870 endcaps/spring retainers

[SteveSatch]

Years ago the only shotgun I had was an 870 Express. I wanted a mag extention so I got rid of those dimples in the mag tube. Now I have a couple Police 870s so I don't need the Express to have a mag extention. Can I go back to the end cap/retaining system that came with the Express? It was the retainer that one had to use a screwdriver to turn to remove it. Since the dimples are gone it wouldn't be held in. Is that OK? Can I just be aware of the spring as I remove the endcap? Do I need to go to the early style? Thanks for any info about going back to an original endcap.
Steve

 

[dfariswheel]

The best move for retaining the magazine spring is to buy one of the old-style cup-washer spring retainers.
Insert the spring into the magazine tube, then press the cup-washer in with the cupped end IN.
This will retain the spring.

The problem is going to be keeping the magazine cap in place.
Vibration from firing the gun will tend to cause the cap to come unscrewed.

You have two basic choices:
1. Is to just screw the cap down TIGHT, and watch it closely.

2. Buy a barrel made for the Wingmaster. These barrels have the old-style cap retention plunger in the front face of the barrel support ring.

All you have to do is buy an old-style magazine cap to go with the plunger-equipped barrel, and you basically have an old style gun.

On your old Express barrel, check the front face of the barrel support ring.
If there's a hole in the ring, you can have a spring and plunger staked in place, and all you'll have to buy is an old-style magazine cap.

 

[waterhouse]

any one have a link to a place that sells one of the old style spring retainers? Most places seem to carry the new style, and one of my wingmasters is somehow missing a spring retainers (it works just fine without one, it's just a pain to change barrels)

 

[mnrivrat]

any one have a link to a place that sells one of the old style spring retainers?

Try : www.brownells.com , they carry the old style retainer stock number 767-916-570 @ $4.95 + S&H

 

[SteveSatch]

I'm not understanding how the endcap can get loose from recoil just because the mag tube has no dimples. The only difference would be the spring is against the endcap thus creating some pressure on it. I have three 870s and none of them have any mag spring retainer. They are all against the endcap.
Thanks,
Steve

 

[1911user]

The spring retainer used with the dimpled mag tube has plastic teeth/notches on the end that pressed against notches on the inside of the new-style magazine cap thus keeping it from rotating off under recoil. The dimples kept the spring retainer from turning. With the dimples gone, the new-style mag cap will be free to rotate off during recoil because the spring retainer can now rotate.

If your old express barrel had the spring-loaded ball detent that pressed against the edge of the mag cap, then you could just buy an old style mag cap. The spring-loaded detent ball would keep it from rotating loose because the old style mag cap had notches on the outside edge that touched the barrel band.

You're discovering the frustration that 870 express owners feel when they try to get double duty (and use a mag extension) from one shotgun. I've just about decided the path of least stress is to have a bird/clay 870 with the mag dimples and a seperate HD/gun-game 870 with no mag dimples and a mag extension. And that's exactly what Remington intended so they can sell more shotguns and reduce production costs at the same time; funny how that worked out to be the low stress solution. Hopefully I can find a cheap used 870 express after Christmas to modify for a mag extension and sell off the barrel that comes with it.

 

[SteveSatch]

Thanks for the explanation. My Express has the end cap designed for use with the new style mag spring retainer (without the detents on the lip of the end cap). I no longer own an Express barrels though. All my barrels have the ball detent so I just need the correct endcap. If anyone knows where to get a couple on the cheap or has one they don't need and could sell let me know.
Thanks,
Steve

 

[mnrivrat]

I just looked and I have one old style cap and one old style spring retainer in my stuff yet.

Brownells price's are : $15 + S&H on the cap , and $4.95 + S&H on the old style spring retainer.

If anybody wants the ones I have I will take $15 for the pair including shipping. You can PM me.

 

[SteveSatch]

is this the cap at brownells, part number 767-000-160?

 

[mnrivrat]

is this the cap at brownells, part number 767-000-160?

No it isn't , the part number your refering to is the detent ball that fits into the barrel extension for holding the cap.

The cap # is 767-253-750 @ $15.61 the one I have is for the old style system where the detent ball is in the barrel extension - it has receiving cavities for the detent ball on the outside flange of the cap.

 

[9mmMike]

Uncle Mikes of Oregon also sell both the old and new style mag caps. They are very good quality.

 

[mnrivrat]

Gun Parts Corp does also - I just looked them up - they are like $8.50 + shipping for the cap so cheaper than Brownells.