Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips
General Discussion => LEARNING TO TURKEY HUNT => Topic started by: High plains drifter on May 15, 2018, 07:49:55 PM
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I have to give a plug for the Remington 870 super mag. 12 guage.Ive used one the last 3 years, and it's been good.It has a camo finish, and I shoot 1 7/8 ounce lead bb's.Federal, copper plated.Its a nice gun for turkey, and a good hunting buddy willed it to me, before he died, so that makes it special. You can get one at Walmart for 365.
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I have a 12 Ga. 870 and it is about as good as they get for the price. I call it the Howitzer because it weighs as much as a cannon, but can easily shoot 40 yards without hesitation and I can switch it up for upland birds and fowl if needed.
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Until you have a shotgun with Wingmaster stamped on the reciever you will not know what the 870 was meant to be. The Express models will suffice ...but so will a ugly fat women.
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Until you have a shotgun with Wingmaster stamped on the reciever you will not know what the 870 was meant to be. The Express models will suffice ...but so will a ugly fat women.
Who you gonna go to battle with? An ugly fat woman or a fashion model? Wingmasters for the wealthy upland bird gentlemen. 870 Express models for those of us who get down and dirty in the bush! :TooFunny:
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lol I'd still rather have a good looking women regardless of what activity I was involved in. There's not a smoother more reliable pump than an older Wingmaster. Not saying anything is wrong with the Express models the ones from 10 or so years ago were good guns for the price range, not including the garbage that has been produced recently.
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Who you gonna go to battle with? An ugly fat woman or a fashion model? Wingmasters for the wealthy upland bird gentlemen. 870 Express models for those of us who get down and dirty in the bush! :TooFunny:
My experience is that the Express was a disposable shotgun, and the Wingmaster is the one I would want in the trenches for both appearance and function... But by far for function...
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Got an 870 SP with 145 notches on the stock!!!
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I have several 870’s from about every decade starting in the 60’s, including a 69 wingmaster that was a welcome home gift I bought for myself. I have wingmasters from recent production that are the equal of that old wingmaster, with some changes I don’t care for, but are nonetheless as capable and as well made. I also have expresses. They have all served their purpose very well. Some are pretty, some are ugly....they all function perfectly. Sure Remington has stumbled over the years and there are bound to be some duds after producing 11 million or so guns, but we shouldn’t condemn them for the few that have been bad, and most certainly we should not give in to internet hype that does nothing more than feed into the potential ruin of a USA gun manufacturer.
High PlainsDrifter, thank you for your post, it’s good to see you are enjoying that shotgun and sharing a positive experience. I too have some guns that friends and family have willed to me and they are some of the treasures of my life.
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been hunting with an 870 since I was 14 years old (1974). I actually have a 1952 model 12ga with a 30" full choke barrel that my grandfather bought new at the local company store. I killed my first turkey with it. my personal opinion is the 870 is the best field shotgun ever made. don't get me wrong...I like others but that ol pump is my #1.
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Until you have a shotgun with Wingmaster stamped on the reciever you will not know what the 870 was meant to be. The Express models will suffice ...but so will a ugly fat women.
Who you gonna go to battle with? An ugly fat woman or a fashion model? Wingmasters for the wealthy upland bird gentlemen. 870 Expres s models for those of us who get down and dirty in the bush! :TooFunny:
. Big lol.These camo 870's can really take a beating.The trick is to find the right sight.That factory bead, is hard to see.
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I've had my 870 express magnum since 92. She's laid down many a long beards. She's had several rattle can paint jobs..... I love that ole gun....
I put a scope on her last year... Missed two birds same day this spring. Scope mount was stripped.... I've got steel rings. I'm hoping she'll do better next spring.
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That’s all I have used for 5 or so years. I have killed probably around 300 squirrels with it not to mention plenty of turkeys.
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That’s all I have used for 5 or so years. I have killed probably around 300 squirrels with it not to mention plenty of turkeys. It’s scratched up and looks pretty rough, lol.
