[Plinkerton]

I just got a Remington 870 Express Magnum, with synthetics, and an 18 or so inch barrel, Mag extender, etc.

I got the mag extender unscrewed, and the spring out. There is that little ribbed "cap" though it's not really a cap, as that's what the mag extender threads into, and it doesn't seem to unscrew at all. I'm trying to dissassemble this, and I can't figure out how. My other shotgun just unscrews at the end of the mag tube, and then the barrel just pops out, but this doesn't seem to be the case here.

Does this thing unscrew? Should I just take a rag and pliers to it? It doesn't mention anything in the manual, but I'm assuming this is the way to do it, as that would make sense. It just doesn't want to budge, and I can't be sure if it actually unscrews or not.

Also, one other question. I was curious, if the only way to relieve tension on the firing pin spring, is to pull the trigger? I mean, I know it is the only way, but I was curious what you people with pumps do after you have completely emptied your chamber and mag tube. Do you just leave it "cocked"? Or do you dry fire it as to not keep the firing pin set? Would putting a dummy round in there, and leaving it in there be beneficial, so you could fire the pin onto the snap cap and store it that way?

Just curious.

Thanks a lot.
Plink

[Dave McCracken]

Some of my 870s have been left cocked for decades. No probs yet.,

I answered your other query elsewhere.

Enjoy your 870....

[9mmMike]

Cool gun.
The factory extensions are two parts. That "cap" does unscrew and the rag and plier method is a good one. Obviously it will need to come off if you wish to remove the barrel. That part is essentially a regular magazine cap with a hole and threads to accept the extension.
I keep all my 870's "cocked". No troubles.
Good luck,
Mike

[Plinkerton]

Thanks guys. I didn't mean to post that question twice, but I wasn't sure if anyone was keeping up on my other old thread, so I figured I start anew.

I will take it apart today. Oh boy! :p

[plnkr1234]

Plinkerton,

Try using one of those strap wrenches that they sell at Sears. Works great and guarantees no marring of your new shotgun. I had the same problem with my 870P and the strap wrench worked great.

[Plinkerton]

Thanks everyone. I got it apart with no marring of the cap. I just used clamp lock plier things, straight to the cap. It really didn't take much at all. I'll check out those strap wrenches, as I don't want to be as careful as I was this time, everytime.

I took it all apart, got the trigger assembly out, and got it back together. Everything comes out in such big pieces. It's kinda nice. :D

Thanks again,
Plink

[rockstar.esq]

I haven't ever found it neccessary to tighten the cap down hard enough that a tool was required to remove the barrel. I'd say as long as you've got it freed up, retire the vice grips and just hand tighten from here on out. As for the firing pin, I'd say either get snap caps or just let it stay cocked.
Stay safe

[Plinkerton]

Thanks. I thought it a bit strange that I couldn't, for the life of me, get that cap unscrewed just using hand strength. Even with a rag and everything. I've only hand tightened it back down. Every other shotgun I've known came apart with just a strong twist.

As for the firing pin, I have some a-zoom snapcaps, so I can mess around with this gun. Is dry firing a shotgun considered a bad thing to do? I have a problem dry firing any gun, as it makes me cringe every time I do it. I have a-zooms for my other guns, and tell my friend to get them also. Whether it's a revolver, or an auto. I won't be dry firing my shotgun without snapcaps, but is it considered bad, like with a rimfire?

Thanks again. -Plink-

[Dave McCracken]

Decades ago, conventional wisdom said dryfiring an 870 in cold weather oft snapped the firing pin. I've seen this happen once and only once. Mine get dry fired sans snapcaps frequently.

HTH....

[cedarsavage]

Cops, military, etc.... dryfire those 870s just about every day. No harm done.

taa, cs :D

[thunderduck2004]

ive had my 870 since 1977 and dry fire it a lot no prob