Old 870 Wingmaster - what gauge?

9mmMike · May 19, 2004, 09:19 PM

Hi team. It's great to back!
I recently aquired an old 870 Wingmaster receiver with a serial number that ends in a W (461XXXW). According to my Jerry Kuhnhausen book, this would be a 16 ga.
It accepts all my 12 ga. bits with the exception of a bolt. However, all my bolts are from 12 ga. magnums and this is not a magnum.
Question:
Do the bolts not fit because they are from 12 ga. magnums or because this is a 16 ga.? How can I tell?
I can fully assemble this gun with all 12 ga. bits but it will not cycle as the bolt binds against the right side of the receiver.
Thanks in advance,
Mike

K80Geoff · May 20, 2004, 06:40 AM

16 ga case head is smaller than 12 ga so the bolt would have to match the shell in order to feed/eject properly. The receiver would be milled to fit the 16ga bolt.

I behooves a manufacturer to be able to use common parts in different gauges to save money. Proper and efficient design would allow 12 and 16 ga guns to use as many of the same parts as possible.

I doubt a normal (2 3/4") 12 ga bolt would fit into the 16 either.

9mmMike · May 20, 2004, 07:50 AM

Thanks Geoff. I was not even certain that this was a 16 ga. as it is not labeled anywhere. I finally got around to trying to feed 12 ga. into the mag tube and although the tube is the same size as the 12, the shell latches are preventing the case head of the 12 ga. shell to feed.
Now the question is do I buy a barrel and bolt/bolt-slide in 16 ga. or do I swap this receiver for a 12 which is what I wanted in the first place?
Thanks again,
Mike

edited for spelllllllin

K80Geoff · May 20, 2004, 09:17 AM

Methinks Remington just re issued the "Sweet 16" so parts may be available.

16 is the yuppy snob gun of late, several mfgr's are producing guns, including Ithaca and some of the spaghetti gun companies.

9mmMike · May 20, 2004, 09:44 AM

I will see if the fellow from whom I got this will do a deal for a 12 ga. This was my first Wingmaster (I always wanted one) albeit a rough specimen and perhaps I can get one in 12 gauge.
Thanks,
Mike

May 19, 2004, 09:19 PM	#1
9mmMike Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2000 Location: SE PA Posts: 1,049	Old 870 Wingmaster - what gauge? Hi team. It's great to back! I recently aquired an old 870 Wingmaster receiver with a serial number that ends in a W (461XXXW). According to my Jerry Kuhnhausen book, this would be a 16 ga. It accepts all my 12 ga. bits with the exception of a bolt. However, all my bolts are from 12 ga. magnums and this is not a magnum. Question: Do the bolts not fit because they are from 12 ga. magnums or because this is a 16 ga.? How can I tell? I can fully assemble this gun with all 12 ga. bits but it will not cycle as the bolt binds against the right side of the receiver. Thanks in advance, Mike

May 20, 2004, 07:50 AM	#3
9mmMike Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2000 Location: SE PA Posts: 1,049	Thanks Geoff. I was not even certain that this was a 16 ga. as it is not labeled anywhere. I finally got around to trying to feed 12 ga. into the mag tube and although the tube is the same size as the 12, the shell latches are preventing the case head of the 12 ga. shell to feed. Now the question is do I buy a barrel and bolt/bolt-slide in 16 ga. or do I swap this receiver for a 12 which is what I wanted in the first place? Thanks again, Mike edited for spelllllllin Last edited by 9mmMike; May 20, 2004 at 09:41 AM.

May 20, 2004, 06:40 AM	#2
K80Geoff Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 1998 Location: NE Pennsylvania Posts: 3,639	16 ga case head is smaller than 12 ga so the bolt would have to match the shell in order to feed/eject properly. The receiver would be milled to fit the 16ga bolt. I behooves a manufacturer to be able to use common parts in different gauges to save money. Proper and efficient design would allow 12 and 16 ga guns to use as many of the same parts as possible. I doubt a normal (2 3/4") 12 ga bolt would fit into the 16 either.

May 20, 2004, 09:17 AM	#4
K80Geoff Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 1998 Location: NE Pennsylvania Posts: 3,639	Methinks Remington just re issued the "Sweet 16" so parts may be available. 16 is the yuppy snob gun of late, several mfgr's are producing guns, including Ithaca and some of the spaghetti gun companies.

May 20, 2004, 09:44 AM	#5
9mmMike Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2000 Location: SE PA Posts: 1,049	I will see if the fellow from whom I got this will do a deal for a 12 ga. This was my first Wingmaster (I always wanted one) albeit a rough specimen and perhaps I can get one in 12 gauge. Thanks, Mike