Dating a Remington 870 Wingmaster

[Starslinger]

I have an old 12 gauge shotgun that's been hiding in the back of a safe for many years and I could would like to know what year it was made. It's a Remington 870 Wingmaster with what looks like "XU" on the barrel and it's marked "W039387V" on the receiver. I got a little confused using the dating information on certain websites but it looks like:

Barrel made in December 1971
Gun made in 1972

Is this right? Also, how old is too old to shoot steel shot? Thanks for any help!

[Jeepergeo]

Based on the title of the post, it looked like a thread about some sort of new fetish.

Seriously, I have no idea how to figure out when they were made, but they are nice guns!

[JagerDog]

Remington has published that their single barrel full choke shot guns made after 1960 to be safe for steel shot up too #2 steel.

Millions of "pre-steel" shotguns used steel shot in the early days of steel. Everybody didn't go out and buy new guns. Over time, many got new guns or reworked (opened) chokes to obtain better patterns with steel.

I'd prolly refrain from a steady diet of steel with older doubles as the solder holding the barrels together can give way. That and popping a rib lose are the only real concerns.

[Starslinger]

Thanks JagerDog.