Initial Impression on Remington 870

[DArBad]

Just know that to use that +2 extension you'll need to take a drill to your new gun and remove the dimple that holds the spring / cap retainer in order to get shells to go past. I've found that since doing that the cap tends to work it's way loose with the barrel over time.

First time I've heard of such a thing. Do you think it has something to do with any particular brand of extension??

Been reading a lot about extension tubes and watched countless you tube videos. IF it was not installed properly, I think what you said is a great possibility with ANY brand.

I've also read some problems with Scattergun Technology and TacStar. Not much with the Choate, Remington, Nordic, etc.

I am not arguing, just voicing out my thought process here.

[NapalmCheese]

First time I've heard of such a thing. Do you think it has something to do with any particular brand of extension??

It's not a problem with the extension, it's a design feature of the magazine tube of more modern Remington 870 express shotguns. Remington at some time switched from the 'old' style spring retainer to the current one which required dimples in the magazine tube. Those dimples, if not removed, will interfere with your being able load ammunition into the magazine.

https://www.aiptactical.com/how-to-videos.html

[DArBad]

I am pretty much aware of the necessity to remove the dimples prior to installing the extension.

After removing the dimples and making sure the interior of the magazine is burr free and the follower can move unhindered, there shouldn't be any problem, UNLESS, installation of the extension was not properly done.

From my understanding after reading and watching many you tube videos, there are TWO types of extension tubes in general: A) One piece, and B) Two pieces.

On the two piece, you have the " coupler " which you have to install first and you have to be absolutely sure it is tight before installing the spring then the body of the extension tube. The one piece, is easier to install as it is basically like an extended magazine cap per se.

The Remington brand extension is a two piece. It is more versatile since it gives one the option to just replace the tube extension without having to remove the coupler. The downside is, one must have to be absolutely certain the coupler is tight on the magazine end, as well as the extension tube itself.

I was initially tempted to get the Nordic brand, basically a one piece. But the price, at $75.00 to $80.00 depending on where you look, is unacceptably high for my budget. So I opted for the tried and true Remington brand.

[Chameleon Loco]

I have an 870 supermag that is "picky" with certain kinds of ammo, I really need to polish the chamber or pay the local gunsmith to do it for me. On the other hand I have a police trade in 870 Police Magnum that just works and works with whatever ammo I use. I guess it just depends on the luck of the draw but I'm happy with both of my 870's.

[DArBad]

I have an 870 supermag that is "picky" with certain kinds of ammo, I really need to polish the chamber or pay the local gunsmith to do it for me...............

Polishing the chamber is easy enough to do, even for someone like me without any mechanical aptitude. All you need is a cleaning rod, bore brush, and a 000 steel wool wrap in the brush.

Chuck the contraption on a reversible drill, oil it and polish. Should take approx. 2-3 minutes. There are many you tube videos for this.

What I fear doing is.......taking the dimples out of the magazine tube. I've seen many use an ordinary reversible drill driver, BUT have this niggling thought that what should be properly used is a drill press, not a handheld drill driver.

[DirkPitt]

Yes I added the extension and I did drill out the magazine detents it was a pain in the *** but I got it all done.

[jeffrice6]

Congrats!!! The plastic trigger housing does feel cheap, but has been pointed out that it is actually stronger and more forgiving than the pot mettlel counterpart. Also, even if the chamber feels smooth, you may or may not possibly still have extraction issues, shoot it and see. The remedy I believe has been posted, but one thing overlooked (that helped me) was smoothing out the barrel extension.

My 870 had stuck shells, I honed the chamber and it helped, but still had to po-go stick a few stuck pesky rds. Then someone here recommended checking out the extension tab, sure as s#1t it was rough & full of tool marks, once I polished them out I was GTG! Not trying to be discouraging, just saying what my 870 needed and what fixed it..... then again, that was quite a few years back & hopefully Remington has upped their game.

[DArBad]

Congrats!!! The plastic trigger housing does feel cheap, but has been pointed out that it is actually stronger and more forgiving than the pot mettlel counterpart. Also, even if the chamber feels smooth, you may or may not possibly still have extraction issues, shoot it and see. The remedy I believe has been posted, but one thing overlooked (that helped me) was smoothing out the barrel extension.

