Difficult to load 870 compared to Mossberg?

[Lightsped]

I have three Mossbergs (14" 590A1, 20" 590A1, and a 18" 930SPX). I also have two Remingtons (18" 870 Police, and 6" 870 Super Shorty).

I love both brands equally. My question is, why is it so much more difficult to load shells with the Remington shotguns? The shells just slide so easily into the Mossbergs, but the spring is so tight on the 870s.

Or maybe it is just me? Any ideas?

 

[Virginian]

I have never experienced the problem so I can't help you. I do not have any extended magazines or extra power springs, either.

 

[natman]

Mossbergs load with the lifter in the up position. Remingtons load with the lifter in the down position, so you have to push it out of the way for every shell.

I don't know of any reason why the magazine springs should seem heavier.

 

[dak0ta]

I noticed the same thing, having owned both. But my Benelli Nova is even smoother than the Mossberg, and the shell lifter stays up once you push it out of the way. I think they also polish the inside of the magazine tube so shells will glide in.

 

[Fred Fuller]

I have both 870s and 500/590s. I find the 870 easier to load simply because the trigger guard serves as a 'runway' into the loading port. I don't have any issues with mag springs on any of them, all my 'using' shotguns have Wolff mag springs.

Try field stripping your 870 and loading it with no spring at all in the magazine... see how that feels. You may have too much mag spring in it and need to shorten the spring a bit.

 

[Old Guy]

Neither for pure ease/speed. A Ithaca ex NYPD 37! No lifter to fight, feeds like glass!

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I had a need to replace the Mossberg mag tube spring and went with a wolf spring. It is noticeably firmer. Not complaining. I'm guessing it's differences in mag tube springs from the companies.

 

[AI&P Tactical]

The magazine tube is often over looked in cleaning. I use the same polishing rods on the mag tube that I use on the barrel. It is simply a wooden dowel with a pad of steel wool stretched over it like the ones shown on the red link "Install and Cleaning" on my web site. Keeping the mag tube clean and dry helps with loading and feed.

Another issue was that I never put much focus on the follower because I felt the only purpose of this part was to keep the mag spring from popping into the receiver after the last shell was fed. Then Steve of SBE followers sent me samples of his products. I put one in an 870 to try. I noticed that the shells load easier and smoother. So even a dumb Jarhead like me realized if they load smoother then they feed smoother. We have no way to know how a follower function when shooting the gun so the sense of its effectiveness is in the loading of the magazine tube. I now use the SBE followers in my 870s.

A clean mag tube, right mag spring and a quality follower should resolve the issue for you. However, I have not observed and noticeable difference in loading my 590 over loading my 870's. I use the Remington Extended magazine spring in my 590 so that could be the Difference in tension you are feeling between the Mossberg mag spring and Remington. I don't know if that is an issue as I simply don't use the Mossberg magazine spring.

 

[MCgunner]

Mossbergs load with the lifter in the up position. Remingtons load with the lifter in the down position, so you have to push it out of the way for every shell.

I don't know of any reason why the magazine springs should seem heavier.

This is just one of the ergonomic reasons I prefer the Mossberg. Now, I don't do 590s and 870 police models, I duck hunt with my Mossbergs and had a Remington 870 Wingmaster for a good while. On a cold day, shoving that round past that 870s elevator would pinch my cold numbed thumb and HURT. On several occasions I'd jerk the thumb out before the round clicked past its retainer and THEN I had to dig out the pocket knife to pry that round back up into the magazine, an irritating PITA. No such problem with Mossberg, Ithaca (used to borrow my uncle's 37 featherweight in 16 gauge back before steel shot), or Browning. I couldn't wear a glove with that 870, either, as the elevator would trap the glove on my thumb. The ANSWER to this if you have a Remington is to hold the elevator up with your off hand fingers while you shove in the round. Not in such a hurry, usually, when you're hunting and that gets the job done, but the gun and this feature of my Winchester still bug me a bit.

Now, if you're shooting tacticool games or are in combat in Syria or something, speed of reload would be more important. But, until they settle the squabbles that have been going on since time began in the middle east, I ain't going to Syria. Besides, I doubt the duck hunting is as good there as the Texas coast.

 

[Virginian]

I'm glad I was not aware of these lifter issues affecting loading Remingtons before I got my first one 53 years ago, otherwise I might have been scared off by what is a non existent problem in my case. I've seen the shell pop back in the receiver issue, but never done it myself.

 

[MCgunner]

I've seen the shell pop back in the receiver issue, but never done it myself.

I've done it several times. It's annoying.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I find, of the two, Mossbergs considerably easier to load from nearly every position. No lifter or other spring loaded gateway to get in the way is one thing but when you flip the gun over, you can just drop the shell into the loading port and push.

Another thing I was fond of doing with my 590A1 was to load it right side up while holding it down at about waist level. I would finger the shell into the opening from the bottom with my index, middle and ring fingers then, while holding the shell there with my index and middle finger, I would catch the back of the shell with my ring finger and pinky and slide it home.

Never could do that with an 870. Then again, I never have given 870s much of a chance versus a 500 style or Browning BPS. Im lefty, so I tend to steer clear of the 870s by personal choice.

 

[Lightsped]

Thanks for replies.

All of my shotguns are stock. I haven't modified any of them. The Serbu is a modified 870. I haven't changed anything on my shotguns.

It isn't the trapdoor thing on my 870P that makes it difficult. It is the spring (or feels like the spring). It is much more difficult to load shells into the 870P.

 

[natman]

It isn't the trapdoor thing on my 870P that makes it difficult. It is the spring (or feels like the spring). It is much more difficult to load shells into the 870P.

I'd recommend cleaning inside of the mag tube and a light coat of oil, preferably a dry lube.

 

[BlueSmoke14]

I agree with AI&P Tactical.

A clean magazine tube and good follower make more of a difference than the shell lifter style.

The stock metal followers in the 500 series Mossbergs have bound up on me making the insertion of another shell in the magazine impossible.

I prefer followers machined from Delrin.

Friction free loading has to be experienced to be truly appreciated.

 

[minutemen1776]

This weekend I had the chance to see the differences between the 870 and 500. Though I've always been a rifle guy, my son asked for a shotgun for Christmas and has taken a liking to shooting clays. So, now I'm a clay shooter, too, and liking it very much. On Saturday, my son experienced quite a few issues pushing shells into the mag of his 870. We had a few pinched fingers and even had one shell pop out of the mag and get stuck in the receiver. I was able to fix the issue, but I thought for a moment that I might have to do some disassembly to clear the problem. Meanwhile, my Mossberg 500 was as easy as ever to load. I saw little difference shooting the two guns, and my son still says he prefers his 870. I may invest in a smoother follower for it, and I think I'll drop a pin punch in our shooting bag in case I ever need to take out the trigger group to clear a jam.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Load the 870 with the bolt back.

Lift gate stays outa the way after you tip it the first time. That way too, you can drop the last round straight into the chamber.

Todd.

 

[AI&P Tactical]

You do not need to remove the trigger plate assembly to clear that issue if it is modern 20ga 870 with the flex tab system. Only the older Wingmasters do not have the flex tab and a jam requires some disassembly to ensure it is cleared safely. With a flex tab 870 you simply rack it back with authority to clear the jam.

 

[GoWolfpack]

Lift gate stays outa the way after you tip it the first time. That way too, you can drop the last round straight into the chamber.

Todd.

Good idea, unless your shotgun has the fore grip that blocks the loading port when it's to the rear.