870 Wingmaster Magazine Tube Question

[gregp74]

On the bottom of my 1973 12g Wingmaster's magazine tube about 1/2" from the end there's a hole about 3/16" wide. It's covered up when the barrel goes on. Is something supposed to go in there? The gun's in the work room. I can go take a pic of need be.

 

[dfariswheel]

There's nothing that fits any such hole.

The Remington 870 Express has two pressed-in tabs in the front of the magazine tube to lock in the new style magazine cap retention system and often people drill those out so they can install a magazine extension.
That leave two holes near the end that the barrel support ring covers.

I've never seen a hole in the rear of an 870 mag tube, I have no idea what purpose it would serve, but I doubt it's factory.

 

[gregp74]

 

[L-2]

Post 3's photo shows where the dimple(s) would have been if the hole(s) weren't drilled there.

I am wondering if that mag tube only had one dimple instead of two, however.

 

[gregp74]

Post 3's photo shows where the dimple(s) would have been if the hole(s) weren't drilled there.

I am wondering if that mag tube only had one dimple instead of two, however.

As I understand it this one was made before they had the dimples on them, so I don't know.

 

[dak0ta]

Few thoughts.
1) Drainage hole for moisture/water/debris
2) Pressure release hole. The original metal follower could act as a piston in a completely sealed tube without a way to release pressure when shells are inserted, so maybe the hole relieves any vacuum pressure so it's easier to insert shells into the magazine tube.
3)Window to see if a magazine plug is present

 

[MCFLYFYTER]

That hole looks factory for sure. That's all I got.

 

[jmr40]

A 1973 gun didn't have the dimples. That came sometime in the 1990's IIRC. I no longer have a gun that old and don't recall that hole. But I believe it was used to get something behind the magazine spring retainer in order to push it out.

 

[gregp74]

I wasn't sure if I should start a thread for this or just keep it here, but the other night when I took the barrel off to take pics of that hole something happened.

When I went to go put the barrel back on the mag cap wasn't clicking. I took it back off and upon further examination realized the detent was no longer sticking up. I found a teeny little spring on the floor but no sign of the detent itself. Are those things prone to just falling out like that? That barrel just got here from Midway USA on Wednesday. I haven't bang it around or beaten on it. I literally cleaned up the gun, ran a couple patches through the new barrel, put it on, then took it off again to take pics of that hole in the mag tube.

I ordered a new detent before reading that it needs to be staked, and I'm not real excited about ordering a $21 tool that I'll (hopefully) use once to do that. I also don't see any videos or directions on just how it's done.

Am I better off just using one of those wavy washers? What if I install a mag tube extension later? Would that cause issues?

 

[dak0ta]

You can use an O-ring, or a sling plate with a ball-detent embedded in it.

 

[gregp74]

You can use an O-ring, or a sling plate with a ball-detent embedded in it.

What size O ring would I use?

 

[Virginian]

I would contact Midway and see if they will exchange it. Or, they have gunsmiths and could easily fix it.

 

[gregp74]

I would contact Midway and see if they will exchange it. Or, they have gunsmiths and could easily fix it.

I'll have to ask them if they've got a gunsmith who could do it. That would be good. I shot them an email when I discovered it and heard back a bit ago. They are out of stock (I got the last one) and backorder isn't an option. They're happy to send me a return label and issue me a refund, but I want the barrel.

I could take it to a local smith who can do it. Otherwise I'm kinda thinking maybe I'll just order the darn staking took from Brownell's. If it's something I might need to do once in a while it would make more sense to have the tool handy and be able to do it myself. Seems like I've been acquiring a lot of things the last few years for little jobs like that.