ccsniper
member
i made my own extension. bought all the parts at a local hardware store, just got a longer spring, one inch tube and one inch nut, no permanant damage to my franchi fieldmaster
Extended magazine Pros/Cons
- Thread starter Chilean
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MAX100
Member
Post a picture if you have one I would like to see it.
GC
Joe Mamma
Member
One of the cons: the magazine follower can get stuck at the joint/seam where the extended magazine tube and "main" magazine tub meet. A lot of that depends on the magazine follower you use. One with a sharp edge is much more likely to get stuck.
Obviously, if it gets stuck, it's not permanent. But, that slight hesitation (maybe only a fraction of a second) can cause a failure to feed and someone thinking they a chambered a round when they didn't.
Joe Mamma
Obviously, if it gets stuck, it's not permanent. But, that slight hesitation (maybe only a fraction of a second) can cause a failure to feed and someone thinking they a chambered a round when they didn't.
Joe Mamma
rbernie
Contributing Member
StealthyBlagga - please explain this.
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
A couple things....
First, if any extension is considered for a defensive shotgun, keep it 3 shots and under. The long extensions add too much weight for quick handling.
I handled and shot an 1100, 28" barrel and 10 shot capacity. The thing handled like a snow shovel with a pig on it. Owner of said was big enough for me to hide behind.
Here's a quick test. After ensuring your shotgun is unloaded, mount it and hold that position for a couple minutes.
Go ahead, I'll just wait here....
Howja do? If things started getting shaky under two minutes, maybe you need to do some curls, or maybe your shotgun needs a good weight reduction program. Or both...
One of my "Serious" 870 has a two shot extension, been there since about 1980. The other has a 3 shot. Both are clamped.
The one with the Side Saddle weighs around 9 lbs. And yes, I can do two minutes with it without the shakes.
Both, while handling well, are a bit slower to swing than a standard 870,which is like greased lightning for me after decades of use.
Frankenstein stands on house duty these days, stoked with 4 buck and sans bellnswhistles. It handles like the bird gun it is. The chances of needing more beans in the wheel than the 4 rounds in the mag are slim, but there's more nearby if needed.
I can reload pretty fast.
No matter how many rounds your pet shotgun holds, everyone needs to know how to run it.
Know your weapon the way your tongue knows your teeth.
Mag extensions on shotguns are like dropping a Hemi into your family ride. You may not need all that and there's a downside.
First, if any extension is considered for a defensive shotgun, keep it 3 shots and under. The long extensions add too much weight for quick handling.
I handled and shot an 1100, 28" barrel and 10 shot capacity. The thing handled like a snow shovel with a pig on it. Owner of said was big enough for me to hide behind.
Here's a quick test. After ensuring your shotgun is unloaded, mount it and hold that position for a couple minutes.
Go ahead, I'll just wait here....
Howja do? If things started getting shaky under two minutes, maybe you need to do some curls, or maybe your shotgun needs a good weight reduction program. Or both...
One of my "Serious" 870 has a two shot extension, been there since about 1980. The other has a 3 shot. Both are clamped.
The one with the Side Saddle weighs around 9 lbs. And yes, I can do two minutes with it without the shakes.
Both, while handling well, are a bit slower to swing than a standard 870,which is like greased lightning for me after decades of use.
Frankenstein stands on house duty these days, stoked with 4 buck and sans bellnswhistles. It handles like the bird gun it is. The chances of needing more beans in the wheel than the 4 rounds in the mag are slim, but there's more nearby if needed.
I can reload pretty fast.
No matter how many rounds your pet shotgun holds, everyone needs to know how to run it.
Know your weapon the way your tongue knows your teeth.
Mag extensions on shotguns are like dropping a Hemi into your family ride. You may not need all that and there's a downside.
Calhoun321
Member
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2007
- Messages
- 99
I changed from a +3 to a +1 extension to eliminate the need for a clamp. Many people say a +2 is safe without a clamp, but I don't know. I have heard it said that the stamped metal clamps can actually push the magazine slightly out of alignment and thereby weaken the whole apparatus.
There is a huge difference IMHO in the quality of the Wilson extensions versus brands such as Tac Star and Choate, with Wilson being far superior.
Back to the issue of mag caps. I just took a look at my 870 express and see how the original mag spring retainer interfaced with the inside of the mag cap. It is at best a weak system.
I drilled the dimples out of my 870 and go back and forth between an extension and a regular mag cap. I have never had the cap unscrew itself. If the cap could unscrew itself, so could the mag extensions that replace them. I guess one could put the mag cap on without adequately snugging it up and have it work its way off after a number of rounds are fired. However, if you tighten it down good it should be trouble free for many rounds IMHO. I don't know about everyone else, but I just naturally check the mag cap for tightness every 25-50 rounds as if it is part of the manual of arms.
