16 Gauge 870 Wingmaster

[Matt3357]

Hello all, this is my first time posting on this forum as I don't own a Remington, but my girlfriend just got, as the title says, a 16 gauge 870 Wingmaster handed down to her for Christmas.  She hunts deer with a muzzle loader and her grandpa had this laying around.  It has been shot just a few times and is in near mint condition.  It has a fixed modified choke without a vent rib.  What do you think it is worth?  I found a fully rifle slug barrel from remington for $213 just being curious.  Do any of you hunt deer with a 16 gauge?  We haven't dated it yet be the best her dad and I could figure it was made sometime in the 70's.  The main thing I would like to know is what its worth. 

Thanks,
Matt

[jlchucker]

Back in the late 1940's my late uncle, just back from service in the 8th Air Force, used to hunt deer with a pump 16 with full choke. It was kind of hard to find a new rifle then--he later got a Marllin 35 remmie. He killed several bucks with the 16, then hunted the rest of his life with the 35.  Both are still in the family.  If I recall, at least one of my brothers hunted (and killed) deer with that 16.  At close range, in the woods, I expect your girlfriend's grandpa's gun would still do the job nicely.

[Matt3357]

I know it will do the job, just curious to see if anyone else does.  The only limiting factor to the range would be the lack of sabots available for the 16 gauge.  I have yet to find any anyway.  The only slugs I have found are full bore lead slugs that are usually only good out to 50 yards, very accurate at 50 but yet only 50.  Maybe I'm a bit biased about the range of a shotgun as I own a 20 gauge H&R Ultra Slug Hunter and can put 3 buckhammers in a 2" circle.  I guess she can use it if she's in the thick stuff and the muzzle loader if she's hunting the fields.  Who knows what she'll end up deciding.  Thanks for the input.

Matt

[Don Gordon]

Fixed Choke 16's 870's in VG condition are going around $300-$400.  Check gunbroker.com.   The newer Remchoke models are going for $100-140 more.   

I'd skip the 16 gauge slug barrel due to it's cost and slug availablity.  Add a Few more $$ and you should be able to pick up a complete used 870 12 ga Express slug or a Win 1300 Slug gun.  Of course, you could also get another H&R/NEF for a few more $$ than the $213 for just the 16 slug barrel.


I was HOT on the 16ga 870 and have owned a fixed Mod and a RemChoke model but have since sold both.  They weigh as much as the 12, and ammo costs 2-3X the cost of 12ga in comparable loads, when you can find them.   As the one she has -its a family gun, I wouldn't sell it for any amount.

[jager]

   I've shot deer with a 16ga Brenneke slug out of a drilling with good effect within 100 yards. I also used a "Deer Slayer" barrel on my "old" Ithaca 16ga that is very accurate with Winchester slugs, which it prefers. Either gun will put "venison" in the freezer within most "slug" ranges and "sighting" limitations.
   The newer "Wingmaster" 16ga is on a 12ga frame (I don't know about the early models) and tend to be as heavy as the same brand in a "12". The older Ithaca's were on a smaller, than 12ga, frame and weighed about 6.5 pounds overall. The new Browning BPS pump in the 16ga is suppose to be on a 20ga frame, which should be considerably lighter than their 12.  If the 16 is made on the appropriate sized receiver, its appeal over the 12ga is because it is as easy to carry and "shoulder" in the "field" as a light "20", while being as effective as a 12.
   The ballistic advantage of one gauge over the other (IMO) is due to the factory ammo available for each type, or when using steel shot a "extended" ranges. The ammo companies have all but abandoned the 16, but it is still popular in Europe. I reload; obtaining components is not a problem, so making ammo to suit the game is not an issue. If you shoot factory ammo only, than a 12 or 20 gives you more choices. The 16 is just more fun to hunt with (MBO) .