Remington 870 Wingmaster questions

[yorketransport]

Alright, shotguns are not my thing so I need some outside help on this one. I bought a Remington 870 TB Wingmaster as part of a package deal with a few other guns a few months ago. I left it at my father-in-law's house so he could give it a run through back in September since he's a trap shooter. Now I have it back and I don't know what to do with it.

I'm not a shotgunner by any means. The only birds I hunt are gouse, and I shoot them with a 22 pistol, so I don't have a real need for this gun as a hunting weapon. I was thinking about changing out the barrel and stocks and making it a "security" shotgun. My questions are about changing the barrel and the stock. It currently has a fixed, full choke barrel with a  2 3/4" chamber. Can I safely put a newer barrel on here with a 3" chamber and screw in choke tubes? I believe I would need to change the ejector to make it work with 3" shells. Is this correct? 

Next up is the stock.  It looks like the recoil pad is glued on. There are now visible screws to remove it. Am I missing something? I would like to save the stocks that are on there because they really are nice looking pieces of wood. I'd just hate to use this as a truck gun ore something and tear up a nice stock when I could just throw on a cheap synthetic set.

Andrew

[AWS]

Between a barrel, stocks, action work and tubes you could find what you really want.  Put some signs up at the local trap ranges, your rig would make a good starter gun.  Pick up a Rem Express turkey gun, short barrel(21"), 3" and choke tubes.  I use one for duck hunting and predator(coyotes).

AWS

[Gutpile]

You don't need 3" shells for home defense. I'm not sure a 2 3/4" reciever would even eject the shells. The 870 is a great shotty why not just sell it and buy a home defense shotgun? You'll probably come out ahead of the game. You go switching barrels and stocks and you'll pay more than just buying a new gun

[uplandhunter870]

i think you would be able to find a home defense 870 alot easier and cheaper than converting the one you have.  but if you want the project,  swapping barrels is as easy as unscrewing the end cap and switching the barrels.  i dont think you can put a larger chamber barrel on that reciever because, i may be wrong here, i think that the reciever port is only cut for what the factory chamber size is, so you can put a 3in chambered barrel on it but wont be able to fit the 3in shell into the chamber port.

and the recoil  pad holes should be there but very small,  to find them just use your thumbs and try to pull the recoil pad apart from the center line, the screw holes should open up a bit, they are only small little slits in the pad

hope this helps,
steve

[rasbo]

thats a good gun,buy another shorty..i bought one for my wife for 100.00 used works great,fill it with 00buck

[Bofire]

You can put the 3 inch barrel on and shoot 2.75 in it!! The ejection port is too small. Sell it or trade it and get a home defense gun.
Carl

[JackOfAllTrades]

I will chime in with the rest and agree that you'd be money and headache ahead to just sell it and buy what you're looking for. 

You could.. Just keep it and cut the barrel back and call'er good. (You'd only be ruining the barrel, and those are replacable)  Pull the plug. Having five rounds of 2 3/4" 00 buck available is plenty to handle any home burgler.

-Steve

[yorketransport]

Thanks for the feedback so far. You're all probably right about it being more work than it's worth to modify this gun. Besides, it really is a good looking gun. I'd almost feel bad about messing with it. Maybe I'll try and sell it, then go find a "well used" gun to mess with. Although, while I was at Cabelas this afternoon I looked at the used shotguns. Not a lot of pump guns, no Mossberg 500s, no 870s, and no Winchester 1300s. I was a little surprised.

Just for fun, here's a couple of pics of the gun in question.

Andrew

[Bofire]

 :)That is a beauty, I think a butt kicking might be inorder for screwing with it!! LOL
If yer serious send me a price, PM please.
Carl

[AWS]

Realy nice wood,

AWS

[JackOfAllTrades]

Holy Crap! That's not beechwood!  Pretty. And yes, you'd be sorry for doing anything to that one.

Not a lot of pump guns, no Mossberg 500s, no 870s, and no Winchester 1300s.

Pawn shops this time of year are gold mines Mossy's!

-Steve

[chrisb]

Big 5 has Mossbergs and several other "security" shottys on sale almost every week. A buddy of mine got a brand new charles daly security gun for like 250 there once.

[carpsniperg2]

i agree with allot of the guys. to much of a pain to do all that work to switch it, and allot of money as well. you can get a good home shotgun for about 300-350. the gun you have in that condition would be enough to get you a home defense gun if you sell it. someone will snatch it up quick i am sure.