acceptable barrel damage on a 12 gauge?
 

So, I was given an old Remington 870 wingmaster, and when I was cleaning it (evidently the first time it had ever been done properly) I found a bit of a gouge on the inside of the barrel about a quarter of the way down. It was enough to grab a bit of fluff off of the cleaning patch. Any chance the barrel is salvageable? I know a new barrel isn't that pricey, but I wouldn't mind keeping the gun all original if I can.

You ought to get a qualified gunsmith to give you a professional opinion. As for replacing the barrel, you don't have to buy new... Gun Digest-The Magazine has TONS of used barrels for sale, and I see the 870 barrels constantly.. You might want to check that out..

The burr can be taken out easily enough and will not effect performance.

You may be absolutely correct.. However, my concern is the thickness of the barrel wall where the gouge occurred. It could possibly be too thin to shoot safely. Just something to consider...

You (or gunsmith) will be removing the displaced metal that is snagging on the patch and not removing the base material thinning the wall.
The likelyhood of a gouge inside the barrel being deep enough (more than a couple thousands) to render the barrel dangerous to shoot is remote.
If worried about that then by all means take it to a GS and he can measure the gouge depth.
I'm a retired Gun Shop owner / GS / and machinist.

Thanks guys, as soon as my company lets me out of the bush, I'll be taking it in to a gunsmith. Much obliged.