New or Old 870

b12alex · January 17, 2010, 09:11 AM

im going to be buying a new 870 soon and at my local gun smith he has an older model 870 their that he said i could buy with a new barrel or just get a brand new out of the box 870. Are the older models better made? Can you still do the cosmetic stuff with the old wingmaster?

oletymer · January 17, 2010, 09:56 AM

If you are talking about an old Wingmaster as opposed to a new Express then get the old Wingmaster.

zippy13 · January 17, 2010, 10:45 AM

IMHO, an Old R-870 Wingmaster is preferable to a New R-870 Express. See thread, Pleased with my used Wingmaster 870

Pahoo · January 17, 2010, 10:53 AM

Would have to pretty much echo all previous replies and my last choice would be the new Express models. The list is long on the good, bad and ugly of the Express. Mostly cosmetics and a few mechanical problems. By the way, I am a Remington fan. ...

Be Safe !!!

Scattergun Bob · January 17, 2010, 10:54 AM

As my friend Zippy said, I prefer the Wingmaster flavor of 870 over the Express. Just as I prefer older models of Smith & Wessons over the NEW and IMPROVED models.

Good Luck & Stay Safe

hogdogs · January 17, 2010, 10:56 AM

Just keep in mind that there are some older WM's with a 2 3/4 chamber. This is either a plus or minus to the buyer... If you will ever fire a 3 inch, you need the 3 inch chamber. If you won't be, than the 1/2 inch less you have to cycle the action may be a big plus to you...
Brent

5RWill · January 17, 2010, 11:48 AM

Quote:

If you are talking about an old Wingmaster as opposed to a new Express then get the old Wingmaster.

I second that. The 870 old wingmasters are better then the new ones.

TxGun · January 17, 2010, 01:03 PM

The older Wingmasters are the best pump guns Remington ever made. The Express is not in the Wingmaster's class, old or new.

michael t · January 17, 2010, 01:59 PM

I have a Wing master I bought new in 1980. I bought a express couple years back Want to bet which one I still have. Hint starts with a W

Hog Buster · January 17, 2010, 03:27 PM

My grandson just bought a new 870 Express and it doesn't compare to the old Wingmaster. I'm an Ithaca fan, but have owned a few older 870's. The new ones don't have the fit, finish and definitely not the smooth action of the older ones.

b12alex · January 17, 2010, 06:46 PM

thanks for the help but can you still do the same cosmetic stuff that you can with all 870's

hogdogs · January 17, 2010, 06:59 PM

The express is the same as the WM... as far as dimensions etc... the same add ons will fit. The fit and finish is where the Express is far lacking... Heck, the barrel is blued but so ruff it looks like a parkerized finish

Brent

oneounceload · January 17, 2010, 07:20 PM

Cosmetic stuff? As in make it a mall ninja gun with some plastic pistol grip adjustable stock, lasers, scopes, bayonet lugs and such?

guitar1580 · January 20, 2010, 01:18 AM

I just got a 1973 WM, after looking at the new Express. IMHO, the older ones have a better finish, way better wood, smoother action, metal trigger guard - not plastic, and was less money. I got lucky and it had a barrel length and choke that I was happy with.
Josh P

\

Dave McC · January 20, 2010, 06:38 PM

At the range today, I fired one shell from a new Express with a mere 1K rounds through it.

It certainly didn't cycle as smoothly as my old.well worn Wingmasters, but there were no flies on it. After a few thousand more rounds, the differences will be hardly noticeable.

I like old WMs. That's a good thing, since I provide a number of them with a home.

But, the problems people cite with the Expresses are minor. The Express is a lot of gun for the money.

Abel · January 22, 2010, 10:03 AM

I have an Express model. Its the best shotgun I've ever owned. Its not as pretty as the WM, but she does the job at hand just fine. I've owned a Browning BPS, a Benelli Nova, and a Mossberg 500. The 870 crowded all those other pumps right out the door.

January 17, 2010, 09:11 AM	#1
b12alex Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Ontario Posts: 63	New or Old 870 im going to be buying a new 870 soon and at my local gun smith he has an older model 870 their that he said i could buy with a new barrel or just get a brand new out of the box 870. Are the older models better made? Can you still do the cosmetic stuff with the old wingmaster? Last edited by b12alex; January 17, 2010 at 06:47 PM.

