Suggestions for '81 Rem Wingmaster Police

[Texasrpbrock]

Fellow Texans,

Was bored today and had some time to kill. Went to one of the local pawn shops to look around and picked up a older Rem Wingmaster in really good condition for less than $300. Got home and called Remington for history and found out it was a '81 Police version. Had a gun smith friend of mine break it down and check it out tonight and from his findings it has had very little wear over the years and didn't look to have been shot much. His thought was it was a really nice shotgun. No rust, no pitting, nice wood a just a few scratches. Action is incredibly smooth. A little bit of the blueing in one area is rubbed off the top of the receiver which led me to believe it might have spent some time riding in a LEO car? It also came with an unused mid-length Rem ribbed barrel that the last owner must have bought for it before he lost it to the pawn shop. My gun smith thinks the extra barrel is mid to late eighties stock because of construction. Right now it's got the original non-ribbed police barrel with bead sight.

Anyway, was wondering if any of you had any suggestions to trick it out or leave as is. Will make a nice home defense shotgun. Anyway, any suggestions, upgrades you guys want to offer. Upgrade the shell count? Just looking for ideas.

Thanks,
Texasrpbrock

[MoJo]

Put a +3 mag extension on it and leave everything else stock.

[Texasrpbrock]

I like that idea, can you suggest where and which manufacturer to get it from. Or is it a stock Remington part?

Thanks for your help!
Texasrpbrock

[Mike1951]

My 870 Wingmaster Police was purchased in the late '70s and came with 20" bbl and magazine extension.

Back then, we had an Armoloy location in Houston and I had the 870 refinished. Still holding up right well.

I bought one of the Remington folding stocks and used it for a while before reinstalling the wood stock. The Remington folder would be difficult (and expensive) to find these days but there are alternatives. I've still got the folder but at some period, it rusted. I stripped it and tried painting it but the thickness of the paint interferes with function. Maybe powder coating?

I've got the 870 Wingmaster Police, Mossberg 590 with Vang Comp mods (includes Surefire light), and 870 Marine Magnum Police. All have extended mags and wear Sidesaddles.

[Texasrpbrock]

It's definitely a nice enough gun to consider having refinished. I've got a refinisher in Tenn. that just refinished my Sig 228 and they did an excellent job. Will definitely shoot it and check for reliability (when I get out of the neck brace) before I do anything to it.

Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions!

[fickman]

Nice find!