Old 870 WingMaster to shoot 3in

Parabellum9 · May 13, 2007, 01:12 AM

I have a old Remington 870 Wing Master, I picked up a 18.5in barrel a while ago for a good price and it has a 3in chamber but it says to only use 3in shells in a Magnum receiver. Is there any way to upgrade the receiver or internal parts so I can shoot the 3in shells?

Thanks in advance.

Dave McC · May 13, 2007, 09:05 AM

The ejector can be moved back to allow the use of 3" shells, but it's not cheap. In fact, you may run across a 3" 870 for less.

HTH....

Parabellum9 · May 13, 2007, 03:37 PM

Ah, that makes sense; I have never even tried to chamber a 3in shell.
This was my grandfather’s bird gun, and I had thought about buying another 870 for 3gun but I decided my grandfather would want me to use it. Having the 3in option would make finding slugs and buckshot much easier in those rare times when 3gun requires them.
I want to have this shotgun parkerized and molly coated later on down the road, maybe I’ll see how much more it would be to have the ejector changed out at the same time, the finish has some pitting in it from the years sitting in the back of my mothers closet.

Also is there any way to find out when this gun was manufactured?
It’s a 6 digit serial with a V at the end.
I also have his old Remington 512 .22 but it has no serial, just a PL and some weird mark that looks like a Nike symbol. and on the other side of the barrel it has a upside down *93

Thanks again.

Dave McC · May 13, 2007, 09:28 PM

The V suffix indicates a 2 3/4" 12 gauge receiver.

Call Remington at 1-800-243-9700. Go up the tree until you talk to a real person and give them the serial number. That person will be glad to give you the born on date.

For comparison's sake, I have one with a 5 digit serail number. Made in 1950.

Another made in 1955 has a six digit number.

Parabellum9 · May 13, 2007, 09:49 PM

Awesome, thanks
I'll have to give them a call sometime this week; mainly I want to know how old that .22 is. From what I have read it sounds like its mid 40's, and my mother told me she thinks her father bought it when he was a teenager.

Thanks again for the input Dave.

May 13, 2007, 01:12 AM	#1
Parabellum9 Junior Member Join Date: February 19, 2005 Posts: 10	Old 870 WingMaster to shoot 3in I have a old Remington 870 Wing Master, I picked up a 18.5in barrel a while ago for a good price and it has a 3in chamber but it says to only use 3in shells in a Magnum receiver. Is there any way to upgrade the receiver or internal parts so I can shoot the 3in shells? Thanks in advance.

May 13, 2007, 09:05 AM	#2
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 14, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,831	The ejector can be moved back to allow the use of 3" shells, but it's not cheap. In fact, you may run across a 3" 870 for less. HTH....

May 13, 2007, 03:37 PM	#3
Parabellum9 Junior Member Join Date: February 19, 2005 Posts: 10	Ah, that makes sense; I have never even tried to chamber a 3in shell. This was my grandfather’s bird gun, and I had thought about buying another 870 for 3gun but I decided my grandfather would want me to use it. Having the 3in option would make finding slugs and buckshot much easier in those rare times when 3gun requires them. I want to have this shotgun parkerized and molly coated later on down the road, maybe I’ll see how much more it would be to have the ejector changed out at the same time, the finish has some pitting in it from the years sitting in the back of my mothers closet. Also is there any way to find out when this gun was manufactured? It’s a 6 digit serial with a V at the end. I also have his old Remington 512 .22 but it has no serial, just a PL and some weird mark that looks like a Nike symbol. and on the other side of the barrel it has a upside down *93 Thanks again.

May 13, 2007, 09:28 PM	#4
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 14, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,831	The V suffix indicates a 2 3/4" 12 gauge receiver. Call Remington at 1-800-243-9700. Go up the tree until you talk to a real person and give them the serial number. That person will be glad to give you the born on date. For comparison's sake, I have one with a 5 digit serail number. Made in 1950. Another made in 1955 has a six digit number.

May 13, 2007, 09:49 PM	#5
Parabellum9 Junior Member Join Date: February 19, 2005 Posts: 10	Awesome, thanks I'll have to give them a call sometime this week; mainly I want to know how old that .22 is. From what I have read it sounds like its mid 40's, and my mother told me she thinks her father bought it when he was a teenager. Thanks again for the input Dave.