Defensive shotgun - standard tube vs. extended tube

[oldguy870]

I have a Remington 870 Express with a standard tube (4+1 capacity) and an 18" bead sighted barrel. I am debating whether to put a Scattergun Technologies +2 round extension on it. I would need to drill out the dimples.

The case for getting the +2 extension are obvious. You get 2 more rounds.

The case for sticking with the standard tube are that the gun will be lighter on the front end and faster handling. You could also say it might be slightly more durable with the standard mag, nothing to come lose. I think this is only a very, very slight factor.

Which would you go with and why? Are two extra rounds worth a slower handling gun?

 

[Skribs]

You can get a barrel clamp to help with the durability issue, and if you plan on mounting a flashlight up front a barrel clamp is pretty much the easiest way to go (many of which require you to have the extended tube). Personally, I'd rather have the extra 2 rounds. The weight difference is not that noticable.

 

[snooperman]

I like the standard tube for balance and less weight.

I do not think you would need more then 4-5 shots for home defense.

 

[ForumSurfer]

First and foremost...do you NEED those extra shots? Who's to say? Arguments can be made both ways.

But you will never, ever say "man I wish I didn't have this many rounds in the tube...look at all the extra I had" (Unless you are bird hunting...)

the gun will be lighter on the front end

+2 or +3 doesn't affect the weight of my shotguns very much, at all. We're not talking much weight...and at my age/fitness level I should man up and workout more instead of worrying about it. Your mileage and fitness level may vary.

and faster handling.

Negative, ghostrider. I still handle mine just as quickly. For some reason, an 18" 870 with the Remington +2 extension is a hoot to shoot. New shooters seem to love it even though it isn't one of my softer shooting 12 gauges. It just feels right.

You could also say it might be slightly more durable with the standard mag, nothing to come lose.

In over a decade and 1/2 of use (some may even call it abuse), nothing has came loose unless I loosened it. The last 1/2" of finish is gone because it sticks out past the 18" barrel, but wear marks like that add character.

 

[bubba in ca]

2 replies come to mind:

1) If you need 2 more rounds, you really need a carbine.
2) I have 8 more rounds-3 in my elastic but cuff and 5 in my revolver. But if I step out the door of the house, my carbine goes with me.

 

[ForumSurfer]

1) If you need 2 more rounds, you really need a carbine.

Totally false. If all of your training and practice has been with a shotgun, it would be kind of silly to use a carbine.

 

[1KPerDay]

A REAL MAN needs only one shot. Who could possibly need any more than that?

 

[ForumSurfer]

Is that nickle and wood or something else?

 

[1KPerDay]

It's mossberg's "Marinecote". Yes, wood. Used to look like this:

 

[ForumSurfer]

Gotcha. I've got the Remmington version. It's seen quite a bit of use and lost the finish on the top of the button (sticks out 1/2" past the barrel), too. Hard to tell in the pic, but the plastic is even pretty well worn.

 

[kris7047th]

IMO .. better to have more than enough than too few. What about more than one BG? Why not add an extender if you can?

 

[CoRoMo]

Practice loading the gun as you shoot it. Example: shoot two, load two, repeat, etc.

Whether you go with a longer tube or not, being efficient at feeding more shells into your gun is something that money won't buy.

 

[btg3]

After briefly playing with +2 and +3 extensions (loaded and empty), I removed them.

I was shooting defensive shotgun matches that limited the intial loading to 5 shells, so I stayed with that. The matches also gave me more incentive and ooportunity to practice reloading which I became better at.

So, if you can reload, capacity becomes less of a concern. If you can't reload, maybe you need 2 or 3 shotguns... just sayin'.

 

[Skribs]

Just because the matches limit you to 5 shells doesn't mean that is a limit you should necessarily apply in a real situation. Soldiers test with 20-round magazines and go to war with 30.

 

[DammitBoy]

I like eight rounds in my shotgun, 20 rounds in my rifle and 14 rounds in my 1911, but that's just me.

 

[btg3]

Well just because soldiers test with 20-round magazines and go to war with 30 doesn't mean... Uhm, what was the question?

 

[jmr40]

I tied the extended mag and didn't like them. The poor pointing and handling far outweighed 2 more rounds.

I actually have come to prefer an AR carbine. Much lighter, shorter, 1/4 the recoil, 6X the ammo capcity, less concern with over penetration and more effective on the target.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Louis Awerbuck says of shotguns, "No magazine is ever big enough." Clint Smith reminds us that even extended magazines eventually run out, so "we gotta practice loadin' 'em." You can see Clint at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhgwHQCJwWw, but Louis has been kinda camera shy for a decade or so.

Anyway, it's a personal choice. Best bet, try it both ways and see what you like. But either borrow a gun with an extension, or borrow the extension to experiment with and don't drill out the dimples till you know what you want to do.

I prefer without but there are 870s in the safe with +2 and +3 extensions on them.

 

[oldguy870]

I prefer the AR15 too. Unfortunately, I live in occupied Southern California. My AR15s have bullet buttons.

If the end of the world comes, I will convert my AR15s to their natural state. In the mean time, the 870s are my defensive long arms.

I am leaning towards just leaving it as a 4+1 weapon and having a quality ammo belt very close by I can grab with the gun.

 

[Inebriated]

I like the +2... It's not a deal breaker.

And I'll second Clint Smith on everything he says when it comes to shotguns (and most anything, for that matter... the man just understands the difference between practical and tactical).

 

[LeonCarr]

All of mine are 4+1 due to reliability issues with both factory and aftermarket magazine extensions. The shells would hang up at the junction where the two tubes meet. No thank you.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[JERRY]

clint smith pretty much said it all. though id ditch the single shot piece unless its all i had, id even ditch the double barrel for the novice unless its all they had.

shotguns are not as easy to hit with as some think, particularly at close range where you dont get the benefit of shot spread. they must still be aimed.

 

[armoredman]

I ordered my shotgun with extended magazine affixed before seeing it. The only extension available was 5 round, a Nordic unit. Well, when it arrived, I was a bit stunned with this big blunt bayonet hanging out in front.



It handles well enough that a petite young lady was able to burn through a magazine in nothing flat.



I haven't had a shotgun in years, was thinking the nice 712 Utility would be short enough to use in the house - my vz-58 is far shorter. Still a great shooter, and everyone who picks it up want s to shoot...then asks to shoot it again. If I can get the Nordic two round extension sometime, the only other size they make for this gun, maybe I'll swap it out.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Just fyi.. changes the balance point big time, and not in a small way. What EVER you do, practice with it.

 

[Dave McCracken]

My two shot extension adds 7 oz, with two buck loads it's 3/4 lb added right at the muzzle. The three shot extension here weighs 10 oz, add 3 loads means a lb out there.

OTOH, an 870 here sans extensions is snake fast with its' 21" barrel.

Even faster is the little 20 gauge.

More stuff=slow.