Blued/Walnut shotguns…….anyone?

[longislandloco]

Considering all the camo guns on the market, does anyone still hunt with a blued/wood shotgun, in any gauge for turkey. The reason I ask is because I have a chance to pick up an 870  Wingmaster, 12GA Magnum in new condition, any ideas.

[Bowguy]

I still occasionally hunt w em. Actually prefer them. Call me strange but they're more like friends. Every nick, scratch, dent can bring you  to somewhere long ago.,
Composite guns are just guns. I do use them but it not as attached if that makes sense.
Only problem w say an 870 is if it's one with a shiny stock. I'd just refinish it.

[Longshanks]

Wingmasters are my favorite 870's.  Barrels are slick as glass. Have two of them. Duracoated the guns, wrinkle painted the stocks with a sand mixtured paint. Tru-glo sights, Bushnell Trophy Red Dot, old school straps, lim saver pads. Have a blast trying new chokes and loads. Turkey killing machines.

*the one on the top I have had since I was 12. I'm 47 now
*just bought a SSX .643 for the one on the bottom to see if it will turn some patterns with HTL.
*I made the mistake of selling the original fixed choke barrel off the one on the bottom and bought a new 21" bbl rem choke. Big mistake. Should have cut it off and threaded it instead. Sold the barrel for what I payed for the gun, 200.00 and then bought a new barrel for that. Broke even but this barrel has been tough to get right.
*have another Wingmaster  barrel that is 28", Duracoated with tru-choke threads. Lead Slinger.

214 in a 10 @ 40 Win LB 6's

229 in a 10 @ 40. Win LB 6's

[longislandloco]

Nice guns! Good info on things to do with an 870, being a senior citizen I'm old school, but not to old to learn a few thing from you youngin's.

[457121]

Blued/Walnut is the only way I roll

[howl]

A thick coat of paste wax dulls the shine.

[dzsmith]

until I recently replaced my stock...I have always hunted with the original walnut parts on my 870 express. and I agree with the other guy that you will become attached with the degrading condition of the parts as you remember how you made them. my new laminate thumbhole stock is till wooden but its composed of greens and browsn, so I reckon I will still be able to beat it up as I hunt

[Hook hanger]

I have a BPS that is high gloss with walnut and it never has bothered any turkey till it goes bang.

[stinkpickle]

Both of my backup guns are blued/wood.

[Mike Honcho]

Here's a shot of my 15 year old Grandson Kolbi's Heckler and Koch (Benelli) Super 90, 3" 12 gauge with a huge 24lb Rio Grande tom he took earlier this spring during youth season with me.

This is a beautifully made shotgun, wood and blueing is very high quality.  It wears a Comp N Choke XXX Full and shoots Longbeard 5's very well. 

This is the second tom Kolbi has taken with it (one last season) as he also borrows my camo 935 from time to time.

Honcho

[allaboutshooting]

Considering all the camo guns on the market, does anyone still hunt with a blued/wood shotgun, in any gauge for turkey. The reason I ask is because I have a chance to pick up an 870  Wingmaster, 12GA Magnum in new condition, any ideas.

They all work well, even high gloss guns if you stay in the shade. My first 10+ years of hunting turkeys was all done with walnut/blue guns. I like the black/matte guns now but all of them will work.

Thanks,
Clark

[Longshanks]

   I just don't take any chances if I don't have to. I have had turkey's spook at the reflection off a camera lense, guided folks who didn't have complete camoflauge on/ no gloves/ high gloss guns etc and the turkey's spook with no one moving an inch. The glare will get you busted no doubt. I have always tried to hunt completely camo from head to toe, gun and all and the turkeys will still spook cause he sees something out of place. My point is I will use every advantage I possibly can to be hidden. My dad and I used to tape our guns back in the 80's before allot of options were out there. 2-5 dollars for a roll of tape and your gun was complete camo. Clean it at the end of the season.  I have numerous times had to let hens walk all around me within 8-10 feet waiting for the gobbler to get in range. In a situation like this I would rather be completely Camoed out. Anything I can do to be better concealed and hidden I am willing to do, within reason. Why would you not?  Believe me a turkey can see better than we can. I have turkey hunted with friends and if they have a solid black gun or gloss gun I can spot them in a second. I have had friends of mine fully Camoed and you can walk right up on them before you ever see them. A game me and my buddy play, when it's time to walk out we will hoot back and forth and the guy walking up try's to find the other. If you don't think full camo makes a difference..I can promise you it does. I use my matte black guns mostly hunting out of blinds where the inside is black and use camo guns when I'm sitting out in the open timber. I avoid using anything that has a glare.

[Oconeeguy]

I agree mostly with last post. Use every advantage where I hunt because 1 - there are not a lot of birds and 2 - there are a lot of hunters. So I need advantages. That means no glossy stuff.

However, I have been deer hunting from the ground and 15 yrs ago when there were more turkeys around here, have had turkey's walk within 15 FEET of me and just watch me in my orange vest as they warily walk past. So sometimes they can see you and won't spook if u don't move.  But a week or so into turkey season, that all changes. They get super duper wary. There is an old saying that a deer will look at a man and see a stump, but a turkey will look at a stump and see a man.

No harm in being a little extra careful and hiding glossy metal/wood.