Found a Remington 870 in grandmas garage!

Iamwhoiam · December 5, 2008, 11:35 PM

Hey guys was looking through my grandmas garage 2 days ago and I found a Remington 870 20ga Wingmaster. It's just a receiver, magazine tube, bolt, and stock no forearm.
I don't know where it came from or whats its status, but I do have an uncle in prison and there is a possibility that it may have been his. How can I check if it is stolen? It's missing a trigger guard/group, barrel, endcap, and forearm. If this gun is legal, I would like to resore it to working order just for the fun of it. The gun if stolen must have been here since the 80s it has no finish at all just discoloration. What would you do? Will I get in trouble if it's stolen? I just found it you know.

zippy13 · December 6, 2008, 01:52 AM

Have you asked your grandma about it?

RedneckFur · December 6, 2008, 02:48 AM

Ask grandma what she knows about it first. It may have been an uncles, or grandpa's. Sounds like somone tried to "fix" it and never put it back together.

870's are simple, rugged, reliable shotguns, but considering the number of parts that are missing, I'd have a gunsmigh give it a look over before rebuilding it.

Iamwhoiam · December 6, 2008, 10:53 AM

Yeah that was my first thing was that I asked about it. She doesn't know of course. So I'll just dispose of it huh? I wanted to keep it since I told my fiancee I wasn't buying anymore guns. If I could fix it up my self it would be a little learning experience. I figure it couldn't hurt. I just don't want to get in trouble here.

Iamwhoiam · December 6, 2008, 10:54 AM

I found a new 870 stock on the highroad for 20$ so theres a start right?

ebutler462 · December 6, 2008, 11:41 AM

First, have the police run the SN. Get that out of the way first. Don't volunteer the info about your uncle. Just tell the LEO that you found it in the garage and you want to fix it up. I've done it many times for citizens who wanted to keep on the right side of the law. If the SN comes back as a hit, you will lose the gun. The fact that you came forward with it will keep you off the hook. BTW, just take the SN, not the gun to a LEO that you know. If it is a hit, get the gun for him.

Then start buying parts and fix up that gun. You will enjoy it.

dgludwig · December 6, 2008, 04:46 PM

Quote:

I wanted to keep it since I told my fiancee I wasn't buying anymore guns.

I think you need some serious advice on things other than what to do with a found gun.

Dave McC · December 6, 2008, 07:25 PM

Assuming this is legal, no time limits are in place. You can build things at your leisure.

Does the serial number END with X,N or K? That will determine what parts fit.

guntotin_fool · December 7, 2008, 04:26 AM

Son, you need to understand that marriage vows, honesty, and all that are wonderful, but they stop at guns and fishing. Its in the Man CODE 101.1

She wont tell you about purses, shoes and the stuff she needs once a month, you will not tell her about guns, boats, fishing stuff or how much you actually paid for the "free" puppy you just got with the bloodlines better researched than your own. ......

Other than that, keep looking for a coffee can or shoe box in that garage, you may find the rest of the parts yet. Have fun/

hogdogs · December 7, 2008, 11:04 AM

AMEN!!! It is all in the wording! When I get a new dog it is "given to me" the guy opended up his kennel and "GAVE" it to me... although I may have given him a fat stack of dead presidents we just leave that part out...
When discussing the dog in the future with buddies or on the net never say "Man this dog sure was worth the thousand dollars I "gave" for him"...

Glad momma ain't on this forum

Brent

.300 Weatherby Mag · December 7, 2008, 02:06 PM

"I wanted to keep it since I told my fiancee I wasn't buying anymore guns."

My dad told my mother that right after they got married... They've been married almost 30 years now and my mother still gives him hell

over that stupid comment he made.... Especially when he's considering making a new addition to his collection

... Never make that promise!!!!

Edit:
My mom doesn't give a crap about him buying more guns... She's just entertained by the fact my dad was stupid enough to make that comment.....

Rugerforlife · December 7, 2008, 04:15 PM

Does removing the trigger assembly from a Remington 870 cause damage to any parts of the shotgun?

I have taken apart one of my 870's to better understand how the firearm works. I have noticed that the trigger assembly is slightly looser then when I initially purchased the firearm, being that it moves side to side very slightly. Do you think this could create a problem? It is shooting fine right now.

zippy13 · December 7, 2008, 04:31 PM

Greetings, Rugerforlife, and welcome aboard.

You question is a little off topic for this thread. You'll get a lot better response if you start a new thread. There are quite a few 870 experts who will be happy to help you.

May I suggest:
Copy your question to a new thread and then edit this one with a reference to your new one.

