First Wingmaster, think I did OK?

[ninjajimmy]

Hit the local shop I frequent and took a walk into the back room and saw they were pricing some rifles that came in from a guy's collection. Everything had nice wood and it was a good mix of stuff; mainly hunting style bolt actions, .22s, and a couple revolvers. I saw a pump and started inspecting.

It was a Wingmaster 870 that had a 20" slug barrel with sights on it and a nice leather sling. One of the owners mentioned it had another barrel, a 28" Vent Rib with bead sight. Bore looked to be excellent and shiny, bluing was very nice with some very minor wear from a gun that looks like it was lightly used. Looked at the tag and gave them the $300 without hesitation as something told me it was a good deal. Darn impulse buys.

So now i'm attempting to figure out when this was born. The 20" slug barrel shows no "date code" on the left side at all. The 28" shows "RO" which I believe could be 1977 or 1994. The serial # is below if that helps.

Did I do good?

[stereo joe]

Can't help with the serial number, but nice score! She sure looks pretty!

[Synchronizor]

That "T" prefix on the serial number points to a manufacture date somewhere between 1974 and 1978. Seems to agree with a 1977 barrel date code. If you want to be sure about the exact date, you can call Remington and have them look up your entire serial number.

The "V" suffix on the serial number means that this gun was built to handle 2.75" and 2.5" shells. The barrels probably only have 2.75" chambers, as well. These 2.75"-only 870s can be converted to handle 3" shells fairly easily by simply changing the barrel and a couple parts in the receiver, but unless one or both of the barrels have 3" chambers, your gun probably hasn't been converted.

I'd say this is an excellent buy, the gun seems to be in very nice shape, you got two good hunting barrels, and there's not much you can't do with the 2.75" short-magnum loads on the market today. It doesn't look like it has the updated flex-tab action, and if the barrels are 1970s-vintage they probably aren't threaded for choke tubes. However, with that awesome $300 price, you could probably get both barrels threaded and the action updated and still be out less than the MSRP on a new Remington 870 Express Combo package that wouldn't be nearly as nicely finished. I would have snapped that gun up right away.

[Reaper]

Nice find!

[ninjajimmy]

Thanks guys. I'm going to give Remington a call to confirm date, but everything fits with 70s era.

Figured the 20" would make a good HD barrel ( its a smooth bore) with some buckshot or slugs. Plan to test some different types to pattern it. The 28" is a Mod choke so I may try trap to see how I like it. Neither are threaded.

[Vitaly]

What a beauty!

[joe in fl]

Nice, you did GOOD!
Joe

[Strick]

Looks just like my Dad's 870 that he got back in the early 60's.

[Pastor Doogie]

Looks awfully pretty to me

[nighthawk]

She is a beauty and please do not modify any part of that shotgun! To replace it today you would be plunking down well over a thousand dollars to two thousand dollars or even more! If you feel the itch to modify a barrel please, please buy a good used or even new spare barrel to do the mods to. Save that original stock and finish on the receiver too. You don't really want to destroy the value of a beautiful 870 that will only increase in value as the years go by so long as you don't modify it. You already have an extremely cool shot gun that in it's current form is ample for home defense.