My 870 had stuck shells, I honed the chamber and it helped, but still had to po-go stick a few stuck pesky rds. Then someone here recommended checking out the extension tab, sure as s#1t it was rough & full of tool marks, once I polished them out I was GTG! Not trying to be discouraging, just saying what my 870 needed and what fixed it..... then again, that was quite a few years back & hopefully Remington has upped their game.

Hey, thanks for posting, jeffrice6! Been a while since you post on any thread.

By the way......what or where is the " extension tab " ??

[DArBad]

Future Upgrade I am planning:

A) Get a " better " extractor.

B) Get a more robust/better magazine spring - the stock one looks really thin and flimsy.

C) Get a better magazine follower - the stock one also looks and feels cheap and flimsy.

D) Upgrade the front sight to something better.

E) Polish the inside of the fore end nut, to make its back and forth gliding over the magazine tube smoother and minimize the formation of scuff marks.

I know the saying, " if it ain't broke, don't fix it ". Still, there should be nothing wrong with getting what is obviously better than stock that should, in theory, make the piece a better performer. What do you all think?

[NATEWA]

Now resist the urge to add a made in China laser/light combo, bandolier, ghost ring sights, heat shield and magpul stock.

Ha,ha...I like my magpul stock, flashlight and gun belt. I use a gun belt for hunting and prefer to load this way vs pulling shells out of the box or bag.

I hear you though - try and keep it simple.

[NapalmCheese]

Future Upgrade I am planning:

A) Get a " better " extractor.

B) Get a more robust/better magazine spring - the stock one looks really thin and flimsy.

C) Get a better magazine follower - the stock one also looks and feels cheap and flimsy.

D) Upgrade the front sight to something better.

E) Polish the inside of the fore end nut, to make its back and forth gliding over the magazine tube smoother and minimize the formation of scuff marks.

I know the saying, " if it ain't broke, don't fix it ". Still, there should be nothing wrong with getting what is obviously better than stock that should, in theory, make the piece a better performer. What do you all think?

What will spending that money do for you? What's functionally better about those pieces? How do you know those pieces function better?

It's your money, spend at will; but about the only thing I see you getting is perhaps marginally better lifespan of those pieces.

IMO, run it stock until something breaks or wears out, none of those things will make the gun function better than it currently does.

[jeffrice6]

By the way......what or where is the " extension tab " ??

Not knowing the technical term, the piece of metal or "tab" before the chamber that slides into the receiver.... I guess I really should know my terminology before giving my 2c ~ lol

[DArBad]

What will spending that money do for you? What's functionally better about those pieces? How do you know those pieces function better?

It's your money, spend at will; but about the only thing I see you getting is perhaps marginally better lifespan of those pieces.

IMO, run it stock until something breaks or wears out, none of those things will make the gun function better than it currently does.

Thanks, NapalmCheese. Sometimes I do need a .....slap of reality.

I'll save my money and just buy more ammo. BUT, as a disclosure, I already ordered a +2 magazine extension.

[DArBad]

Not knowing the technical term, the piece of metal or "tab" before the chamber that slides into the receiver.... I guess I really should know my terminology before giving my 2c ~ lol

Oh, I get it now..... I think its called the barrel hood? So those should be smoothed out and all sharp edges polished. Thanks for the tip.

[ezb57]

Congrats on the nice shotgun. I have an 870 Police Magnum that I really like.

Even though the chamber might be burr free you should still cycle various rounds through it to see if there are any issues. Get some Winchester AA's and see how they cycle. To me, that's probably the worst ammo you can get and if they cycle fine then your 870 is GTG.

For me, my 870 wouldn't cycle AA's and they would get jammed in the chamber. I would have to slam the butt on the ground to get the chamber opened. Many other!loads were just fine but those low brass AA's would routinely get stuck.

Some polishing of the chamber with steel wool and a power drill fixed that problem for good. AA's shoot just fine now, not that I shoot that ammo much.

Winchester AAs are probably the BEST quality ammo on the market today despite them not working well in your particular gun. Any brass headed ammo will function better than steel, all things being equal.
Now the Winchester Universal, that is some low grade ammo.