adding tube extension on 870 advice

[shotgunsrfun]

ok I found a 20g extension tube that fits 870, but I heard and watched some videos you need to drill out the dimples in the tube barrel to fit these new extension??? is this hard? risky? ruin the warranty

 

[shotgunsrfun]

bump

 

[AcceptableUserName]

How long have you been shooting shotguns without the tacticool stuff? That's the question here, I think. What is a "tube barrel"? Not trying to be facetious here at all, I strongly advise you take the shotgun out in field configuration and put at least 1,000 rounds through it that way. Get to know a shotgun in it's original raw element. How it works, why it works, what it's limitations are. You can't even begin to grasp proper tactical modification and useage until you've mastered the basics. People who play the guitar usually start out playing other people's songs before they write their own, if you know what I mean. I bet I shot tens of thousands of shotgun shells, 12 and 20 gauge alike, through field/long/bird type guns before I even HELD a short barrel or tactical shotgun. Every weekend from 8 or 9 onward I'd be out with my dad draining box after box of bird shot. I still remember the first slug I shot. And of course the first 3" magnum. There's a reason I post in this section more than any others. I believe unlike pistol shooting and especially unlike Rifle shooting, shotgun is less cerebral than it is instinctive. The instincts it takes to operate, wield and maintain a shotgun for protection, sport or game isn't something you can just tap into. It takes trigger time and a lot of that barrel and loading port smoke and powder smell. A lot.


Just my .02

 

[shotgunsrfun]

never used tac gear,

how much would a gun smith charge?

 

[AcceptableUserName]

:banghead:

 

[AndyJ]

How long have you been shooting shotguns without the tacticool stuff?

Christ, answer the guy's question. We all started out as noobs at some point. You preach way too much to suit me.

OK shotgunsrfun, here is the deal. You can drill out the dimples or some people take a socket that fits the inside diameter of the mag tube and drive it dwon the tube to mash the dimples out. Most think drilling the dimples is easier. I have never bought a new shotgun so I cannot answer the question on the warranty.

You are going to run into one problem and I don't know if the videos showed it. The extension was designed for military use. The little nipple on the end is to attach a bayonet. Somewhere along the way, Remington figured out there was a civilian market and they could make some dough selling it to the general public. The mag tube locks down using little dimples that click on a ball detent that is on the barrel lug. If you look at your barrel, on the round ring that goes around the magazine tube, you should see a little silver ball bearing. If you don't see that little silver ball bearing, the extension is not going to be able to lock in. You will always have to be tightening it. Now there are some work arounds for this like O rings and washers and such. You can probably search and find them. For me, I just don't feel comfortable doing that.

Any more questions, just ask.

 

[Snakum]

Shotgunsrfun ... ignore those who love nothing more than to tell you what you should do with your hard-earned money while still not answering your question. You want a mag extension? Get the longest one you can find, install it, and post a pic to make the Fudds angry.

I always thought the best way to get rid of the dimples was the socket thing. You can find pictiures and step=by=step instructions via Google. Make sure you chamfer and smooth the lip of the extension a bit to ensure you don't get the "sixth round lock up" syndrome.

As far as not having the ball detent on the barrel ring, every 870 I've seen without one or not having one contact the mag tube due to using a light mount or something stayed tightened up due to the barrel/mag clamp stabilizing the mag tube. Not noticed it to be a problem ata ll. YMMV, though.

 

[Snarlingiron]

Since most extension tubes will include a clamp, the dimple or the crenulated recoil spring retainer becomes a non issue. It only becomes an issue if you wish to remove the extension and put the original magazine cap back on. The clamp will keep the extension in place nicely.

If your shotgun is still in warranty, yes, it will void it.

 

[Fred Fuller]

AFAIK the 20 gauge Express guns don't have dimples in the magazine tube to begin with.

My advice nowadays FWIW is to just not try and put magazine extensions on Express guns that have magazine tube dimples, there are too many older Expresses and Wingmasters and Police guns and Special Purpose 870s that don't have them in the first place. Messing with the magazine tube dimples on 870s can cause too many problems, it's better left alone as a 4-shot magazine.

And as always, to parrot Louis Awerbuck, "No magazine is ever big enough," so learn to load the shotgun on the fly.

hth,

lpl

 

[1expertowgunner]

I dont know about the warranty , but it isnt hard I have done it twice with a drill and dremel and a pumice type bit

 

[Youngster]

I ran an extended mag tube for awhile and ended up taking it off.

The gun handles better and just seems handier without it, and it's a lot easier to swap barrels or clean the mag tube without having to deal with a magazine clamp.

I also found that I can load the magazine that much faster without having to deal with the extra spring pressure and friction that the extended tube brought to the table.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

Dunno about your 20ga but on my 870 express magnum 12 ga I ground mine out to add a two round Wilson extension kit... make sure you get it smooth.

For what it's worth I only run keep 2 3/4" rounds in it for HD and I also took a few inches of coils off the spring that came with the kit. The tube holds 6 rounds easy, loads and feeds and fires just fine..... and I've ran enough through her to trust it.

 

[shotgunsrfun]

thanks for your help guys, I might wait on the extension tube, I dont want to void my warranty on a new gun, I will wait till this warranty exp then I might do it. Thanks again for advice.