[john l]

I just put on a "plus 5" extention for an 1100. I want to know if there is any real need for a barrel clamp on a shotgun that will only be shot at 3 gun competitions? I mean obviously it will give more support to the extention tube, but I would like some input if you would like to offer it. I am inclined to leave it on, but I have seen some shotties with them off, hence the wonderment.
john l

[Fred Fuller]

Most definitely you should use a clamp to brace the extension. Otherwise you risk damaging the magazine tube on the 1100, which is not an inexpensive proposition to get replaced. Mag tubes are fairly thin steel, and the threading at the end only weakens them further. Putting on an extension adds what is essentially a long prybar to those threads. A blow that would not cause damage with a magazine cap in place can cost you a trip back to the factory for a new mag tube with an extension screwed on.

lpl/nc

[Dave McCracken]

Like Lee said. I'd not use an extension unless I had a clamp....

[dfariswheel]

Look at it this way:
There are a number of us who've seen guns damaged and put out of action by a bump.

This invariably damages the gun's magazine tube, which means a trip back to the factory to have a new tube brazed in and a refinish for the receiver.
This is EXPENSIVE.

The bottom line is, there are many reasons TO use a clamp, there are NO real reasons NOT to use one.

The people who don't have clamps have either not thought of what a bump could do, or have bought into the business, "But THIS brand of extension is supposed to be super strong".

It doesn't matter HOW strong the extension is, it's still screwed to the gun's thin magazine tube. THAT'S the weak point.

A clamp is some of the cheapest insurance for a reliable shotgun there is.

[Correia]

John, added benefit; you can change your slug POI by tightening the clamps. :)

[HomerSimpson]

Some clamps also will accept a sling swivel. And it seems like it would reduce the possibility of the extension working loose.

[proven]

The bottom line is, there are many reasons TO use a clamp, there are NO real reasons NOT to use one. The people who don't have clamps have either not thought of what a bump could do, or have bought into the business, "But THIS brand of extension is supposed to be super strong". It doesn't matter HOW strong the extension is, it's still screwed to the gun's thin magazine tube. THAT'S the weak point.

that's the best explanation i've heard about whether or not to use a clamp. very sound advice.

[Onmilo]

One and two shot extensions do not need a barrel clamp.

Four and five shot extensions will benefit from the additional support one or two clamps will provide.

[dfariswheel]

"One and two shot extensions do not need a barrel clamp"

Sorry, but that's not true.

About 1 1/2 years ago I was watching a Police qualification with shotguns at a local range.

One officer was shooting a Wilson Combat-built Remington 870 with the 2 shot Wilson magazine extender, no clamp.

One stage was a three position shoot.
The shooter started out simulating firing over the roof of a car, transitioned to a kneeling position simulating taking cover from behind the engine and shooting over the hood, transitioning to a standing barricade position.

The officer had fired the first two positions, and was moving to the barricade when he bumped the extension on the wooden barricade.

This was NOT a hard bump, and again the extension was the "Strong as an iron bar" Wilson.

The extension literally blew off the gun with tremendous force, and the extension and spring shot a considerable distance down range.
Live shot shells were sprayed all over the firing line.

I examined the gun to determine if it was still serviceable, and found "the usual" that the gun's magazine tube threads were damaged beyond use, and the extension was in perfect, undamaged and usable condition.

The officer had to send the gun into Remington to have the damaged tube removed, a new tube brazed in place, and the entire receiver refinished.

Again, this was not a particular hard bump, and the extension was the Super-tough Wilson unit, which was being used without a clamp.

The officer explained that, since Wilson hadn't attached a clamp, and the Wilson was built like a tank, he assumed it didn't need a clamp.

In fact, he'd never thought about what a bump might do.

This is NOT the first time I've seen extensions knocked out of line, or even completely off the gun.
Another case was a local Doctor's Winchester Model 1200 fitted with a Choate.
He kept the gun leaning against the wall of his bedroom, and one morning as he closed the closet door, the gun simply slide over and landed against a bed-side table.

