Wilscon Combat follower / Rem 870

[akjunkie]

recently installed a Wilson Combat follower for my Remington 870.

9 out of 10 times speed loading 6rd of Winchester 2 3/4 12ga "OO" shells i can only load 5.

if i take my time and use my thumb to push each individual shell into the mag tube and extra 1/4 in i am able to load 6 complete rounds 1/2 the time.

I have NO problems speed loading 6rds of Fiocchi 2 3/4 "OO" shells.

took out the Wilson Combat and reinstalled OEM Remington follower and the problem went away.

unlike the Factory follower the Mag Spring sits on the "shaft" of the WC follower instead of inside like the OEM.

any comments or suggestions?

http://www.wilsoncombat.com/sa_springs_followers.asp

[Bruce3]

sometimes the shells get stuck where the tube extension meets the magazine tube. i've noticed this on my 870 as well.

[ar15barrels]

sometimes the shells get stuck where the tube extension meets the magazine tube. i've noticed this on my 870 as well.

You are supposed to remove that detent from the magazine tube by drilling it out when you install an extension.
That will let the follower pass freely.

[akjunkie]

sorry, should've mentioned what model i have.

it's an 870 security model.
18 inch barrel w/ the factory 2rd extension.
it is a 6+1 setup. there are No dimples in the tube that i am aware of.

i'm thinking it's the spring "binding/cocking" on the "shaft" of the Wilson follower.

[aippi]

the wilson combat follower does not work well with the Remington factory spring. Get the wilson spring is you want to use that follower......

[akjunkie]

aippi,

since U are our "Resident 870 Guro" i was hoping U chime in:-)

so i would need part# SGSP-2-12


if i knew what spring i needed i would've ordered the Kit instead of just the follower.

besides the Wilson spring, would i have "binding" issues if I used another high performance spring ... like Wolff?

http://www.wilsoncombat.com/sa_springs_followers.asp

if I decided to go with Wolff which spring do i need?
i'm assuming its part# 32712

i find it confusing, for instance when the description says 5rd tube, is that 5rds by itself? 5+1, or 4+1??

Thanks in advance.

http://www.gunsprings.com/1ndex.html

MAGAZINE SPIRNGS - for 870 only, 12 Gauge

Direct replacement, extra power magazine spring for the 3 & 5 shot capacity factory tubes improves feeding and reliability. No fitting is required.
Stock No. 32710 - each.....$ 6.99 Click button to purchase
Stock No. 32711 - Pak of 5.....$ 29.99 Click button to purchase

Direct replacement, extra power magazine spring for the 6 & 7 shot capacity extended tubes improves feeding and reliability. No fitting is required.
These extended tubes are used on many law enforcement guns. For use in Scattergun conversions too.
Stock No. 32712 - each.....$ 8.99 Click button to purchase
Stock No. 32713 - Pak of 5.....$ 35.99 Click button to purchase

[aippi]

Yes, SGSP-2-12......your weapon is a 6+1 so that is the one you need. I have not used the Wolf spring but am very interested in the applicaton of it. Last time I checked they only offered a 4+1 so I am uncertain if they make one for the extended tube. I use the Remington Heavy police spring for all 4+1 applications so would not need the wolf...... I was putting the Wilson Follower in some of my builds when using the Remington factory 7 shot spring and had the same issues you had so I knew the answer to your question. I am now stuck with about 20 Wilson Followers in stock and don't use them. I feature the Wilson Combat tube extensions and prefer them over the Remington tubes any day but of course the Wilson comes with the Spring & follower so the followers I have will sit there......

[Mug]

Yes, SGSP-2-12......your weapon is a 6+1 so that is the one you need. I have not used the Wolf spring but am very interested in the applicaton of it. Last time I checked they only offered a 4+1 so I am uncertain if they make one for the extended tube. I use the Remington Heavy police spring for all 4+1 applications so would not need the wolf...... I was putting the Wilson Follower in some of my builds when using the Remington factory 7 shot spring and had the same issues you had so I knew the answer to your question. I am now stuck with about 20 Wilson Followers in stock and don't use them. I feature the Wilson Combat tube extensions and prefer them over the Remington tubes any day but of course the Wilson comes with the Spring & follower so the followers I have will sit there......

I wonder if you can cut the spring to compensate for the solid face of the follower or maybe modify the follower.

I have the Choate type orange follower on my 982 with a custom Gunconnection +2 extension that includes a Wolff spring. Currently I can load 7+1 with Remington 00 buck and Slugger slugs, but I can only get 6+1 with Winchester LE Low Recoil 00 buck. So, you might want to try different ammo.

You might try to contact Max100 and ask him what the spring spec's are for the Wolff spring he uses in his extensions.

[scott.cr]

In my opinion most followers are junk... OE and aftermarket. I've used the Wilson and Choate and thought they were garbage (on both Remington and Mossberg).

I wound up machining my own follower from Delrin, it's about 1.5" long and instead of having a "shaft" for the spring to sit on, it's cup-shaped so the spring fits inside. It is MUCH MUCH quieter than any other follower I've used and butter-smooth.

[akjunkie]

In my opinion most followers are junk... OE and aftermarket. I've used the Wilson and Choate and thought they were garbage (on both Remington and Mossberg).

I wound up machining my own follower from Delrin, it's about 1.5" long and instead of having a "shaft" for the spring to sit on, it's cup-shaped so the spring fits inside. It is MUCH MUCH quieter than any other follower I've used and butter-smooth.

Good for U. Besides Bragging about yourself, how does that help me or anyone else? U really didnt contribute anything to my original post.

[akjunkie]

I wonder if you can cut the spring to compensate for the solid face of the follower or maybe modify the follower.

I have the Choate type orange follower on my 982 with a custom Gunconnection +2 extension that includes a Wolff spring. Currently I can load 7+1 with Remington 00 buck and Slugger slugs, but I can only get 6+1 with Winchester LE Low Recoil 00 buck. So, you might want to try different ammo.

You might try to contact Max100 and ask him what the spring spec's are for the Wolff spring he uses in his extensions.

Thanks for the tip. I'll stick with the OEM follower/spring for now. I am able to load 6+1 with Any 2 3/4 ammo.

[ar15barrels]

I wound up machining my own follower from Delrin, it's about 1.5" long and instead of having a "shaft" for the spring to sit on, it's cup-shaped so the spring fits inside. It is MUCH MUCH quieter than any other follower I've used and butter-smooth.

I came to the same conclusion about 10 years ago and did the same thing.

[scott.cr]

Good for U. Besides Bragging about yourself, how does that help me or anyone else? U really didnt contribute anything to my original post.

Well EXCUUUUUUUSE ME. I don't see a PM in my inbox asking for one! You want it on a silver platter or something?! I'd have given it to you for free for the asking, but if you wanna be a jerk about it........!

[akjunkie]

Well EXCUUUUUUUSE ME. I don't see a PM in my inbox asking for one! You want it on a silver platter or something?! I'd have given it to you for free for the asking, but if you wanna be a jerk about it........!

Sure, I believe U.

[MAX100]

It's hard to say what's going on. On the factory tube extension the spring can get hung up on the indented ring for the mag clamp screw. That's one of the problems with the factory tube extension design.

I prefer metal followers. I use them in all of my shotguns. They allow the most room in the tube and have less feed problems.

If you go with a Wolff 40" universal 12Ga spring, the correct length to cut it is about 29" and shape the ends so they don't stick up.

The Remington extra power spring is a very high quality spring. All you need is a good metal follower. The Vang stainless follower is excellent.


GC