870 Flextab Conversion?

[Lawyerman]

I have an 870 Wingmaster Magnum that I want to convert to a riot gun. I MUST have the flextab conversion done to it. I understand though that Remington will not sell the conversion parts to mere civillian mortals. How do I get this done? I could send it to Scattergun and have them do the $199 makeover on it but really don't need that, what to do?

I insist on the flextab as twice I have had to unjam guns without that mod while training others. You either have to unscrew the barrel and access the mag tube (try that with a mag extension, in a hurry!) or drift out the trigger group and access it that way (try that in a hurry, especially with a side saddle in place-not happening).

 

[Preacherman]

Check on the Remington Support Center (http://www.remington.com/support/support.htm). They can point you to an authorized repair center in your area. You can then discuss the Flex-Tab modification with a local gunsmith authorized to do the work.

From their site:

Obtaining Services
Parts Information Center
Repair Information Center
Looking for parts or repair information for your favorite Remington firearm? We'll provide you with all of the help that you will need including schematics and parts listings for current models, a locator for Remington Authorized Repair Centers and even a listing of Obsolete Parts Dealers to help you with services for discontinued models.

 

[Owen]

whats a flex tab?

owen

 

[Lawyerman]

The flex tab is a modification to the carrier to allow a double feed to be cleared without taking the gun apart. Flex tab carriers are identified by a U type cutout in the carrier, all Express models that I have seen came with them. Wingmaster's, maybe, maybe not depending on when they were made but the vast majority do not have them.

 

[Dave McCracken]

On Flextabs....

If a shell is not inserted far enough in the magazine to pass the shell latches it can come back far enough to tie up the weapon.

Both my "Serious" 870s have the conversion. Valley Gun Shop (410-668-2171) may still have some in stock.Kuhnhausen's book had the procedure, most folks could do this themselves, IMO.

Good loading technique voids the need. I had used 870s for 20 years under a wild variety of circumstances and never had a jam like this. A gunsmith friend did the work on mine after telling me about Flextabs, and our agency weapons were converted soon after, ca 1982 or so.

OTOH, I regard a Flextab as ABSOLUTELY necessary on an agency weapon that will be operated by marginal, poorly motivated and trained employees. They oft lack good loading technique, or good anything in regards to weaponry.

On a non-Flextabbed 870, jams can be cleared in two ways. If not a crisis situation, the weapon can be made safe, disassembled from the front of the mag tube, and cleared that way.

If in a crisis, safe the weapon, depress the slide latch while gripping it as usual, and strike the butt HARD against a hard surface. This clears the weapon, but it's hard on it. I've busted pieces of stock off so doing.

HTH....

 

[Lawyerman]

My experience has been with some correctional officers. They have very low training budgets and get little more than familiarization fire with their weapons as a result. When they are put under stress you see some interesting things happen with folks. Since seeing how badly a gun could be tied up I have made it an absolute that my personal guns have the flex tab.

I am properly trained and practiced but when I'm out of breath, fumbling to reload-shoot one, load one, peering through gunsmoke in my living room at o'dark thirty.....I'd rather have a little insurance!

I had thought I would sell the old Magnum Wingmaster but if I can get the Flex Tab parts installed at a reasonable price I will keep it. I NEED the Kuhnhausen 870 book, have the ones for 1911's, Smiths, Carbine and M1a/Garand. Christmas is coming I suppose!

 

[Dave McCracken]

I'm a retired CO, my duties included firearms instruction for 10 years. As for COs, stress and shotguns, I've some stories. But not here and now....

My oldest 870 served in part as test bed for various addons, mods and was used for technique improvement. And like I said, I had never had a misfeed in 20 years of use, but saw a couple my first DAY of Correctional Shotgun Instruction.

Other than a few jams deliberately induced, still haven't "Short loaded". Good technique renders some hardware redundant.

To this day, I've not had that problem, but my "Serious" shotguns are Flextabbed. Cheap insurance....

 

[Lawyerman]

I am late in coming to the shotgun as a fighting weapon I suppose. I have spent the last few years one step ahead of bans on high cap magazines and certain types of semi auto rifles, riot guns just weren't a priority. I figured I could always get one and was pretty much right.

Now I am concentrating on the shotgun. I have several "full house" guns-short stocks,sidesaddle, jumbo safety, trak loks etc..... and some minimalist types too- Express with a Cylinder barrel and a bead..... I haven't fully decided what I like, don't like, what works doesn't....

The better your training the less "stuff" you seem to need, but if it does no harm it can make you even better is the conclusion I have reached so far.

 

[Bix]

Laywerman,

You might want to try http://www.gunpartscorp.com, a link that shows up here at THR quite a bit.

They sell 870 carriers for $8.55. I suspect that these are new parts, and will thus have the flextab, but you'll probably want to check with them.

I believe that swapping out carriers is all you'll need to do to have a "flextab converted" 870. But maybe someone with a little more experience can correct me if I am wrong...

 

[Dave McCracken]

Bix, the Flextab "Kits" I bought had a new bolt also, but it was described as not needed by the smith. Each was $25 with installation included at the time.

L-man, most Pros I know have simple shotguns, the KISS Principle in action. And a Plain Jane riot gun is a fearsome weapon in trained, cool hands.

Best way to tell if something's of worth, if it improves the ability to direct that shot cloud to the target, or comfort while doing so, it's worthy.

 

[kotengu]

OK - dumb question time. I've read many times now how to clear this malfunction if you DON'T have the flex-tab - what if you DO have the tab?

What happens differently with that little "u" cut?

 

[Dave McCracken]

There's enough give to the carrier that one just muscles the slide and the weapon functions.

 

[Lawyerman]

As Dave said a good tug on the foreend and it clears the rounds. This beats the heck out of having to tear your gun apart, especially when someone might be shooting at you?

This ("double feed") is really only a problem if you either have loose shell stops that allow a shell to pop free or if you do not insert the shells fully into the magazine. I try to run my thumb at least 1/2" past the stops with every round I load to prevent this-give them a good push. But a little insurance is never bad either.

 

[AZTOY]

Do newer 870 come with the flex-tab?

 

[Preacherman]

Yes, I think that every 870 built since the mid-1980's has the Flex-Tab system. Certainly, both my 1986 Wingmasters have it, as well as every Express I've ever seen.

 

[AZTOY]

Thank you, Preacherman

 

[Dave McCracken]

If the shell carrier has a U shaped slot in it, that's the Flextab. If not, it's pre Flextab.