpg (8.7 KB, 33 views)

I have four of them and they all get used regularly. Finest pump guns ever mfg’d IMO (pre-Freedom Group of course).

__________________
Some Might Say.

I don’t hunt so I only have one 870 Wingmaster that I used for Skeet Shooting in college.

I also have two 870P’s (one wood w/ bead sight & the other synthetic w/ rifle sights and Surefire Forend light) and an 11-87P (synthetic w/ rifle sights and Surefire forend light) with Scattergun Technologies magazine extensions & followers. Good, dependable shotguns.

Yeah I'm a sucker for the 870's too. A 20 gauge Wingmaster with improved cylinder and vent rib barrel was the first long gun I owned in 1974 or so. Sadly, I sold it about 10 years later when I got married! But I do remember that I sold it for what I had paid for it new!

Since then I've owned half a dozen of them even though I rarely shoot them. Right now I've got 2 in 12 gauge. To me they're a timeless classic.

The finest pump guns ever manufactured are the Winchester model 12,the Ithaca model 37 (JMB design) and the Remington model 31(JMB design). These guns were assembled from forgings and machined steel parts with real walnut stocks by REAL craftsmen. One of my mdl 12's is 107 years old and still going strong. My Win 1897 is older than that and I shoot it alot too.....You seldom to never see a "dead" Ithaca 37 or Rem 31........COST killed their manufacture except for Ithaca.

The 870 is a gun of the times. Full of plastic and stamped sheet metal parts. The older ones are better. QC on ANY NEW Remington isn't.

__________________
S&W Accumulator

Bought my 1st one in 1966 (at age 15) shortly after moving to Mississippi. Bought a 20 ga. for the wife for our 1st anniversary. Bought a Youth model to teach my son's how to wing shoot in the mid 80's.
Yea, I LIKE the Rem 870 Wingmaster!

WYT-P
Skyhunter

I have a few, and definitely like them!

[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

Apologies for the 1100 LH that sneaked its way into the bottom slot in the above two photos.

[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

__________________
Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

I received a 870 Express as a high school graduation gift from my parents. Still have it. I’ve owned several other 870’s over the years, never had a problem with any of them.

__________________
Wheel guns are real guns.

Oh my God! I have 4 (out of the 6 I have owned over the years,) all walnut stocked Wingmasters. I have a 12, 20 28, and .410. I regularly shoot skeet with all 4, 5 stand with the 12 and 20, and my occasional round of trap with the 12. I tend not to hunt with them any more, but I killed a truckload of rabbits and grouse with the 20 in my youth, plus a few pheasants. That 20 was the first gun that was my own, a Christmas present in 1981. Mine was the old standard weight 20, built on the 12 gauge frame. But it is light enough. It truly is the last gun I would ever part with. It may go in the casket with me.

Curiously, I have managed to part with both of the 16 gauge Wingmasters I have owned over the years. That's odd, since I'm both a 16 gauge nut AND an 870 nut.

Its funny this thread appeared today. I'm currently loading 28 gauge skeet loads, and I was thinking that I might try the 28 gauge 870 on pheasants this fall. I hunt stocked/released birds, and shots are fairly close. I'm confident the 28 will be enough.

Here they are



From left to right; .410 25" fixed MOD, 28 ga 25" with after market screw ins, 20 ga Standard Weight, 26 " fixed IC, 12 ga 26" with after market screw ins.

Actually, I mis spoke. The 28 gauge has a mahogany stock. Those early 70s field .410, 28, and lightweight 20s had mahogany stocks which were lighter than walnut.

I've got an old Express supermag I use for duck and goose hunting, does everything I need it to.... wouldn't want to take a wing master out in the conditions its seen.

You know what I just remembered? Before the self containment all started, Saturday the 14th was the last day I shot skeet at our club. I shot 2 rounds with the 12 ga 870, and I ran a straight on the second round.

Yep, 12Ga. Wingmaster here. Recently retired it from trap shooting, but it's done yeoman's service over the years. Great shotguns.

I own eight of them.

.410, 28 gauge, 20 gauge magnum, 20 gauge Youth Express, 12 gauge riot, 12 gauge 26" IC, 28" Remchoke, 30" trap.

The 870 (L/E version)is my dedicated HD go-to. IMHO - one of the best for that purpose.

