Express vs. Wingmaster

I agree with the post of it depends on your intended use. I have had an 870 Express super magnum synthetic since 1999. It was just like purchasing a hammer. A tool to do a job.

It rusted badly the second season I had it because I put it in the case wet after duck hunting and I decided to take a nap before pulling it out to clean it. In about three hours it had rusted. Not happy about it, but oh well.

Mine also jammed two or three times when new. I took it to the trap range one day and me and one other guy put about 800-1000 rounds through it that day and it hasn't jammed since.

I don't have a Wingmaster but they are really nice guns. Nice finish and a solid performing gun. However, I duck hunt, crow hunt, and use mine for beaver erradication. Pretty much rough service, so the Express fits the end use better.
 
The express is a throw it in the corner and clean it once a year gun, abuse it. the wingmaster is a clean and oil it everyday after the hunt, classic pump shotgun. I have both, but hunt 90% of the time with the express. When shooting 12ga shells.
 
I agree that the Wingmaster is a better shotgun than the Express. I own 2 Wingmasters and have had as many as 3 expresses at one time. I had chronic feed problems with one of the expresses, and they all were prone to rust. I don't know if Remington even makes new Wingmasters anymore, if not I'd look for a used one, you should be able to find one if you're patient in the same price range as a new Express, particularly if you will accept a 2 3/4 chamber. Both mine are 2 3/4 chambers, with fixed choke barrels, but there are 3" chamber and choke tube barrels available.
 
I don't understand the rust problem everyone is referring to. Dont blame the gun. Everytime you touch a gun it gets wiped down with a silicone cloth. After a rainy day everything gets disassembled and cleaned. Pretty simple.
Me and 2 friends all had problems with the express. Jamming and not feeding shells. All guns from the mid 90's. Remington was producing some real junk back then. The also managed to sell me a piece of junk model 700 rifle. I hear they have gotten better in recent years. They burned me 3 times. Actually got a refund on the last one. Sorry but I have a anti Remington agenda. Anyway, I have a very old wingmaster of my fathers that still functions flawlessly. It will pattern about anything you put in it.
 
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I have had no issues at all with my Express, not a tad of rust with all the snow and rain its been in, then again I clean my firearms good after I get them home.
 
my express hasent rusted but i treat my guns good i love my express its got mud, blood and water on it and i wipe it down and its good to go again dont know if im going to hunt with anything else this year
 
My wife and I each have Wingmasters for house guns.

Yeah ...... you won't suffer long around here if house invading is your occupation.

But mine was a "police wannabe" gun but still a 2 3/4". My enabler for 30 bucks changed it over to 3". A simple conversion.

My wifes is a genuine Police magnum and she bought it new. (She sure likes her 870)

I toyed with buying a hunting barrel for mine but for the same bucks I bought the first of two Ithaca 37 Featherlites.

First a 12, then a TWENTY .......

But as for the Express, I would hunt with one (til it burned me) but when it comes to DEFENSE ........ it gonna be a WINGMASTER!

Three 44s
 
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I saw this thread had come to life again so i just want to tell you guys i found a Wingmaster at a gundealer, he had it for years and i got it of his hands for just around 200$
I sent the serial no. to Remington and it left the factory in 1961 so it´s holding up really good for that age
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mywingmaster.jpg


mywingmaster2.jpg


///Fredrik
 
Ya got a solid one! I have (or have kind of inherited) 2 870's, one a 870 express with aftermarket synthetic stocks in 3" 12ga, one a Wingmaster 20ga lightweight magnum (3"). Both my father bought many years ago, the 20ga LWM shortly after he graduated... I'm not sure when he bought the 12ga Express, but I do have a picture with it and 2 dead ducks when I was about 4 years old. I always wanted to go, but only got to pose with the game! Anyways, I've hunted with these 2 870s since, and have taken nearly all of my birds with them. I used to frequently hunt next to guys toting anything from BPS's, 1100s, 1187s, even SBES and yea, it would be nice to have one of those nice guns... but I've never felt the need to upgrade. My Express 12ga is my duck gun/beat around gun, and it has always functioned flawlessly no matter how I abuse it. Likewise, my Wingmaster 20ga LWM has be flawless, but it is relegated to upland work behind dogs since I can't bring myself to abuse it's beautiful wood in the duck boat. My dad still has an 870 wingmaster 12ga that he bought in high school, the mag tube is silver... not from poor fitting, just because it's been shot that many times. He got out of bird hunting for about 10 years, but recently got back into it. He bought a new barrel for it, just because it had fixed chokes, and the old gun is back at it. The old man nailed a rooster 50yds away, right to left shot in a 30mph crosswind.... first hunt, no practice at all. I was impressed! Needless to say, the old Wingmaster is a fine firearm. It is a little saddening to hear that Remington is dropping it's standards. It's one thing to make a price point firearm with less amenities, but they should never sacrifice the quality action they have. The good news is that I know my children and their children will still be using the 870s that my father gave to me.
 
Originally Posted By: LenneskogI saw this thread had come to life again so i just want to tell you guys i found a Wingmaster at a gundealer, he had it for years and i got it of his hands for just around 200$
I sent the serial no. to Remington and it left the factory in 1961 so it´s holding up really good for that age
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mywingmaster.jpg


mywingmaster2.jpg


///Fredrik That's a dandy wingmaster!
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Congrats!
 


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