Shotgun chambered for 2 3/4" (new hunter)

Was recently gifted/passed-down a Remington 870 Wingmaster 12GA manufactured in 1980. As the gun was manufactured in 1980, the gun is chambered for 2 3/4" and originally had a fixed choke.

When my father owned the gun, he had the barrel cut down from 28" to 26" and had the barrel threaded for interchangeable chokes (by a gunsmith). The barrel is currently outfitted with a modified choke.

As this is the first gun which is "mine", I am hoping to use it for as much game as possible. However, I can't help but notice the obvious - new guns today are chambered in 3" or 3 1/2"

Wanted to hear feedback regarding using 2 3/4" shells on game and any suggestions regarding ammo brands (been previously told to spend the extra money and get Kent cartridges for waterfowl)

Primarily interested in using the gun for turkey, waterfowl, and upland, and if possible would like to fire slugs for deer.

I have 2 shotguns, 1 chambered 3 1/2 12ga and one 3" 20ga.

90% of my hunting of small game is done with 2 3/4 shells.

3" for waterfowl only because it's the easiest to find and I believe cheapest at least compared to 3 1/2" wich I've only shot a couple of times and didn't notice a difference other than they would jam once in a while ejecting.

They worked for many hunters, and for many years so I wouldn't get caught up in what size is better. Just shoot what you can and know your range.

back in the day i got an old stevens shotgun. i got it to a smith and he bored it to modified to shoot steel. at that point it was used to hunt ducks, grouse, deer and turkey.
not a bad idea when i bought it for 200 and modified for 60.
looking back, im sad i sold it. but sold it to buy a .22

those old shotguns, if there is sentimental feelings, i wouldnt change a thing and just buy another one when i had the chance to shoot larger shells.

2 3/4 is what we use for almost everything. 3 inch for deer but you can get away with 2 3/4 for sure. youre not missing out on much,

the 3 inch are nice,

but the 3 1/2 inch i think are just manufactured to make you wish you didnt buy them the next day when you wake up . LOL

As already stated 2 3/4" was the most common 12g for many years and was used for everything.

My dad bought me an 870 Wingmaster in 2 3/4" in 1975 and I couldn't guess the amount of trap, ducks, cottontails, jack rabbits and coyotes I have shot with that shotgun. It never failed me once. It is now retired for the most part, but I use 2 3/4" in all of my newer 12G and 20G shotguns with good success.
I will admit the 3" does give you more range and killing power but if your aim is on, 2 3/4" will do the job....no question

Yes 2 3/4 inch was around way before the internet and it killed them all (geese, ducks, rabbits and deer) Now that the internet is here, many believe it can't be done anymore.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ryeguy

Primarily interested in using the gun for turkey, waterfowl, and upland, and if possible would like to fire slugs for deer.

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I'd be planning it this way
Turkey: #5 full choke
Upland: woodcock #8/#71/2/#6 IC
woodcock/grouse #71/2/#6/#4 IC
grouse #6/#6/#4 IC
Pheasant #6/#5/#4 IC or M
Waterfowl Duck #3/#2 M
Geese #1/#BB
Don't do deer so no recommendation there.
These are my preferrences others will have different trick is find out what works for you.
Remember the best shot-choke/gun won't make you a better shot however a great shooter can make the worst shot/choke/gun shine

If there was ever a firearm that I wish that I owned it would be an early vintage Wingmaster. I happened to borrow one a few times while duck hunting in my younger days , and I just loved the look, fit, feel of it and I loved how it shot. Yes, I know, I can always find and buy one but at my age that boat has sailed, I no longer hunt waterfowl and I don’t have an heir that hunts.

Anyway, congratulations on acquiring a fine shotgun. I hope that you have great adventures with it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sam Menard

If there was ever a firearm that I wish that I owned it would be an early vintage Wingmaster. I happened to borrow one a few times while duck hunting in my younger days , and I just loved the look, fit, feel of it and I loved how it shot. Yes, I know, I can always find and buy one but at my age that boat has sailed, I no longer hunt waterfowl and I don’t have an heir that hunts.