December 5, 2008, 11:35 PM	#1
Iamwhoiam Junior Member Join Date: March 8, 2008 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 10	Found a Remington 870 in grandmas garage! Hey guys was looking through my grandmas garage 2 days ago and I found a Remington 870 20ga Wingmaster. It's just a receiver, magazine tube, bolt, and stock no forearm. I don't know where it came from or whats its status, but I do have an uncle in prison and there is a possibility that it may have been his. How can I check if it is stolen? It's missing a trigger guard/group, barrel, endcap, and forearm. If this gun is legal, I would like to resore it to working order just for the fun of it. The gun if stolen must have been here since the 80s it has no finish at all just discoloration. What would you do? Will I get in trouble if it's stolen? I just found it you know.

December 6, 2008, 02:48 AM	#3
RedneckFur Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2007 Location: Central NC Posts: 1,424	Ask grandma what she knows about it first. It may have been an uncles, or grandpa's. Sounds like somone tried to "fix" it and never put it back together. 870's are simple, rugged, reliable shotguns, but considering the number of parts that are missing, I'd have a gunsmigh give it a look over before rebuilding it. __________________ In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. -George Orwell

December 7, 2008, 02:06 PM	#11
.300 Weatherby Mag Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2008 Posts: 1,777	"I wanted to keep it since I told my fiancee I wasn't buying anymore guns." My dad told my mother that right after they got married... They've been married almost 30 years now and my mother still gives him hell over that stupid comment he made.... Especially when he's considering making a new addition to his collection... Never make that promise!!!! Edit: My mom doesn't give a crap about him buying more guns... She's just entertained by the fact my dad was stupid enough to make that comment.....

December 7, 2008, 04:15 PM	#12
Rugerforlife Junior Member Join Date: December 7, 2008 Posts: 2	870 Question Does removing the trigger assembly from a Remington 870 cause damage to any parts of the shotgun? I have taken apart one of my 870's to better understand how the firearm works. I have noticed that the trigger assembly is slightly looser then when I initially purchased the firearm, being that it moves side to side very slightly. Do you think this could create a problem? It is shooting fine right now.

December 6, 2008, 01:52 AM	#2
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Have you asked your grandma about it?

December 6, 2008, 10:53 AM	#4
Iamwhoiam Junior Member Join Date: March 8, 2008 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 10	Yeah that was my first thing was that I asked about it. She doesn't know of course. So I'll just dispose of it huh? I wanted to keep it since I told my fiancee I wasn't buying anymore guns. If I could fix it up my self it would be a little learning experience. I figure it couldn't hurt. I just don't want to get in trouble here.

December 6, 2008, 10:54 AM	#5
Iamwhoiam Junior Member Join Date: March 8, 2008 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 10	I found a new 870 stock on the highroad for 20$ so theres a start right?

December 6, 2008, 11:41 AM	#6
ebutler462 Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2007 Location: NC Posts: 437	First, have the police run the SN. Get that out of the way first. Don't volunteer the info about your uncle. Just tell the LEO that you found it in the garage and you want to fix it up. I've done it many times for citizens who wanted to keep on the right side of the law. If the SN comes back as a hit, you will lose the gun. The fact that you came forward with it will keep you off the hook. BTW, just take the SN, not the gun to a LEO that you know. If it is a hit, get the gun for him. Then start buying parts and fix up that gun. You will enjoy it.

December 6, 2008, 07:25 PM	#8
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Assuming this is legal, no time limits are in place. You can build things at your leisure. Does the serial number END with X,N or K? That will determine what parts fit.

December 7, 2008, 04:26 AM	#9
guntotin_fool Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2004 Posts: 1,446	Son, you need to understand that marriage vows, honesty, and all that are wonderful, but they stop at guns and fishing. Its in the Man CODE 101.1 She wont tell you about purses, shoes and the stuff she needs once a month, you will not tell her about guns, boats, fishing stuff or how much you actually paid for the "free" puppy you just got with the bloodlines better researched than your own. ...... Other than that, keep looking for a coffee can or shoe box in that garage, you may find the rest of the parts yet. Have fun/

December 7, 2008, 11:04 AM	#10
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	AMEN!!! It is all in the wording! When I get a new dog it is "given to me" the guy opended up his kennel and "GAVE" it to me... although I may have given him a fat stack of dead presidents we just leave that part out... When discussing the dog in the future with buddies or on the net never say "Man this dog sure was worth the thousand dollars I "gave" for him"... Glad momma ain't on this forum Brent

December 7, 2008, 04:31 PM	#13
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Greetings, Rugerforlife, and welcome aboard. You question is a little off topic for this thread. You'll get a lot better response if you start a new thread. There are quite a few 870 experts who will be happy to help you. May I suggest: Copy your question to a new thread and then edit this one with a reference to your new one.