Hello from East Texas

[mwindsor1303]

I recently trade my 870 Express that i built for a home defense shotgun for a handgun for the wife. After making the trade i started regretting the trade and missing my 870 so i decided to go to the local pawn shops to see if i could find another one fairly cheap. I came across a 870 Wingmaster Magnum ($249.99) so i decided to pick it up. Using the serial number look up on this site is stated it was from 1978 so i was wondering if it had the heavier carrier dog spring and if it was a good price? It has some wear that you would expect from a shotgun being from 1978.

[Zebra62]

Howdy mwindsor1303 and welcome to the board. Glad you found us.

Kudos on the score of the vintage Wingmaster. I'm pretty sure you got a deal on it, especially if it is still in working order. Is is an 870 after all. Any wear just gives them more character.

I can't really say if it has the heavy spring, but I am sure someone here can.

Congrats on the score, and welcome again.

[Vitaly]

mwindsor1303, welcome to the forum!

[Synchronizor]

Using the serial number look up on this site is stated it was from 1978 so i was wondering if it had the heavier carrier dog spring and if it was a good price? It has some wear that you would expect from a shotgun being from 1978.

Be aware that the "serial number look-up" feature on the main site is mislabeled. It dates a gun based on the manufacturing stamp on the barrel, not the serial number on the gun's receiver. You may have an inaccurate date if you entered the wrong letters there.

If the gun is a 1978 model, I doubt it has anything other than the standard carrier dog follower spring. Back then, I believe the police 870s were just Wingmasters with riot-style furniture and barrels.

[mwindsor1303]

Is there a website I can look up the serial number on to find out how old it is?
It also does not have the magazine tube dimples if that would help date it?

[Synchronizor]

Is there a website I can look up the serial number on to find out how old it is?

Call or email Remington, and they can tell you exactly. Public information on 870 serial numbers will only get you within a broad date range.

It also does not have the magazine tube dimples if that would help date it?

Not all newer 870s come with magazine tube dimples and the plastic spring retainers that attach to them, so a lack thereof doesn't necessarily indicate a date.

[mwindsor1303]

Ok Thank you

[mwindsor1303]

Here are some pics of the old HD 870 and the new to me Wingmaster.

[mwindsor1303]

The little bit of wear on the receiver

[Synchronizor]

I can tell by that old-style shell carrier that the gun dates back at least to the early 1980s (be sure to load the magazine positively; since that gun predates the flex-tab fix, letting a shell slip out of the magazine on top of the carrier while the bolt is closed will jam the action). The "T" prefix on the serial number indicates a manufacturing date between 1974 and 1977. You mentioned 1978, but I believe 1978 guns have the "V" prefix (though I don't know if it was for all 1978 guns, or if the new serial number range started leaving the factory partway through that year). Again, Remington can tell you exactly.

Unless a previous owner replaced it, that gun should have the same standard carrier dog follower spring as virtually all other 870s, as well as Sportsman 12s, 887s, 1100s, 11-87s, etc. Unless you want a stiffer shell carrier, or you're seeing engagement failures with that system, you shouldn't have to worry about that spring.

As far as I can tell, the cosmetic wear on the gun (such as the rubbed off finish on the magazine tube and action bars) just indicates that it's seen honest use and should be all worn-in and slicked-up. It looks like the previous owner could have kept it oiled better; but unless there're more major issues that I can't see in the photos, $250 seems like a good deal for that gun.

What barrel did it come with?