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My first shotgun was a wingmaster 12 , wish I still had it . I have 4 870, 2 12 gauges and 2 20 gauge, one 20 is a wing master. The other is my new turkey gun
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My first gun was a used 870 wingmaster 20 guage. I used that for everything until I graduated undergrad and got an 870 express 12 guage supermag. That 12 guage has shot thousands of rounds at doves, pheasants, ducks, turkeys, and coyotes over the years! It's been fired hot, cold, frozen, clean, dirty, and downright filthy and continues to be reliable. The only thing that's wrong is the paint job is faded and chipped off in a few places. But I'll get it painted up with a rattle can and sponges before season starts and keep using it!
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Obvious to see why this is one of the most sought after and sold shotguns on the market. For the price, especially the older models, you can’t beat the quality of this pump shotgun. Love mine
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Never had a problem with the old 870 or the new ones, it's all about taking care of them .. cleaning and oiling them and they will last lifetime.
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Got an 870 super mag, wood stock and just a bead. Close to 2k waterfowl, 50+ turkey, bunch of predators. Lost it in a creek when the canoe flipped, bought magnet and fished it out a week later. Thumped a bunch of winged upland birds off the stock and completed my grand slam with it.
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I just started hunting - first time ever - with a 20 gauge 870 express, the package with the rifled barrel. I figured one gun for everything. I've already learned one great thing about having a cheap gun - when it gets dinged up from my treks through the woods, I don't mind so much! (A bit, but not so much.)
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Have two 870s, one is my turkey gun, an`05 vintage Super Mag Special Purpose 12 gauge, thumbhole stock , MO obsession with a red dot. The thing is a tank and a turkey killer. The other is a 2015 Express I got for $250 on Gunbroker. Got it for a backup and "rain gun" . Has aftermarket camo stocks. Both guns have been absolutely flawless.
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My 12 gauge 870 with an H.S. Strutt Undertaker choke has taken many gobblers. By replacing this choke with a screw-in rifled choke, I use molded Slugs-R-Us sabots to shoot a cloverleaf pattern at 50 yards for whitetail deer without having to touch the red dot. The 870 is almost over kill for small game, so I go to a .22 or .410 double barrel for these.
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From my own personal experience owning several 870's, they are generally a good, reliable shotgun. Having said that, ANY brand of shotgun I own is judged first by if it shoots where I aim it. Using the factory sights, I expect the gun to hit the center of the target if I am aiming at the center of the target. Unfortunately, the last 870 I got (about ten years ago),...a gun that I intended to be my "ultimate" turkey hunting weapon,...shoots so far off-center that, after messing with it for a couple of years, I finally shelved it and haven't used it since. One of my hunting buddies has one just like it sitting on the shelf, as well. (One might ask themselves why we did not take the guns back and trade them for another one at the time, but that solution was apparently too obvious for either one of us... :) )
Both of us now shoot 835's, not because they are pretty,...or expensive,...and the actions are a bit stiff, as are the safeties,...but when we aim at a turkey's head and pull the trigger that turkey is going to die. Now, I am not trying to sell the Mossberg over the Remington,...or any other brand,...just pointing out that point of aim/point of impact is a really important consideration when buying any shotgun for turkey hunting IF you are set on shooting "beads" rather than some other type of sight.
I don't care how smooth the action works,...or how pretty the gun is,...give me a shotgun that will center the pattern on a turkeys head when I aim down the barrel and pull the trigger,...and I will use that shotgun over any other gun,...no matter how fancy or what the cost,... that does not. I guess I am just a "utilitarian" kind of guy rather than a "fashion show" kind of guy. :)
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I bought an 870 in 1970 and used the 30" full choke initially. Then I sent the 20" slug barrel to Briley and had it threaded for their screw in chokes. Good turkey gun. Since then I've bought a couple Mossbergs for turkeys...which I use. However, my 870 remains a viable backup if ever needed. Excellent quality gun.
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My experience with Remington guns started with an 1100 back in 1983 that I used primarily to duck hunt with in Louisiana. All the way up until now with two 870s ( Super Mag Special Purpose Turkey from `05 and an Express made in `15 ) and a V3 walnut semi-auto. None of them have EVER failed to load, fire , or eject. Not...once. Have to say, though, that I clean my guns after every shooting session, range or field. I`ve never judged the quality of a gun by how many thousands of rounds it can go through before it gags on its own filth. I am an unabashed Remington fan, therefore. They`ve yet to give me a reason not to be.
