11-87 mag extension

[Owen]

I have a rem 11-87 that I bought a tac-star magazine extension for. I installed the extension, and managed to fit ....1 more round in. Then I noticed those stupid little tabs in the mag tube.

Any harm in removing them?

Owen

 

[Correia]

Owen, my understanding is that the little dimples can just be dremeled out with no problem.

 

[hksw]

People either drill, file, or 'dremel' the dimples out. I ground mine out with an early model Craftsman Dremel-type tool. (I'm pretty sure they were actually made by Dremel to private label for Craftsman.)

The one thing that I had found with my Tac Star (that you might want to watch for) was that the tube body kept on walking out of the threaded collar that attaches to the gun's mag (in place of the cap). These two pieces are just friction fit. I had tried ethyl acrylate and cyanoacrylate to bond them together after pounding the tube back into place but it kept on doing it under recoil. I eventually went with a Choate to replace the TS.

This is with the 10 round extension. The mass of all of the rounds in the full mag probably contributed to the problem but it also occurred when on a Shooting Clays trip one time with no more than 2 rounds in the mag at any one time.

 

[Owen]

thanks

 

[akanotken]

will removing the dimples make your gun

a permanent Hi cap model? Can you go back to field configuration if you remove the bumps? I don't have mine in front of me, but don't they help retain the plastic cap?

I've been thinking of building up a fun SG, was gonna look for a cheap 1100 to base it on. But if my reciever could be easily converted back, maybe I'll work up off of my 1187?

 

[hksw]

The dimples do hold the plastic insert of the current 1187s (and 870s IIRC) in the mag which, in turn, locks down the mag cap. Removing the dimples (or protrusion depending on which side you're on) does make the plastic insert impossible to function as designed. The cap does still thred onto the gun's mag but it's just not locked down and could unscrew under use.

One way to get around this is to just simply put a mag plug into the extended mag. You can make one by just inserting a proper length and diameter dowel into the mag to limit your capacity. When asked about the legality of your gun (as I'm sure people will point out to you), just say it's plugged to the proper allowable number of rounds.

Another way is to find some means to lock down the OE mag cap. Something like Loctite (removable) or the tapes they use for piping (a liberal number of wraps around the threads). Or maybe a rubber washer between where the mag end touches the cap (it would supply enough force to bind the threads between the cap and mag to keep them locked).

 

[akanotken]

thks, that's good stuff.

I'll work on a way to keep the cap on, as I wouldn't want the extra weight/bulk of the mag extension up front on my gun if I'm hunting/busting clays.

Or, if I can find a beat up 1100, I'll keep the reciever and replace all else.

 

[870]

Dimples

I build combat shotguns for competition use and all I do is drill them out with a 1/4" bit.

The last one I did the owner ground them out with a Dremel, but the shells would on occasion bind and you would get a fail to feed.

The other thing I would recommend is to ditch the factory shell follower (they break easily) and replace it with a Vang Comp or Choate follower.

870.

 

[Opie]

I say to use one of the mag extender clamps that holds the barrel and mag tube together. That will prevent the mag tube from coming undone, and you can just cut dowel to make a plug.

 

[Edward429451]

I had put a Tac Star 10 rnd extension on my 11/87 before it was stolen. Drilled out the dimples, inside deburred, new follower & spring and the mag clamp. Didn't have any problems with it but only had about 3 or 4 hundred rnds through it before it was stolen.

It held 10+1 2-3/4" shells, 9+1 3" shells or 2-3/4" slugs, or 8+1 3" slugs.

Gosh, I miss that gun! I know who stole it, know where he lives and cant do anything about it or I'd be jailed. Something about criminals having more rights than I. Long story, dont ask.