January 17, 2010, 10:54 AM	#5
Scattergun Bob Senior Member Join Date: February 29, 2008 Location: Nine Mile Falls, Washington Posts: 1,186	b12alex As my friend Zippy said, I prefer the Wingmaster flavor of 870 over the Express. Just as I prefer older models of Smith & Wessons over the NEW and IMPROVED models. Good Luck & Stay Safe __________________ First, with the most, WINS! Regards, Scattergun Bob

January 17, 2010, 01:59 PM	#9
michael t Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2004 Location: Out back Ky Posts: 4,044	I have a Wing master I bought new in 1980. I bought a express couple years back Want to bet which one I still have. Hint starts with a W __________________ Certified Armed Infidel Colt Defender ,Colt Mustang ,Dan Wesson CBOB, PPK/S, American Classic 1911,Bersa Thunder 380 http://bersachat.comHome of Bersa http://www.metroarms1911forum.com

January 17, 2010, 03:27 PM	#10
Hog Buster Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2009 Location: Pointe Coupee, Louisana Posts: 772	My grandson just bought a new 870 Express and it doesn't compare to the old Wingmaster. I'm an Ithaca fan, but have owned a few older 870's. The new ones don't have the fit, finish and definitely not the smooth action of the older ones. __________________ Those who beat their guns into plows, will plow for those who don't.-Thomas Jefferson

January 17, 2010, 09:56 AM	#2
oletymer Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Posts: 338	If you are talking about an old Wingmaster as opposed to a new Express then get the old Wingmaster.

January 17, 2010, 10:45 AM	#3
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	IMHO, an Old R-870 Wingmaster is preferable to a New R-870 Express. See thread, Pleased with my used Wingmaster 870

January 17, 2010, 10:53 AM	#4
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Would have to pretty much echo all previous replies and my last choice would be the new Express models. The list is long on the good, bad and ugly of the Express. Mostly cosmetics and a few mechanical problems. By the way, I am a Remington fan. ... Be Safe !!!

January 17, 2010, 10:56 AM	#6
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Just keep in mind that there are some older WM's with a 2 3/4 chamber. This is either a plus or minus to the buyer... If you will ever fire a 3 inch, you need the 3 inch chamber. If you won't be, than the 1/2 inch less you have to cycle the action may be a big plus to you... Brent

January 17, 2010, 01:03 PM	#8
TxGun Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2008 Location: Family ranch - Central TX. Posts: 467	The older Wingmasters are the best pump guns Remington ever made. The Express is not in the Wingmaster's class, old or new.

January 17, 2010, 06:46 PM	#11
b12alex Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Ontario Posts: 63	thanks for the help but can you still do the same cosmetic stuff that you can with all 870's

January 17, 2010, 06:59 PM	#12
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	The express is the same as the WM... as far as dimensions etc... the same add ons will fit. The fit and finish is where the Express is far lacking... Heck, the barrel is blued but so ruff it looks like a parkerized finish Brent

January 17, 2010, 07:20 PM	#13
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Cosmetic stuff? As in make it a mall ninja gun with some plastic pistol grip adjustable stock, lasers, scopes, bayonet lugs and such?

January 20, 2010, 01:18 AM	#14
guitar1580 Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2009 Posts: 201	I just got a 1973 WM, after looking at the new Express. IMHO, the older ones have a better finish, way better wood, smoother action, metal trigger guard - not plastic, and was less money. I got lucky and it had a barrel length and choke that I was happy with. Josh P \

January 20, 2010, 06:38 PM	#15
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	At the range today, I fired one shell from a new Express with a mere 1K rounds through it. It certainly didn't cycle as smoothly as my old.well worn Wingmasters, but there were no flies on it. After a few thousand more rounds, the differences will be hardly noticeable. I like old WMs. That's a good thing, since I provide a number of them with a home. But, the problems people cite with the Expresses are minor. The Express is a lot of gun for the money.

January 22, 2010, 10:03 AM	#16
Abel Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2006 Posts: 1,161	I have an Express model. Its the best shotgun I've ever owned. Its not as pretty as the WM, but she does the job at hand just fine. I've owned a Browning BPS, a Benelli Nova, and a Mossberg 500. The 870 crowded all those other pumps right out the door.