Woo-hoo! Just got my first shotgun...

TMann · December 14, 2010, 09:36 PM

Just picked up a Remington 870 Wingmaster this afternoon. I've been shooting handguns for several years, but this is my first shotgun. I bought it used from a local gun shop and I'm heading off to the range (indoor) after dinner. It came with a 20" barrel with a fixed choke with rifle sights. The left side of the gun is marked "Remington 870 Magnum", while the right side is marked "Wingmaster Deer." Some lousy photos are attached below; I'll take some better ones in the next few days.

I have a couple of questions:

1. Should I assume that this gun has a cylinder choke? There are no specific choke descriptions marked on the barrel.
2. Given the indeterminate choke on this barrel, can I shot slugs from this barrel? Would it matter if they're rifled slugs or non-rifled slugs?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

TMann

Hog Hunter · December 14, 2010, 09:47 PM

congrats on the purchase. I have a 870 express and have shot rifled slugs out of it with no problem. I have noticed out past fifty yards they start to scatter though, also a smooth bore by the way. Not much of a slug gun guy but I know mine is one hek of a dove and duck gun.

zippy13 · December 14, 2010, 10:19 PM

Congratulations!
I'm guessing it's choke-less. Is it a smooth bore or a rifled bore? If rifled, then it's intended for sabots, otherwise regular slugs will work fine.

Ludarue · December 14, 2010, 10:27 PM

Very nice 870 sir. It sounds like to me you have a smooth bore barrel. Take it off when you get the chance to double check. In which case you would use rifled slugs.

TheKlawMan · December 17, 2010, 03:52 AM

I believe you CANNOT fire slugs of any kind through chokes that constrict the barrel past a certain point. Determine what you have before firing slugs. Nice looking weapon.

Doyle · December 17, 2010, 08:12 AM

Quote:

I believe you CANNOT fire slugs of any kind through chokes that constrict the barrel past a certain point. Determine what you have before firing slugs. Nice looking weapon

That will NOT be a problem for this shotgun. It was made specifically to shoot slugs. What you are thinking about is shooting through a very tight super-full or turkey choke. Not the case here.

jaguarxk120 · December 17, 2010, 09:15 AM

Doyle is right, this barrel was made for shooting just slugs of any type sabot/rifled.

Crb03 · December 17, 2010, 11:43 AM

Nice 870.

markj · December 17, 2010, 05:46 PM

Remove the barrel and look down it, do you see rifling? if so use sabots.

December 14, 2010, 09:36 PM	#1
TMann Member Join Date: May 29, 2007 Location: Washington State, U.S.A. Posts: 27	Woo-hoo! Just got my first shotgun... Just picked up a Remington 870 Wingmaster this afternoon. I've been shooting handguns for several years, but this is my first shotgun. I bought it used from a local gun shop and I'm heading off to the range (indoor) after dinner. It came with a 20" barrel with a fixed choke with rifle sights. The left side of the gun is marked "Remington 870 Magnum", while the right side is marked "Wingmaster Deer." Some lousy photos are attached below; I'll take some better ones in the next few days. I have a couple of questions: 1. Should I assume that this gun has a cylinder choke? There are no specific choke descriptions marked on the barrel. 2. Given the indeterminate choke on this barrel, can I shot slugs from this barrel? Would it matter if they're rifled slugs or non-rifled slugs? Thanks in advance for the advice. TMann

December 17, 2010, 11:43 AM	#8
Crb03 Junior Member Join Date: November 22, 2010 Location: In a van, down by the river Posts: 12	Nice 870. __________________ "If something sounds too good to be true, it's best to shoot it to make sure" - Fiona Glenanne

December 14, 2010, 09:47 PM	#2
Hog Hunter Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 386	congrats on the purchase. I have a 870 express and have shot rifled slugs out of it with no problem. I have noticed out past fifty yards they start to scatter though, also a smooth bore by the way. Not much of a slug gun guy but I know mine is one hek of a dove and duck gun.

December 14, 2010, 10:19 PM	#3
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Congratulations! I'm guessing it's choke-less. Is it a smooth bore or a rifled bore? If rifled, then it's intended for sabots, otherwise regular slugs will work fine.

December 14, 2010, 10:27 PM	#4
Ludarue Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 181	Very nice 870 sir. It sounds like to me you have a smooth bore barrel. Take it off when you get the chance to double check. In which case you would use rifled slugs.

December 17, 2010, 03:52 AM	#5
TheKlawMan Junior member Join Date: June 23, 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 2,149	I believe you CANNOT fire slugs of any kind through chokes that constrict the barrel past a certain point. Determine what you have before firing slugs. Nice looking weapon.

December 17, 2010, 09:15 AM	#7
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	Doyle is right, this barrel was made for shooting just slugs of any type sabot/rifled.

December 17, 2010, 05:46 PM	#9
markj Senior Member Join Date: October 27, 2005 Location: Crescent Iowa Posts: 2,971	Remove the barrel and look down it, do you see rifling? if so use sabots.