Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Used 870 Express magum or wingmaster for new build?

I want to take and old wingmaster or an express and do a tactical build 18.5 inch barrel with mag extension but use the same wood furniture that the 870s come with. Of coarse the wingmaster does come with the nicer looking furniture but its more $$ too. And that's my question, regardless which one I pick it will be sanded down to bare metal and reblued. If someone has other ideas on what parts should be replaced please feel free to post. Thx, Ziggy

I bought a junk 870 wingmaster for $60 from a fellow employee because the action bars were broken. Ordered the affected part and had a smithy install for another $60. Chopped the 28 inch barrel to 18.5 and added a buttstock shell holder.

No reblue or new wood. Still rusty and forlorn but short, simple and reliable and if it gets stolen then i am out $120 and not my 870 Tactical.



Maybe a Side Saddle but I like my shotguns slim and trim.

I would look for an older wingmaster as I wouldn't want to deal with the magazine tube dimples on the newer guns to add an extension. get a solid high vis magazine follower. I also prefer the ones with the smooth aluminum trigger guard assembly. I don't like side saddles as it throws off the balance of the gun. six or seven shots in a gun with an extension is enough for me. drill and tap the receiver for a weaver #62 plate and EGW makes a matching picatinny rail that fits on top if you want to go the red dot/ laser route. if you have the longer barrel cut have an island soldered on for the new bead and put a night sight bead on. if funds allow have it threaded for choke tubes. most Remington barrels get thick enough when cut at 18 inches to allow rem chokes to be fitted but if not you can always get tru-choke pattern tubes fitted. a big head safety helps when you hands are wet or cold. you said you want wood furniture so the forends with the lights are out so I believe a light option will be the pic rail adapters that bolt to the tube extension.

Ziggy, if you are interested, I have a never-been-mounted walnut 870 20 gauge butt stock that I don't need. It has factory checkering, a ventilated recoil pad, and comes with the mounting bolt. I have no idea if the stock fits anything but a 20 gauge.