Anyway, congratulations on acquiring a fine shotgun. I hope that you have great adventures with it.

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There was a reason this was the go to gun for most police services they took a lot of abuse.

2 3/4" is just fine for everything.

For waterfowl loads, try the Challengers -- I prefer them over the Kents and they're quite a bit cheaper.

-N.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ryeguy

Was recently gifted/passed-down a Remington 870 Wingmaster 12GA manufactured in 1980. As the gun was manufactured in 1980, the gun is chambered for 2 3/4" and originally had a fixed choke.

When my father owned the gun, he had the barrel cut down from 28" to 26" and had the barrel threaded for interchangeable chokes (by a gunsmith). The barrel is currently outfitted with a modified choke.

As this is the first gun which is "mine", I am hoping to use it for as much game as possible. However, I can't help but notice the obvious - new guns today are chambered in 3" or 3 1/2"

Wanted to hear feedback regarding using 2 3/4" shells on game and any suggestions regarding ammo brands (been previously told to spend the extra money and get Kent cartridges for waterfowl)

Primarily interested in using the gun for turkey, waterfowl, and upland, and if possible would like to fire slugs for deer.

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Hi Ryeguy, your gun chambered in 2 3/4 should be fine for most any hunting. They should still make slug loads for to take on big game. As well you should be able to fine steel shot loads for migratory bird hunting, and you have plenty of opportunity to find lead shot loads for upland game. Some European manufactures turn out 2 5/8 loads for the short chambered European shotgun. So why the 3 and 3 1/2 inch chamber shotguns, a lot of the reason was larger shot loads in both lead and steel. Steel shot was probably the biggest reason for 3 1/2 chambered shotgun because steel shot loads take up more room in the hull than do lead loads. Time was when powder was a problem when it came to hull space. Black powder charges required a lot more space than their equivalent smokeless powder charges. With the takeover of smokeless powder more wadding was used to take up hull space. However with steel shot filler wadding virtually disappeared. what did improve was the barrel sealing ability of the over powder wad accompanied by a dense and longer protective shot sleeve, so the steel wouldn't damage the bore. In a nut shell with a 2 3/4 inch hull you will probably max out with a 1 1/8 oz. steel load, which at 40 yards has plenty of kill for geese let alone ducks. 3 and 3 1/2 inch hulls of course have room to carry larger steel shot loads, with a 3 1/2 and I'm guessing you might get to a max of 1 7/8 oz. steel loads Which having shot a 10 gauge with 2 oz. lead loads will come with a sizable amount of recoil. Hope this info is useful to you.

You don't stop hunting because you grow old. You grow old because you stop hunting.
- Gun Nut

Welcome to the World of Remington ! I own two 870 WingMasters made about the same time as yours and you won't be disappointed. My original came with a Vent Rib Mod. choke which I've kept that way but my brother quit hunting and gave me his identical gun which I converted into a Deer gun by adding a cantilever sabot barrel with a Bushnell Reddot scope and synthetic stock. I upgraded to a Remington 11-87 because 3 inch steel was cheaper and easier to find and I needed that for duck hunting. When you find good 2 3/4 inch shells stock up and go have fun as that gun is meant to work ! I have put mine thru Hell and back and it still works; easy to strip down and clean should you bury it in marsh muck. LoL ! Just don't short stroke it when firing as people have jammed them up by doing that.

The majority of my shotgunning is with 2-3/4" shells even though the shotguns are chambered for 3 inch. Brenneke or Challenger slugs, 1-1/8 ounce #6 for upland and Kent Tungsten Matrix for waterfowl. My first shotgun was a Wingmaster and I've always owned at least one. They are classics.

2.75", 12 ga will do it all with no problem. Lots of options in 11/8 oz steel loads.

Lots of people using 20 gauges for everything now and they are only 7/8 or 1 oz loads.

I've used 2.75 for everything. I had some 3-inch slugs for deer, but I found a noticeable difference in recoil. I ended up using 2.75 for my hunt and the deer died.
I'd use that shotgun as-is, and consider buying a rifled barrel with a cantilevered scope mount if you're serious about deer or bear.