870 loading problems

[eastershawn]

hey guys, i have an 870 express with 18 and a half inch barrel, and magazine extention from the factory. it should hold 6 rounds plus 1 in the chamber. but sometimes when i am loading it, it only hold 5 rounds. the shells are all 12 guage and 2 3/4 inch, so the ammo is not the problem. and the spring is not pinched when i installed the magazine extention because sometimes it will hold 6 without dissassembly or changing anything (ie, in the same shooting session). and i am not miscounting. it drives me crazy! any ideas?

[MXRider]

Possibly could be due to different lengths of the shells. I have about 5 different brands of 2 3/4" 00 buck and all the cases are slightly different length. Slugs are also slightly longer than 00 buck typically. Remember, the shell is 2 3/4" long after being fired.

[eastershawn]

no, thats not it cause it was all federal birdshot from the same box in the same session, and sometimes it would hold 5 and sometimes 6

[aippi]

As I post about once a week on a gun blogs.......... your magazine tube extension is not properly installed.

go to www.aiptactical.com and click on the red link "Install and cleaning" follow the proper install procedure for the tube extension as I describe it on that page. You issue is over.

[eastershawn]

thanks for the heads up aippi. that was the problem, didnt even realize the tube could be seperated from the coupling. great info on your website

[aippi]

I love a happy ending.

[hcbr]

for aippi and his knowledge/website!

[X-NewYawker]

Great work, Aippi!