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Joined: 09 Jan 2012 Posts: 16 Location: Kellogg MN

I'm settling on buying either a NIB 870 Wingmaster 16 ga with Remchoke, vented Rib

OR

an early 70s 870 wingmaster with solid choke and ribbed barrel andmaybe an added but stock pad.

From As many perspectives as I can get...
(I'm hoping for a lot of feedback here I know!!)

What are the pro's and cons to them.. Or preferences of one vs. the other.

Weight, looks, quality, shooting steal, etc..

Thanks in advance to any and everyone who speaks up!!!

I bought an older one 1961 is the vintage. It functions well and very smooth, the wood is a little rough but I can work on that. I have shot it in a Sporting Clays side event last summer an didn't do bad at all.

The barrels on the new 870's are a little heavier, but they have choke tubes.

You have to decide, but I lean towards an old model.

Buy an older one! One from the 50's or early 60's, there are very few that compete with these.

IMO you gain absolutely nothing with a NIB vs an older 870 in good condition, and also IMO you would be even better off getting a model 31.

Weight and workmanship will be better and materials will be comparable.

I have a model 31 in very good condition and a 1964 model 870 in excellent condition, which I bought new. My brother has a 52 model 870. IMO the 31 is the best of the lot, with the 52 model 870 and the 64 model 870 following in that order.

The two older guns just feel better, are lighter, and smoother.

Just my opinions.

Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Posts: 74 Location: las vegas NV

Tg16 buy old. The new rem choke barrels are very heavy. I have old 16s in 870 and 1100 and have bought new rem choke barrels for both. For chokes and vent ribs. great for steel shot but heavy for upland.

I would look around for an older Wingmaster 870. Check out Gun Broker, Guns America ect. Also you might get lucky at a pawn shop. Sometimes gun shops that you would not think you could get a good price, sell consignment guns. Good luck and good shooting RB Cool

Old 870

Regards. Nick

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3185 Location: NCWa

I've found that generally an older item is better than a newer one, because the standard trend in business is to cheapen a product to keep its price competitive. Having said that, there are advantages to newer guns due to the interchangeable chokes, not only because they can be mixed & matched to the shooting situation, but the can be used with hard shot that would ruin an older fixed barrel. So there are advantages for either one.

Member Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 972 Location: Keller,TX

If you can find the early model that has the corncob forearm, it will weigh about 6#4 oz. Laughing

Member Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 972 Location: Keller,TX

Milton is right, a Remington 31 or 31 L in 16 is perfection in a 16 ga shucker!!!! Wink

Member Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 1863 Location: Wisconsin

I like the older models, the younger ones make my heart race a bit too much.

Reno

Joined: 01 Nov 2010 Posts: 78 Location: northwest Montana

i have an older 60's era 870. that thing shoots awesome... haveing said that i would prefer a newer model with screw iin chokes vs the fixed choke barrel, that way i could take it with me to the goose pit.

Joined: 07 Mar 2012 Posts: 30 Location: Long Island, NY

Im a huge fan of Remington 1100s. I recently purchased a NIB 16 gauge 1100, made in 1974 and I'm happier than a pig in poo.