The extension was knocked out of line, and was "hanging by a thread".

A third case was a local small town Chief of Police.
Getting a silent alarm at the bank (false alarm) he arrived at the bank, unlocked his Remington 870, which was fitted with a Choate, from the front seat electronic rack, and started to get out of the car.
As he stepped out, he bumped the extension on the car door frame, knocking the extension off.
This time the extension blew off with such force that it cracked his car's windshield.

The Chief admitted to me that he was VERY unhappy about having to face possible armed bank robbers with nothing but his pistol.

Again, he told me that he'd never though about what a bump might do to the extension.

In every case I've seen, whether out of line or entirely off, the gun's magazine threads were damaged.

Again, there's no viable reason NOT to use an extension.

[45R]

Why in the heck are there no clamps on Wilson Scatterguns? :confused:

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

And where do I find a clamp for a 20ga???

[Fred Fuller]

http://www.tanksrifleshop.com/rem20ga.htm

lpl/nc

[dfariswheel]

You can get most brands of clamps from Brownell's, including Choate, Tac-Star, and Clark

If you can stand the $45.00, the Clark clamp is solid steel.

Uncle Mike's makes a copy of the EXCELLENT Remington factory model.
http://www.uncle-mikes.com/adtemplate.asp?invky=9004490&catky=1465723&subcatky1=4548843&subcatky2=2000180

45R:
I have absolutely no idea why not.

Cheaper brands like the Tac-Star don't include clamps on the shorter units as a cost savings.

[john l]

OK OK, you have now scared the hell out of me. I promise to never, ever, shoot without one. Like I said, I was inclined to keep mine on, so now I am extra convinced.

thanks for the input. That is why the high road is the best: the people who are respond know more than I do. (which isn't hard)

john l

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Like others have said, I wouldn't use a magazine extention unless it had a clamp.

It's not a necessity, but it's cheap insurance.

-Jim

[Gunsnrovers]

I don't use a clamp, but I have a one round extention. If I had the two round extention I would.

[Onmilo]

And a clamp would prevent the threads on the magazine tube from shearing how????
The threads would still shear, the extension would remain attached to the gun, the gun would eventually begin to malfunction and the damage would not be noted until the firearm was diassembled for inspection.

What you describe sounds like incorrect materials were used in the construction of the magazine extension.
A clamp would not have solved the inevitable.

By the way, I second the use of the Clark clamp if you don't mind the extra time involved in taking the gun down for cleaning.
The trade off for the extra insurance.

[dfariswheel]

NOTHING is "bullet proof".

Subject a shotgun to enough force and you can bend or crush the BARREL, as any police department armorer can tell you, much less an extension.

A clamp will not prevent ALL damage to the gun, it just helps to protect it.

As Lee Lapin said, an extension without a clamp is essentially a long pry bar that is ideal for pulling a clamp loose.
A clamp won't prevent catastrophic damage, but it will make it more durable than a long, thin tube sticking out there without any support to help it stay put.

I'd suggest an experiment:
Screw an extension on YOUR shotgun, with a clamp.
Give the extension a few good bumps.

Then remove the clamp, and give it a few more good bumps.
Do you really feel comfortable banging around on the extension that's on YOUR gun, knowing that if it pops off, your gun will be damaged and require an expensive trip back to the factory?.

Which do you think is more likely to do damage, with or without?

Now imagine somebody just kicked your front door in, you grab your life-saving shotgun, and in the rush you give the extension a good whack on something.
Would you be more confident in the gun if you didn't have a supporting clamp on it?.

I could quote the small town police chief when he arrived at what might have been a bloody shoot-out during a bank robbery, and the sick feeling when his shotgun's magazine blew apart.
Basically he said he could have died over a $5.00 stamped steel clamp.

Bottom line is, do what you want, it's your gun.
There is no valid reason not to use a clamp, and you're heard personal experiences about why you should.

Make your own decision.