whats the deal with my 870 wingmaster

mjblucci · December 21, 2011, 11:52 PM

i just got my first shotgun. a fairly decent yet fairly inexpensive Remington 870 Wingmaster. it seems very adequate for everything i need except waterfowl, i bought a slug barrel that will take three inch shells but i quickly realized that id made a mistake and that the receiver wouldn't be safe using three inchers. so now im shopping for new 2 3/4 inch slugs the Remington copper solids are labeled as 2 3/4 inch MAGNUM shells. until now id only seen three inch shells labeled as magnum shells. could anyone offer me any advice, so as to not damage my gun nor myself by making sure i know what ammo this gun can take? i just want to know if anything can be labeled strangely to lead me in an unsafe direction.

thanks in advance.

Regolith · December 22, 2011, 01:15 AM

Check the receiver for the serial number. If it ends in an "M", it's a "magnum" receiver and can handle 3" shells. If it has an "SM" it's a super magnum and can handle 3 1/2 inch shells.

I do not believe Remington has made an 870 not capable of handling 3" shells for a long time now, so your shotgun should be able to handle them. Just check to make sure.

zippy13 · December 22, 2011, 01:27 AM

Greetings mjblucci, and welcome aboard.

The term "magnum" is used pretty loosely. The 2 3/4-inch shells in question are "magnums" when compared with target or light field loads; but, rest assured, they are safe to use in any modern 12-ga shotgun. Most folks think of magnum 12-ga guns as being chambered for 3-inch shells and super, or maxi, mags as guns with 3 1/3-inch chambers.

bamaranger · December 22, 2011, 02:21 AM

The 2-3/4 inch magnum designation will be safe in any 2-3/4 inch gun in good condition. It usually denotes a slightly heavier payload for shot shells.
I shot them quite a bit from my Dad's 16ga back in the day, to get 12ga payloads from a 16.

NOt sure that I've seen it applied to slugs.

Stiofan · December 22, 2011, 02:53 AM

BTW, a Wingmaster is one of the best waterfowl pump shotguns ever made, and has arguably taken more geese and ducks than any other. All you need is the right barrel and choke.

mjblucci · December 22, 2011, 03:22 AM

THANK YOU! those are all very helpful hints. the original barrel is just a smooth bore barrel with no choke. but i do indeed want to hunt those pesky ducks and geese. i tried some three inch remington sabots through the receiver before my first deer hunt with the slug barrel. it jammed up a few times before loading smoothly. but after a few attempts there seemed to be no problem. its a used gun. so im not positive how old it is. i assume maybe i could get a ballpark from the serial number correct?

p.s. i didnt see any deer so i didnt get to shoot the sabbots to find out the hard way.

Edward429451 · December 22, 2011, 03:59 AM

You have a good gun and it will safely shoot any 2 3/4" shells no matter the designation.

oregunner · December 22, 2011, 10:12 AM

"the original barrel is just a smooth bore barrel with no choke."
The original barrel is probably choked, even if it doesn't have screw-in chokes. Look on the side of the barrel for a designation, Full, mod, IC, etc.
Mark

Dave McC · December 23, 2011, 06:51 AM

1-800-243-9700 is Remington's service number. Work through the phone tree until you reach a real person. Give them the serial number and they'll give you an approximate born on date.

Not that it matters. They're all good....

Sabots work best in rifled barrels. You may do better using Brenekke or Rifled slugs in a smoothbore.

Take good care of your fine 870. Your great grandchildren will thank you for it....

December 21, 2011, 11:52 PM	#1
mjblucci Member Join Date: December 21, 2011 Location: Cleveland Ohio Posts: 27	whats the deal with my 870 wingmaster i just got my first shotgun. a fairly decent yet fairly inexpensive Remington 870 Wingmaster. it seems very adequate for everything i need except waterfowl, i bought a slug barrel that will take three inch shells but i quickly realized that id made a mistake and that the receiver wouldn't be safe using three inchers. so now im shopping for new 2 3/4 inch slugs the Remington copper solids are labeled as 2 3/4 inch MAGNUM shells. until now id only seen three inch shells labeled as magnum shells. could anyone offer me any advice, so as to not damage my gun nor myself by making sure i know what ammo this gun can take? i just want to know if anything can be labeled strangely to lead me in an unsafe direction. thanks in advance.

December 22, 2011, 02:21 AM	#4
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,300	magnums The 2-3/4 inch magnum designation will be safe in any 2-3/4 inch gun in good condition. It usually denotes a slightly heavier payload for shot shells. I shot them quite a bit from my Dad's 16ga back in the day, to get 12ga payloads from a 16. NOt sure that I've seen it applied to slugs.

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December 22, 2011, 01:15 AM	#2
Regolith Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2008 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 400	Check the receiver for the serial number. If it ends in an "M", it's a "magnum" receiver and can handle 3" shells. If it has an "SM" it's a super magnum and can handle 3 1/2 inch shells. I do not believe Remington has made an 870 not capable of handling 3" shells for a long time now, so your shotgun should be able to handle them. Just check to make sure.

December 22, 2011, 01:27 AM	#3
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Greetings mjblucci, and welcome aboard. The term "magnum" is used pretty loosely. The 2 3/4-inch shells in question are "magnums" when compared with target or light field loads; but, rest assured, they are safe to use in any modern 12-ga shotgun. Most folks think of magnum 12-ga guns as being chambered for 3-inch shells and super, or maxi, mags as guns with 3 1/3-inch chambers.

December 22, 2011, 02:53 AM	#5
Stiofan Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2006 Location: Panhandle, Idaho Posts: 714	BTW, a Wingmaster is one of the best waterfowl pump shotguns ever made, and has arguably taken more geese and ducks than any other. All you need is the right barrel and choke.

December 22, 2011, 03:22 AM	#6
mjblucci Member Join Date: December 21, 2011 Location: Cleveland Ohio Posts: 27	THANK YOU! those are all very helpful hints. the original barrel is just a smooth bore barrel with no choke. but i do indeed want to hunt those pesky ducks and geese. i tried some three inch remington sabots through the receiver before my first deer hunt with the slug barrel. it jammed up a few times before loading smoothly. but after a few attempts there seemed to be no problem. its a used gun. so im not positive how old it is. i assume maybe i could get a ballpark from the serial number correct? p.s. i didnt see any deer so i didnt get to shoot the sabbots to find out the hard way.

December 22, 2011, 03:59 AM	#7
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	You have a good gun and it will safely shoot any 2 3/4" shells no matter the designation.

December 22, 2011, 10:12 AM	#8
oregunner Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Location: Oregon, of course Posts: 136	"the original barrel is just a smooth bore barrel with no choke." The original barrel is probably choked, even if it doesn't have screw-in chokes. Look on the side of the barrel for a designation, Full, mod, IC, etc. Mark

December 23, 2011, 06:51 AM	#9
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	1-800-243-9700 is Remington's service number. Work through the phone tree until you reach a real person. Give them the serial number and they'll give you an approximate born on date. Not that it matters. They're all good.... Sabots work best in rifled barrels. You may do better using Brenekke or Rifled slugs in a smoothbore. Take good care of your fine 870. Your great grandchildren will thank you for it....