There is a huge difference IMHO in the quality of the Wilson extensions versus brands such as Tac Star and Choate, with Wilson being far superior.
Back to the issue of mag caps. I just took a look at my 870 express and see how the original mag spring retainer interfaced with the inside of the mag cap. It is at best a weak system.
I drilled the dimples out of my 870 and go back and forth between an extension and a regular mag cap. I have never had the cap unscrew itself. If the cap could unscrew itself, so could the mag extensions that replace them. I guess one could put the mag cap on without adequately snugging it up and have it work its way off after a number of rounds are fired. However, if you tighten it down good it should be trouble free for many rounds IMHO. I don't know about everyone else, but I just naturally check the mag cap for tightness every 25-50 rounds as if it is part of the manual of arms.
loosecannon
Member
Possibility of mag cap unscrewing
A good solution here is to slip a tight fitting O-ring over the mag tube and then screw the cap down against the ring with the result being a triple whammy tight fit.
Never use a tool to tighten a mag cap because excessive torque is the result.
Loosecannon
A good solution here is to slip a tight fitting O-ring over the mag tube and then screw the cap down against the ring with the result being a triple whammy tight fit.
Never use a tool to tighten a mag cap because excessive torque is the result.
Loosecannon
rantingredneck
Member
This is true if all things are equal in the setup. Meaning you are using the same short barrel. Remington 18" and 20" Express barrels typically have the ball detente. Remington Express 28" barrels typically do not. There-in lies the rub. Not having the ball detente to hold the mag cap in place means that when you swap barrels for the clay range or dove field you better keep a check on that mag cap. I've never had one unscrew either, but that's not to say it won't happen. I'm not exactly sure I want to find out what happens when you have a loose barrel and the gun is fired.
StealthyBlagga
Member
I'll expand on my comment about balance.
Balance is certainly important on a hunting or clay gun, as it affects how the gun swings and thus your ability to properly follow through. Weight and balance may also be a concern for slightly-built individuals where every ounce counts. However, in a gunfight - when you are in immediate peril of being killed - I really don't think the extra weight of one or two shells (what, 3oz ?) plus a slightly longer tube (another oz) is going to be noticed. Sure, the extra length may be an issue in some cases (thats why my preferred home defense gun is a pistol), but the weight concern is probably overstated. IMHO, the extra couple of shots more than compensate for the extra bulk/weight. As someone else wisely commented, you are going to fight with the ammo on board the gun... if I wanted to reduce weight, I'd reduce the number of rounds on the sidesaddle or buttstock cuff, and put them in the mag tube instead. Oh, and any extra weight goes directly into reducing the felt recoil.
I shoot 3-gun, where speed of engagement of multiple targets is critical (presumably the prime rational for light weight), and often we have to maneuver in tight spaces/around barricades. I use an even longer gun and don't find it a handicap:
The point made above about holding the gun on an intruder is a good one, but I would prefer having the extra rounds and finding a way to keep on target without exhaustion (drop the gun to the underarm, prop it on a support, whatever).
Balance is certainly important on a hunting or clay gun, as it affects how the gun swings and thus your ability to properly follow through. Weight and balance may also be a concern for slightly-built individuals where every ounce counts. However, in a gunfight - when you are in immediate peril of being killed - I really don't think the extra weight of one or two shells (what, 3oz ?) plus a slightly longer tube (another oz) is going to be noticed. Sure, the extra length may be an issue in some cases (thats why my preferred home defense gun is a pistol), but the weight concern is probably overstated. IMHO, the extra couple of shots more than compensate for the extra bulk/weight. As someone else wisely commented, you are going to fight with the ammo on board the gun... if I wanted to reduce weight, I'd reduce the number of rounds on the sidesaddle or buttstock cuff, and put them in the mag tube instead. Oh, and any extra weight goes directly into reducing the felt recoil.
I shoot 3-gun, where speed of engagement of multiple targets is critical (presumably the prime rational for light weight), and often we have to maneuver in tight spaces/around barricades. I use an even longer gun and don't find it a handicap:
The point made above about holding the gun on an intruder is a good one, but I would prefer having the extra rounds and finding a way to keep on target without exhaustion (drop the gun to the underarm, prop it on a support, whatever).
StealthyBlagga
Member
Oh, and the worry about barrel clamps is grossly overstated in my experience. Even with slugs, I have not found the barrel clamp to affect my 50yd zero. With shot, I'm sure you would not notice. Even then, a lot of guys shoot 3-gun with 10+1 or longer tubes without a clamp and without a problem.
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