My dad passed away when I was 23 and I inherited his 870 Wingmaster 12 gauge with 28 inch modified plain barrel. My best friend who I have hunted with since college has always used the exact same gun except he also has a full choke barrel and we are now both 61 years old. We both also have other shotguns but we also both agree we shoot the best while hunting with our 870s.

I like the 870 Marine Magnum, I bought it back when I had to scrimp and save with new babies at home. Now I have to scrimp and save with those babies in college to and maybe some day - retire.

Attached Images

Tucson 228.jpg (79.7 KB, 29 views)

So, I was always a Mossberg 500/590 kind of guy. My dad had a pistol grip 500 when I was about 10 to 12 years old. I thought it was the baddest thing; it even had a heat shield on it, Lol!
I had an Ithaca 37 16ga for about 20 years. Despite the fact I got it for Christmas when I was 10, I traded it away for almost nothing. I really wanted a Mossberg 12 ga.

I carried a Mossberg 590 in Afghanistan about 50% of the year. I came back and bought my own 500 8 plus 1 20”.

I always thought the 870 to be overpriced and less of a gun than the Mossberg. Then I went to work for my current agency in 2016. Day two they give me an 870 with wood furniture. Chief tells me they bought them 1989ish. The 870 kind of grew on me some over the next three years to the point when we retired them I was one of the first to say I wanted to buy old Betsy. I like it more than I ever thought I would. Most likely the best $135 I ever spent.
It looks just like the short magazine tube version D Brown post.

In 1975 I bought an 18" 12ga. 870 Wingmaster to keep behind the desk of my newly opened Mercedes repair shop which was located in downtown Denver sort of on the border between nice downtown and not so nice downtown. I haven't shot it very much and it continues to do guard duty next to the bed some 45 years later.

Stu

In my area the 870 is without a doubt the most popular shotgun. Hunting is big here for waterfowl, pheasants, deer and turkey. The 870 Wingmaster or Express does them all. Any customer new to hunting I recommend the 870 express, just the best overall shotgun for the money.

I personally have a 20ga Exp youth model with both barrels.
The slug barrel is the cheap smooth bore, no scope, but has sent several whitetails to my freezer one of which was a 75-80 yard shot.

__________________
_______________
Super Snooper

If a quarter will pass thru the barrel ring on your gun it is NOT a lightweight and actually made on a 12 ga frame.
this info is handy when looking for extra barrels.
great guns in any gauge or finish!
Larry

Going back to my early days as a cop, we had Remington 870's and Ithaca 37's. Both are great shotguns.

Now nearly a half-century later I have two grown sons, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. It is very difficult for me to hang onto a good shotgun, a decent deer rifle, or a nice .22 rifle; they all seem to grow legs. I only have one shotgun left.

Remington 870 "Sportsman 12" model, late 1970's to early 1980's, 12-gauge 3", plain walnut stock, parkerized metal finish. Mine has the 21" barrel with Rem-Choke and ventilated rib. I added sling swivels and a leather sling. Amazingly versatile shotgun! Short enough for quick handling and with the IC choke tube it serves nicely for home duty. With the Mod choke tube it does very well for pheasants, quail, grouse, and handles steel shot for waterfowl. With the Hastings Extra Full choke tube it has won every turkey shoot I have taken it to, and for whoever happens to be shooting it (guys at my club now insist on one round in which everyone gets to use my shotgun, just to make it fair, and some of them are shooting high dollar custom trap guns!).

Not the prettiest shotgun around, but one that just does everything very well.

I like 870s, each of mine is configured differently for its intended purpose, from bird hunting to home protection. My old Wingmaster is sporting modern furniture (off one of the others) and the original stuff is stored away. Makes it more field use friendly. Had it for 48 years.
Wingmaster 12ga 2-3/4 chamber
Marine Magnum 3" Nickel W/ Choate sidefolder
Youth model 20ga
Police trade in 18" Magnum
Tactical 3" w/Knox stock
Express Laminate w/slug barrel
Extra rifled slug barrel

I've had at least one 870 in possession since 1974. Up to 5 once, down to 2 at the moment. Have owned every gauge except 410. Presently own a 12 and a 16.

I bought a used cop 870 Wingmaster around 1992, wood stock somewhat beat up, so installed a camo replacement. Thru the years I acquired an Express barrel with the choke tubes, which allows me to hunt with the gun, besides using it for a house gun. Never had a hiccup with it, very dependable.

