Do you use a mag tube clamp with your extension?

Do you use a clamp?

  • Yes! It protects the mag tube

    Votes: 31 79.5%

  • No! it's a rip off

    Votes: 6 15.4%

  • Whats a mag tube extension clamp?

    Votes: 2 5.1%
  • Total voters
    39
  • Poll closed .
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P

PoserHoser

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Mar 18, 2011
Messages
207
Looking at getting a mag tube extension for my benelli super nova (+2) So do you need a mag tube clamp? Downsides? upsides? Thanks for your time
 
I voted yes I have a Remington 870 that came with a factory extension and clamp and I think the clamp adds strength.
 
For a +2? No, you don't need one. My 3 gun shotgun is a +5 (or 6?), so it gets one. Basically, if you have a longer tube then yes you need one to keep it secure in its position. A +2 is short enough that it will not be a problem.

Downside to using one? Extra money that you didn't need to spend. Upside to using one? Don't have any.
 
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Voted yes, I have a +5 tube for my browning BPS. Beside protecting the tube the clamp also seems to keep the tube in line with the barrel. Without it on it was slightly off, which bothered me.
 
I have three cases I know of where a two shot extension was knocked off a shotgun by a good bump.
Look at an extension: It's a perfect lever to break it off the gun, which invariably damaged the magazine tube threads, which in the 870 requires an expensive trip back to Remington for a new tube to be brazed in and a refinish of the receiver.

Case 1. A doctor who kept a gun with extension and no clamp leaning against the wall near a closet.
He bumped the gun and it slid and fell against a shoe shine stand on the floor.
The tube was knocked out of line and was handing by a thread.
This gun had a magazine tube that screwed into the receiver, so I replaced it, where upon the doctor sold the gun and bought some other shotgun.

Case 2. A small town police chief got an armed robbery in progress at the bank alarm, (False alarm).
As he stepped out of his patrol car he gabbed an 870 with an extension with no clamp.
As he pulled the gun out with him, he hit the extension on the car door frame.
The extension was blown off the gun, breaking the passenger side window.
I remember him telling me how awful it felt to be standing there with a useless shotgun and nothing but a revolver, and about to face possibly heavily armed robbers.
The gun had to go back to Remington for repair.

Case 3. I personally saw this.
The police were having a shotgun course at the local range.
One stage was to fire a shotgun across a table, simulating firing over a car hood, then transitioning to standing at a barricade, simulated by a range roof support.
As an officer stood up from the table and stepped to the barricade, he accidentally bumped the unsupported extension on the roof support.
The extension was blow off with great force and shells went everywhere. The extension was found well down range with the spring.
The guns magazine tube threads were badly damaged and the gun went back to Remington.
 
Not that expensive to protect your investment in the gun. Have a Weatherby (same as the super nova) that I am adding a +2 extension to and will have the clamp on it.

Jim
 
I've only really recently warmed up to extensions. I think what finally got me ok with it was realizing I can have an extension that doesn't come flush with the barrel. I think this serves to help protect it a lot.

Upside to using one? Don't have any.
Click to expand...

It does give you a nice place to mount a light way out front.
 
A +2 extension is not very long, it doesn't allow you to mount a flashlight far forward at all.
Click to expand...

On an 18" barrel? It gets it out to where there isn't a shadow. It's probably 2"-2.5" from the end of the barrel.

Your setup may vary. I will retract "way out front", but it is sure better than mounting one under the mag cap, but I guess a guy could get it as far out as he wants if he mounts the barrel.
 
breakingcontact said:
On an 18" barrel? It gets it out to where there isn't a shadow. It's probably 2"-2.5" from the end of the barrel.

Your setup may vary. I will retract "way out front", but it is sure better than mounting one under the mag cap, but I guess a guy could get it as far out as he wants if he mounts the barrel.
Click to expand...

What makes you think it is an 18" barrel? The OP has not enlightened us as to the length of his barrel.
 
Your setup...may...vary.

Talking about my application and responding to there being no benefit to using a mag clamp on a +2 extension.

Take it easy.
 
My 870 came with one. I replaced it with a side swivel mount. I don't really think I need it for a +2 tube but its a decent spot for a sling on the other side.
 
If your mag tube ever "catches" on something hard you will wish you had a clamp on it. The damage can be repaired but it won't be cheap.
 
The clamp protects well for a vertical bump, but less so for side impact. The risk of knocking off an extension may be reduces by a clamp, but not eliminated. Ultimate reliability is had with no extension. And when you've learned to reload, you have the confidence which no longer feels any need for an extension.
 
btg3 said:
Ultimate reliability is had with no extension. And when you've learned to reload, you have the confidence which no longer feels any need for an extension.
Click to expand...

Don't be posting that reality after I finally became ok with a +2 extension! (Walks off to take off extension and replace mag cap)
 
[The clamp protects well for a vertical bump, but less so for side impact. The risk of knocking off an extension may be reduces by a clamp, but not eliminated. Ultimate reliability is had with no extension. And when you've learned to reload, you have the confidence which no longer feels any need for an extension.] I agree that reloading is essential ; but if i didn't feel the need for an extension why would i carry a gun that holds multiple rounds?
Having extra rounds is a tactical advantage. Why do 3 gun shooters have extremely long mag tubes and xrails? so they can reload less.
 
PoserHoser said:
Having extra rounds is a tactical advantage. Why do 3 gun shooters have extremely long mag tubes and xrails? so they can reload less.
Click to expand...

Right. But I was responding to ^this^ to point out that the no extension fans have a valid point in that increased reliability in home defense is more important than increased mag capacity. 3 gun guys are playing a game in which capacity is valued over the highest reliability.

I suppose I split the difference and go with a small extension. (Which has the small benefit of giving me 6 rounds with the small drawback of potentially causing an issue.)

That's all I've got to say about that.

To return to the OP, which was about clamps, not extensions, you may not need a clamp. But I prefer one.
 
After going to several major 3 gun competitions that involve throwing your gun into a barrel, into car trunks, and moving around inside of a vehicle with them, I have never seen an extension cause a problem... But, I guess they could. I see more problems from people short stroking the pump or running ammo that won't cycle their guns. Those malfunctions have nothing to do with magazine tube capacity.
 
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