870 Wingmaster info

[jframe]

Just picked up an 870 Wingmaster in decent shape. 26" barrel and modified choke. It has pretty good furniture on it with a ringed forearm. I'm thinking it's no collector's item, so I'm going to get my trusty gunsmith to lop it down to 18.5" length, and retap the barrel to accept a simple bead sight of some sort. My question is whether anyone here can give me an idea on date of manufacture. The serial # is 3001xxV. Any help would be appreciated; it's just more curiosity than anything else. I'm thinking it's going to make as good of a home defense piece as any other 870.

 

[Class III]

Mark,

What are the code letters on the left side of the barrel where the barrel meets the frame?

Class III

 

[30-30remchester]

As stated Remington dates their guns by a code on the left side of the barrel next to the reciever. You can google Remington serial numbers and get the imformation you need. It make make more sense finacially to simply buy a barrel you desire and save the original barrel for hunting.

 

[sourdough44]

Probably are better off getting a shorter replacement barrel. If you were to cut it you could get an after-market sight that attaches to the rib, if you have one. When you factor in gunsmith costs, you are halfway up to the cost of a replacement. I just ordered a Williams 'fire sight' for a short barreled Mossberg 500.

 

[Bekeart]

REm,ington Serial Number

REMINGTON SHOTGUN SERIAL NUMBER STRUCTURE

M/870 LETTER PREFIX
1950 TO APPROX 1968: NO SERIAL NUMBER PREFIX

********

Bekeart

 

[jframe]

The letters on the left of the barrel look like "buq".

 

[Dr.-d]

It actually may be cheaper to buy a replacement barrel, sometimes you can find them used too and sell the original than to go the gunsmith route. I would check into the pricing first.

 

[35Rem]

About halfway down the page:
Remington Society of America - questions/barrelcodes

"BUQ" doesn't make sense. It should be a 2 or 3 letter code (if 3, the last 2 should be the same).
If it has a 2 or 3 letter code with a "3" at the end ( Example: BAA3) that is a repair date code.

You can pick up some barrels pretty cheap. Check Ebay, as they are selling barrels again. Also, Mossberg makes some Remington 870 barrels pretty cheap, too.

 

[Bekeart]

LGS had some 18" cylinder police trade-ins for $75 last month.

You should be able to buy one from GB or Flea-Pay for less than $90 delivered within a couple of weeks. Just bid low and keep trying ...

Bekeart

 

[michael thornton]

$109.99 at midway usa , but they are out of stock im looking for one for my 1970 wingmaster magnum

 

[Texas Star]

If the present barrel is 26", it should be choked Improved Cylinder, not Modified. Modi. barrels are normally 28".

Is the barrel marked MOD, or why do you think it has that choke?

 

[35Rem]

This is before the 870, but not much:

Remington catalogs TYPICALLY offered 26" Barrels in IC and Mod, 28" in Mod and Full, and 30" Barrels in Full only.

There were exceptions that have shown up, from time to time. I've seen SKEET and CYL choked barrel in 26" and 28" (CYL only).

 

[michael thornton]

hard to beat a 870 !

 

[Texas Star]

hard to beat a 870 !

I own a M-870 Wingmaster, but never "beat" on it. It's too nice a gun for that.

 

[michael thornton]

i have a 1970 wingmaster magnum and a sp turkey with 21 inch barrel mossey oak camo, i only beat mine when it needs it!

 

[michael thornton]

you know i have always thought the 870 is what put the mod 12 winchester out of prodution, that says alot if you think about it http://www.remingtonsociety.com/rsa/questions/barrelcodes

 

[jframe]

Turns out it IS a 28" barrel, not a 26. Took it to my gunsmith tonight, and he cut the barrel in a lathe, deburred it, filed a nice bevel on it, reblued the end, drilled and tapped it for my original bead sight, and fitted it into the cut barrel and Loctited it. Spent a fortune; $20.00 for the entire job, including hanging out with a pretty talented old gunsmith, and smelling his pipe while he worked. Barrel is marked "mod", so it was a modified choke. Other barrel markings are N and R.E.P. then A on the right side.

 

[00Buck2]

My 20ga 870 Wingmaster is priceless! I rate it right up there with my sweet 16 A-5. Here is a site I found awhile back that I found interesting.

Remington Society of America - journals/870

 

[2152hq]

Turns out it IS a 28" barrel, not a 26. Took it to my gunsmith tonight, and he cut the barrel in a lathe, deburred it, filed a nice bevel on it, reblued the end, drilled and tapped it for my original bead sight, and fitted it into the cut barrel and Loctited it. Spent a fortune; $20.00 for the entire job, including hanging out with a pretty talented old gunsmith, and smelling his pipe while he worked. Barrel is marked "mod", so it was a modified choke. Other barrel markings are N and R.E.P. then A on the right side.

Got the job done, some relaxing conversation no doubt and probably a front row seat to the operation. All for 20 bucks. How great is that.
Most guys won't even log the job for that anymore and you deffinetly can't wait for it to be done.
Congrats on a fine shotgun in a very handy configuration.