870 Trap, My Boy's Birthday Gift...

[AJGUNNER]

When we hit the local gun club (Canby Rod & Gun Club) for some trap shooting, it usually looks like an 870 Wingmaster gathering. The one on the left is my original bought in the 70's before I was old enough to buy it myself. That one has seen many thousands of rounds in the past 45+ years. The red pad is a 20ga I bring along just in case I want to go a bit easier on the shoulder for the 3rd round of the night. The others have found their way into my safe along the years. One has been gifted to my son and the other is a loaners for his buddies that we are getting started into shooting fun.

 

[Mauser9]

Very nice indeed. Can tell it is a TB grade by that beautiful wood. Still own and shoot my 1100 TB for Trap on Sundays. Had it since 1980. Ready for an 870 now and am considering an older Wingmaster in 20 for Upland game. I see Rem-Arms is out with a new 870 Wingmaster and the cost is around $800 - 900 for a new one. Even the Fieldmaster 870 not bad for around $500 with the matte finish.

 

[WendyZXZ]

That is a wonderful birthday present!

 

[Busterswoodshop]

Very nice.
I think the older 870's were some of the best pump shotguns ever made.
I have been shooting the 870 ever since I discovered shotguns.
I also think , they went downhill when they came out with the Express.

 

[WAYNO]

Very nice.
I think the older 870's were some of the best pump shotguns ever made.
I have been shooting the 870 ever since I discovered shotguns.
I also think , they went downhill when they came out with the Express.

I have owned many 870's. And I've heard many folks agree the Express is not as good as a Wingmaster. I've also owned multiple Express's, and I use them for rough and tumble duty. Nope, they're not as nice, but they work every bit as well as any Wingmaster I've ever owned.

 

[SamV]

sam, what club was it?

Not a club. I was at a Missouri Department of Conservation range, Jay Henges, in the Saint Louis suburbs. My daughter was practicing archery at the field target range across the parking lot from the trap ranges. I had never seen shotgun sports but certainly knew about them. I walked over and talked to the range officer and watched for awhile. I had been away from firearms for about 25 years and was even a bit anti gun. I will skip that story, but watching, it brought back good memories of target shooting when I was a young person. I don't really have much of a budget for shooting sports. An 870 and $5 (it was $3) a round works for me. It brought me back to other guns and target shooting.

I wish I could have made it to one of your events, but unfortunately it always fell at times that I couldn't attend.

 

[bobski]

yeah, too bad. i canceled them due to lack of interest.
i still open for guests, but no more matches.
my 1st trap gun was an 870 34" vr.

 

[moparclan]

Awesome Remington and gift.
This was my dads 870 he bought back in the 50's, I remember going out on some Oregon lakes duck hunting with him. This one has the adjustable buttplate.
Still have several boxes of the paper hull shotgun shells.

 

[Mauser9]

Awesome Remington.
This was my dads 870 he bought back in the 50's, I remember going out on some Oregon lakes duck hunting with him. This one has the adjustable buttplate.

View attachment 48295

Some real nice wood on that one mopar. Used to take walnut for granted in my day. Gonna pay for it today with the high cost of it. Steel receiver means a lot to me also.

 

[wproct]

Moparclan, that is truly a beautiful 870!! I love to pick up a well used 870 and run the action, so smooth it feels like it's on ball bearings. As far as the Express is concerned, I have one in 20 gauge lightweight and it's a great shotgun. It just takes a bit of shooting to get the action smoothed out like the old Wingmaster, but the quality of design is still there.

 

[Mauser9]

Considering the 870 Fieldmaster in 20 myself. Pumped the action recently on one at BassPro Shop. Seems they are vibra-honing as the gun pumped very smoothly. Walnut ain't top shelf but looks decent. Matte finish at least has a more satin look to it.

 

[burner]

I also shot a lot of trap. ATA and PITA. Not much any longer since hitting my 80's. I do have a prized 870 TD that will go to one of my grand kids. Some of the most figured wood I've ever seen and it's staying in the safe. Never shot and what makes it unique is it's a 150 year anniversary model..and maybe the reason for the wood?? I'm sure they're out there, but I've never heard of another. I'd post pics but it's buried in one of the safes...

 

[wproct]

I also shot a lot of trap. ATA and PITA. Not much any longer since hitting my 80's. I do have a prized 870 TD that will go to one of my grand kids. Some of the most figured wood I've ever seen and it's staying in the safe. Never shot and what makes it unique is it's a 150 year anniversary model..and maybe the reason for the wood?? I'm sure they're out there, but I've never heard of another. I'd post pics but it's buried in one of the safes...

Sure would be nice to see some pictures of that 870 TD. Sorry, I just noticed you said it was buried in a safe. Those guns are a pleasure to look at though.

 

[Kevin]

Happy birthday to your son BTDubs. @WAYNO the stock on that 870 is incredible!

 

[contender]

Since this thread has dug up all kinds of memories of using & enjoying the 870's,, I'll share one of my favorites.

I've kept an 870 for decades. I've gifted one to my youngest. But I still have a couple. And I have a spare barrel. A custom spare barrel. Built for turkey shoots. Heavier than most barrels,, rifle sights, back bored & tuned for sure.
I got this gun from an old friend one day at a turkey shoot. The club was doing a fund raising by selling tickets for an H&R Topper single barrel 12 ga. I bought the last 2 tickets available. I won the H&R. My friend really wanted it,, and offered his custom barreled 870 for the H&R,, if I'd give him $100 boot. I did the trade.
After the main turkey shoot matches,, we'd do side matches,, for cash. Put in $5,, and the pot would go to the winner. I decided to try the "new to me" 870. My first try at it,, and I won the post,, making myself $95.00. So,, I was into the 870 for a total of $7.00. Well, I did try 2 more money shoots,, and lost the second one,, and won the 3rd which was only $35.00. So I always figured I got a free gun, and made $18.00 to go with it.
A week or so later,, my friend wanted to "borrow" that 870 back while his H&R was being customized for turkey shoots. It took me about 7 months to get it back. But it resides here now,, and my friend passed several years later. I fondly remember him when I get it out.