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870 Express to Wingmaster Conversion

PostPosted: Wed Jan 02, 2019 7:22 pm
by Johnr283
I want a Wingmaster, left handed in 20ga, which they don't make. Can I buy an 870 Express LH 20ga and change the stock and foregrip? I'll also have my gunsmith shine up the metal and I'd like to change the barrel to a shorter non vent ribbed one.

Re: 870 Express to Wingmaster Conversion

PostPosted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 11:49 am
by Scorpion8
The short, quick answer is "Yes" you can do all those mods and upgrades and have a nicer, fancier Express that "looks and feels" like a Wingmaster.

Re: 870 Express to Wingmaster Conversion

PostPosted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 4:45 pm
by Johnr283
I just noticed that they don't sell an Express LH in 20ga either. I thought I saw that they did. I suppose I could get the 12ga. I don't want to much recoil. Will there really be that much difference?

Re: 870 Express to Wingmaster Conversion

PostPosted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 6:29 pm
by mauser9
Anything would be an improvement over the Express looks. That awful looking hardwood stock and the receiver and barrel with the matte finish are the ultimate turn-off to me.

Re: 870 Express to Wingmaster Conversion

PostPosted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 2:09 pm
by Scorpion8
mauser9 wrote:.... and the receiver and barrel with the matte finish are the ultimate turn-off to me.


Ah, the soul of the unbeliever! Ha! On the other hand, I love the matte finish, deflects glare, repels fingerprints, looks to me like a nice dark Parkerized finish that I don't have to care too much about. :mrgreen:

Re: 870 Express to Wingmaster Conversion

PostPosted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 2:13 pm
by Scorpion8
Johnr283 wrote:.... I don't want to much recoil. Will there really be that much difference?


Depends on the load you shoot. a 1-oz load in a 12GA or 20GA going 1145 fps solves the mass-velocity equation exactly the same regardless of bore size, which never factors in to the equation. You can get lighter 20-ga loads, but they tend to compensate by adding velocity. Most people always assume a 20ga will recoil less than a 12ga, but there are many other additional factors involved.

Re: 870 Express to Wingmaster Conversion

PostPosted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 7:26 pm
by Chilly
I dont think adding nice wood makes an Express much of a Wingmaster clone. The Express finish is rough as a cobb, rusts is you look at it with a damp eye, and feel heavier to me. An Express is better than much of the competition but its no Wingmaster.

I have some experience parkerizing firearms and if my efforts ended up with an Express finish I'd probably be quite discouraged. I'm not crapping on the express but a lot of fit and finish corners were cut to make a price point. Amd Im glad they did because a new Wingmaster is priced WAY too high IMO.

For the price of a new Express one can score an old Wingmaster that will clean up beautifully. Have a few tools and some skills? Blast, parkerize, throw on a set of nice police lumber. They dont get much prettier.

Re: 870 Express to Wingmaster Conversion

PostPosted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 7:30 pm
by Chilly
And there are 12 ga loads that throw the same charge weight at the same velocity of a 20 ga, so heavier gun with less recoil and same performance, but the option to breathe fire if you want to. I loaded an ammo can of 7/8 oz target loads for my kids, who will start out with 12 ga 870 (with trimmed stocks and shorter barrels)

Re: 870 Express to Wingmaster Conversion

PostPosted: Sat Feb 02, 2019 3:46 pm
by Virginian
The new Expresses I have seen have a MUCH smoother finish than those of a few years ago. It is not Parkerizing, but is not that prone to rusting.

Re: 870 Express to Wingmaster Conversion

PostPosted: Sat Feb 02, 2019 7:38 pm
by mauser9
That is some good news Virginian. Friend had an earlier model Express that did rust easily. I read that the bluing salts can cause this.

Re: 870 Express to Wingmaster Conversion

PostPosted: Sun Feb 03, 2019 12:38 am
by Virginian
You heard right Mauser9. The rough finish did not always get all the salts washed out in the dip baths, and no amount of oil will dissolve bluing salts. I took care of three of them by stripping them down and giving them a good bath in hot soapy water, and then a good rinse. Then I dried them and oiled them and sold them with no rusting issues. Decent profit and i saved 3 guns.