__________________
Kevin in Oregon

Winchester engineer T. C. Johnson designed the Mod. 1912, evolving the JMB Mod. 1897. Several Remington engineers collaborated on the Mod. 31, as successor to the Pedersen designed models 10 and 29 and the JMB designed Mod. 17. Harry Howland at Ithaca evolved the JMB Remington Mod. 17 and waited out Pedersen patents to produce the Ithaca Mod. 37. All these pump guns are very durable and most improved on the JMB 1897 and 17. IMO the Remington 31 is the best of the lot for eliminating the double motion slide unlocking and introducing a truly modular trigger group. The 870 became the ultimate modular pump gun with easily replaceable components that did not require high gunsmith skill to repair, presaging AR-15 modularity and ease of manufacture. Locking the 870 bolt to a barrel extension lightened receivers. Not every modern evolution cheapens a basic firearm design or decreases reliability. I've had several 870's and used to not especially like the modern plastic trigger housing, but it would probably survive a drop impact and keep working more reliably than a metal one. 31's are sweet. I have an aluminum receiver 20 gauge that cycles itself like an automatic.

When I was a youngster growing up in a small rural community, all of us boys had many heated conversations about which shotgun was better, Remington 870 or Winchester Model 12. My preference was the Model 12. It still is.

Having said that, the 870 is a fine shotgun and I do own a few of them. Back in 1993, living in Illinois, my best friend invited me to go deer hunting on his family property. At that time, the only firearms allowed were black powder and shotguns. Since I did not have a slug gun, I obtained a 12 ga. Wingmaster at a lgs that did not have a barrel. Paid $120 for it and bought a Hastings rifled barrel with a cantilever. Got a scope and and synthetic stock/forearm and wrapped up the metal with a camo kit. Over the years, I killed a lot of deer with that setup.

One day in 2000, I was in another lgs looking at their used guns and ran across an 870 SC in 12 ga. (SC stands for Skeet "C" (high) grade wood) It was so nice, I just had to have it. Gave $280 and walked out the door with it.

Moved back home to Kansas in 2004 and got the itch for a 20 ga. Went down to the local gun shop and asked the owner if he had any nice ones. He went to the back and pulled out a new in the box 870 Wingmaster Magnum. Paid the man $400 and walked out the store with it tucked under my arm. I still hunt deer with my buddy in Illinois every Fall. A couple of years ago, I got a cantilever rifled tube for this gun and now use it back there. I even took it out a couple of times here in Kansas and put down a big fat doe with it.

Nothing wrong with an 870.

Attached Images

	DSC04460a.jpg (70.0 KB, 22 views)
	Rem870SC1.jpg (41.4 KB, 17 views)
	Rem870SC2.jpg (73.7 KB, 17 views)
	Rem870SC3.jpg (72.4 KB, 14 views)
	Rem870-20ga.jpg (32.6 KB, 12 views)

__________________
SWCA 3297 SWHF 583

Those older target grade Remingtons had gorgeous wood!

The 870 is a piece of American history.
Such a fine firearm that does what it is supposed to every time.

Unlimited shells
ample targets of all sorts
& a 870 (or MB500 - Maverick 88 or Ithaca 37) is just about as much fun that you can have while still having your clothes on


regarding that Maverick 88
if you only have $200 to spend and can only own 1 firearm - this would be the one.... IMO

The one with the standard length magazine, high polish blue, and chrome bolt is a Model 24899 870 Police Magnum. The one with the two round magazine extension (a factory item), and Parkerized finish is the Model 24903 870 Police Magnum. I lucked out about eight years ago, and was able to locate both of these models new in the box. It's my understanding that Remington only makes these two models as special runs, and it can literally be years between production runs.

I'm hanging on to these two.

By the way, both of these Police Magnums are box stock with the one exception that I have installed a left hand big button safety on each of them.

Model 24899 and 24903 870 Police Magnums, top to bottom.

[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

__________________
Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

I have a 12 gauge Wingmaster that I purchased at Walmart in 1979. It came with a 26" barrel with open cylinder choke that I used to shoot many quail and rabbits. In the late 1980s, I purchased a 28" barrel with the Remchoke system. A machinist at work added a center bead so that I could shoot trap and skeet with it. I haven't shot it in years, but it still occupies a place in my safe. I will probably keep it until the end, considering the history and memories that it shares with me.