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This is my ole school that has some mods...
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Until you have a shotgun with Wingmaster stamped on the reciever you will not know what the 870 was meant to be. The Express models will suffice ...but so will a ugly fat women.
ha ha.ive never had a winemaker, but I agree, express models are low bagger. I've used 10 different guns in 30 years.
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Until you have a shotgun with Wingmaster stamped on the reciever you will not know what the 870 was meant to be. The Express models will suffice ...but so will a ugly fat women.
Who you gonna go to battle with? An ugly fat woman or a fashion model? Wingmasters for the wealthy upland bird gentlemen. 870 Express models for those of us who get down and dirty in the bush! :TooFunny:
lol
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I have several 870’s from about every decade starting in the 60’s, including a 69 wingmaster that was a welcome home gift I bought for myself. I have wingmasters from recent production that are the equal of that old wingmaster, with some changes I don’t care for, but are nonetheless as capable and as well made. I also have expresses. They have all served their purpose very well. Some are pretty, some are ugly....they all function perfectly. Sure Remington has stumbled over the years and there are bound to be some duds after producing 11 million or so guns, but we shouldn’t condemn them for the few that have been bad, and most certainly we should not give in to internet hype that does nothing more than feed into the potential ruin of a USA gun manufacturer.
High PlainsDrifter, thank you for your post, it’s good to see you are enjoying that shotgun and sharing a positive experience. I too have some guns that friends and family have willed to me and they are some of the treasures of my life.
I've always felt my friend with me, when I use his gun.He had this awesome black lab.I would have taken that dog, but he gave her to his sister.Ive rubbed out 6 gobblers with it so far.
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I have a 12 Ga. 870 and it is about as good as they get for the price. I call it the Howitzer because it weighs as much as a cannon, but can easily shoot 40 yards without hesitation and I can switch it up for upland birds and fowl if needed.
I got one at 50 yards last year. I also use a model 97 Winchester 16 guage, 30 inch full.
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I can reach out to 60 yards if I care to.As I've become a skilled hunter, most of my shots are under 15. I've only missed once in 30 years.
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I bought a Remington 870 Express( Synthetic Black Stock, Matte Finish)3.5" Super Mag. years ago. It has been a fine reliable turkey taker over the years. It loves the old Remington Straight Rifled Turkey Choke tube and the vintage Federal Premium 3.5" 2 1/4 oz. #4 shot turkey loads I have stashed away to use in it. It's a real THUMPER! I killed one nice gobbler with it years ago and he died so quick he fell straight down and never moved a muscle, not a twitch, nothing! Did not even disturb the leaves he was standing on. Only bird I ever killed that did that!
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My dad bought me a used 870 Wingmaster almost 40 years ago and it is the only shotgun I have ever owned!
2 3/4 chamber and original barrel didn't have choke tubes. Years ago I upgraded to a choked barrel which can handle 3" shells and I now use it as a single-shot turkey gun for 3" shells (doesn't eject 3" properly due to placement of ejection spring).
Can't go wrong with a Wingmaster! It will outlast your lifetime if you keep it clean and oiled...
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I've got an 870 Wingmaster bought around 1970 or so. It has killed more than a few turkeys. I have a 30" full choke barrel and a 20" slug barrel. I had the slug barrel drilled and tapped for screw-in chokes...Briley. Although I no longer use it for turkey hunting I would have no hesitation to do so.
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Until you have a shotgun with Wingmaster stamped on the reciever you will not know what the 870 was meant to be. The Express models will suffice ...but so will a ugly fat women.
:TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
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I hunted a 870 Wingmaster , 30" fixed full choke for approximately 30 years. Had a bunch of success with that gun.
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The early 90s Bottomland/Greenleaf Models IMO are right there with the Wingmasters. When you compare components and feel, the are both built like tanks. I get why the Wingmaster is considered the best of the best, but I have no problems with those early special purpose models. I think the quality changed with the onset of the Express model. I only wish they would bring the old ones back…..
