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

[Sprite]

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.

[Gun Nut]

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.

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

[longpointer]

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.

[Badenoch]

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.

[brent]

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.

[Kilo Charlie]

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.