[Nightcrawler]

Buddy of mine is seriously lusting after one of these. Any info would be appreciated, and good pictures would be REALLY appreciated.

What's the magazine capacity? Anything in particular he should know about?

[Kilrain]

http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/3fa68d76/bc/Album+1/__hr_Vang+870+Marine+Magnum.jpg?BC4cqc.AO.re5G59

[Kilrain]

Factory magazine capacity is 6 rounds in the tube magazine. Not much else to know, rock solid performance without the irritation of rust.

[Nightcrawler]

Why six? The tube goes beyond the end of the barrel. I'd have thought it'd hold seven.

[Kilrain]

I don't know why six, you'd have to ask Remington as that is a factory extension and it comes NIB that way.

My question to you is are you really worried about a six round magazine versus a seven round magazine. Hell, most people get along fine with a four round magazine. Realistically, what or whom are you going to fight that will require four, or six or seven, rounds from a 12 gauge shotgun to stop? The converse side of that question is, if you are fighting somone or something that requires four, or six or seven, rounds to stop, is that really a fight you are going to win?(Please do not take these statements as a defeatist attitude, I'm just trying to be realistic.)

Let me put it to you this way, my primary shotgun instructor told me that if he was in a fight with someone or something that required more that four rounds from a 12 gauge shotgun, he probably wasn't going to solve the problem, the problem was going to solve him. There is a certain amount of truth to that.

Anyway, enough rambling. Six or seven rounds, the Marine Magnum is still a great shotgun that I highly recommend.

[riverdog]

A standard Rem 870 magazine is 12" long and takes four rounds with the dowel removed. Using four, 3" shells which are really 2.5" long unopened, you will have 10" of ammo; 2" or roughly 16.66% is left for the spring.

The MM has an 18" barrel and the magazine goes just a bit past that, call it 18.5". Using 3" shells again which are still 2.5" unopened, if you cram 7 shells in there, using up 17.5" for ammo, you only leave 1" or 5% for the spring.

Now if you use 2.75" rounds which are 2.25" unopened, you can cram 8 rounds in the magazine leaving 0.5" or 2.7% for the spring. If you only cram 7 rounds, you will leave 2.75" or 14.8% for the spring.

The real question is how much room does the spring need? That comes down to wire thickness and the number of coils. If you measure the spring wire thickness and the number of coils and multiply them, you'll get a minimum length the spring needs to avoid stacking. I'm guessing that for the typical Remington 870 magazine spring, that number is between 14.8% and 16.66% if you want to get technical. I'd bet that the critical number is near that 16% figure.

Find some thinner spring wire and a spring design that uses fewer coils (usually mutually exclusive) and you may get that seventh round. But will your Marine Magnum be as reliable as a Rem 870 should be. I use a one round extension, giving me a total of five rounds -- plenty.

PS: Please double check my numbers. I did this pretty quick, so there may be some small error induced. I think my methodology is sound.

[Nightcrawler]

Okay, couple things.

For one: I'm not the one buying the shotgun. I could care less how many rounds it holds.

For two: My friend asked me about the magazine capacity, and I just found it odd that what looks like a 7-round tube (as found, say, on a Remington Police 870) in fact only holds six.

For three: My shotgun is a ghost-ring-sight Norinco 98 that holds 5+1; again, I was just curious.

Also, do new MMs have that kind of locking safety I've heard about?

[riverdog]

It might take seven rounds of 2 3/4" loads. But being a 3" Magnum capable shotgun, the advertised capacity of the Marine Magnum is listed as six. There may in fact be enough room for the spring with seven 2 3/4" rounds. Something to try.

[plnkr1234]

Hi Guys,

My 18 inch barreled 870P holds six 2 3/4 inch shells in the factory extended magazine. I believe this is the same for the Marine Magnum with 18 inch barrel. I also believe you get an extra round with a 20 inch barrel and matching extended magazine.

The reason the magazine protrudes slightly in front of the barrel is for the ability to mount a bayonet, IIRC.

Best.

P.S. the advantage of a tubular magazine is that you can "top off" when you get the chance to continually keep the magazine full. Think "shoot one, load one."

[riverdog]

plnkr1234,
Thanks for clearing that up

[Nightcrawler]

The military 870s that the marines used had a special forend barrel clamp/sling swivel/bayo lug device. To my knowledge, you can't mount a bayonet on a regualr 870 police or MM.

[Al Thompson]

Just checked my 870 with 20 inch barrel - 7 rounds with the extended mag, 2 3/4 shells.

[cslinger]

Everybody has pretty much covered it but I will add two very big thumbs up. My has been great and have done nothing but feed ammo to it. Wonderful shotgun IMHO even if it is a bit expensive. If your friend is not hung up on the contrasting look have him look into a 870 Police magnum as these can be found a bit cheaper and are really the same thing in a parkerized finish.

Chris

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Again Nightcrawler,

My daughter and I purchased a NIB Remington mdoel 870
Marine Magnum back in December of 2000. We feel that it
makes for an excellent HD shotgun; as it is very lightweight
and quick in-action.

We were in our favorite gunshop during that time frame,
and she say's to me: "Daddy that is what I want for a
Christmas present"! Enough said, as she was 24 years
old at the time; and very wise in decision making scenario's.

We left with a paid-in-full receipt, and one Remignton 870
12 gague Marine Magnum. Of course, my wallet was a lot
lighter (Laughing Loudly).

*FootNote- selling price on the NIB 870 MM was $379.88
+ 8% applicable sales tax.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[COHIBA]

there is one on gunbroker EX cond. for $350.
do a search for marine magnum.

[91B40]

I would recomment the Marine Magnu without reservation. Mine has been absolutely faultless. The Marine Magnum has the smoothest 870 action, too, because of NP3 coating within the receiver.
My Marine Magnum groups acceptably well with most any buckshot I have used except for Winchester Low Recoil--even Vietnam era surplus XM162. Also, shoots slugs to approximate point of aim up to 50 yards or so with the standard bead sight. Best load for mine is the Federal H132 Reduced Recoil 00 buck.
I live right on the ocean, so I buy rust-resistant guns. I am extremely pleased with the Marine Magnum and might get another one and have Wilson Combat put ghost-ring sights on it.
Yes, mine has the locking safety--no problem at all.
91B40

[riverdog]

The Marine Magnum has the smoothest 870 action, too, because of NP3 coating within the receiver. This the first I'd heard that the Marine Magnum was NP3. I'd only heard electroless nickel. How much and where is the NP-3 in the factory Rem 870 Marine Magnum. TIA

[Nightcrawler]

Anybody got a good picture?

[CWL]

NP3 coating within the receiver

Huh? Mine's all nickle like every other "marine" shotgun I've ever seen. The only black is the plastic furniture and the tip of the mag tube which has been permanently scortched.

Is this new, or is this some other animal?

[91B40]

My comment about NP3 within the receiver of the Marine magnum should have read, "Key fire control components are plated with a unique combination of electroless nickel and PTFE (Teflon)."

According to the Robar site, this is what NP3 is. However, Remington doesn't specifically say that the Marine Magnum uses NP3. Sorry.

However, I DO stand behind my observation that the Marine Magnum has the smoothest 870 action and I feel that this is due to the coatings, at least to some extent.

Again, sorry for the error.
91B40