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I have four 870's. Two express models which are my main turkey guns, my 20 gauge 870 WingMaster that I bought when I was seventeen back in the 70's and my Uncle Don's 16 gauge that he bought in 1958. That 16 gauge is the smoothest action I've ever held. The other 3 are just not the same. That 16 gauge has also had a few cases of shells run through it. My 20 WingMaster was my only gun for many years and had a lot of shells run through it also but it's not near the gun that the 16 is. The 12 SuperMag and the 20 are great turkey hammers but the action is rough by comparison.
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The new Remingtons might work ok but are a little rough and not close to as smooth as the old wingmasters. Until someone works one it’s hard to understand. Imo the express models started the company going the a negative direction. I haven’t bought a Remington of any sort in over 20 years now, the last one was a 28 ga Wingmaster I bought for my daughter when she was a year old.
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My son called me over 20 years ago. He was at Academy Sports and Outdoors. He said that they were giving away a nice aluminum double gun case when you buy an 870. He swung by my office and got the money and that gun has been all over the country killing turkeys. Still use it to this day. It has gone through a few modifications through the years, but still a solid piece of equipment.
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My experience is that the Wingmaster is heads and tails above the express...
I have an older gun, and the action is fairly smooth, and it points well. Reliable, and easy to clean... The Express guns I have had experiences with have not been comparable in quality.
My experience with pumps that I have shot or owned:
870 Wingmaster probably tops the list as reliable, smooth action, and a good pointing gun and affordability.
Model 37 has a smoother action, and points exceptionally, but my older gun (20 gauge) is extremely fickle with ammunition.
BPS, has a smooth action, is dependable, but feels a bit "blocky" to me... Tougher to clean than the 870.
Model 12 is a smooth action and a good pointer, but watched my father growing up (who is meticulous about gun care) have multiple hang-ups with his gun.
Benelli Nova is a "clunky" and awkward gun, but is very dependable.
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Great thread! As I’ve been patterning my Dad’s 870 Wingmaster trap gun, fixed full, 30” barrel. Installed a Williams slugger sight and determined the old girl likes Federal premium copper plated #6 the best. 30 yards will be my max. I’m dedicating my first tag this season to Dad’s old gun, although he never Turkey hunted I think he would have enjoyed it as much as I do. They just don’t make them like that anymore. Crazy money these days, but at some point I will own a clean, older 28ga Wingmaster. And a 20 would be sweet as well…
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Currently own 4 870s. 28 Gauge Wing Master that I bought for myself as a gift about ten years ago. 20 gauge Wing Master Magnum with 28 inch barrel and a fixed full choke that I paid $250 dollars for at an auction that is in excellent shape. 12 Gauge 870 riot gun that when my department went away from shotguns they allowed us to by the gun we carried. And a new old stock 20 gauge 870 Express that I recently got from an estate that was in the original box with the hang tag and receipt from 2009. The 20 gauge express will be my turkey gun on Wednesday when our season finally comes in. I agree the Wing Masters are really nice but as for functionality I like the express especially when I know Will be beating through thick brush rabbit hunting. If I am hunting over dogs for rabbit the 28 Gauge is my gun of choice.
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Have two 870s, one is my turkey gun, an`05 vintage Super Mag Special Purpose 12 gauge, thumbhole stock , MO obsession with a red dot. The thing is a tank and a turkey killer. The other is a 2015 Express I got for $250 on Gunbroker. Got it for a backup and "rain gun" . Has aftermarket camo stocks. Both guns have been absolutely flawless.
05 isn't "vintage" :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
My oldest 870 was purchased in 1958 by my Uncle and the action is smooth as silk.
I have 4 others. Hunting with an 870 is nothing to be ashamed of. Solid platform and a great turkey hammer. I also agree with "Wingmasters" being MUCH better than the Express models but haven't handled one since they went bankrupt.
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I have had multiple 870s over the years. They have killed ducks, quail, dove, rabbits, squirrels, etc. The older Wingmaster models were like the timex. They took a licking and kept on ticking. It didn't take much love to keep them working. I currently have one of the 870 Express Turkeys with the thumb hole stock and red dot that I use as a backup gun. Definitely not the quality gun of the older Wingmaster. Parts are cheaper and action not as tight. That said, I fires everytime, patterns well and hits where it is aimed. I do wish it was a little lighter.