Need help, please, with installing mag extension.

[matis]

I read thru the posts here on THR and like Dave McC suggested to someone else, tried mining the archives at TFL. I must be doing the search thing wrong 'cause I got very poor results, repeatedly.

What I have is an 870 Wingmaster, bought used in middle 80s. Has a 20", 2 & 3/4" cyl barrel -- and has NEVER malfed -- shoots great! I'd guess the gun was built in late 60s or more likely in the seventies, just possibly early 80s. I love this gun!

What I bought, (offered by a TFLer), was a Choate 8 shot mag extension complete with Hi-viz follower, spring and clamp with 1.25" sling swivel. Looks vey nice (but don't go by that. I'm mentally ill -- I think guns are BEAUTIFUL!)

The man I phoned at Choate told me how to install this.

He, didn't however, go into detail on exactly how to remove the plastic spring retainer (under the barrel retaining nut) without buggering it, and I hate to mess up my Wingmaster.

I saw a post about this, on TFL I think, but simply cannot find it now that I need it.

Sure appreciate some advise.

Matis

 

[Dave McCracken]

Darnifino, Matis,. mine wqere all old style steel donuts. Try down on George Stringer's forum, he's a whiz at all things shotgun....

 

[dfariswheel]

Since you said your gun has a plastic retainer, I'm going to assume you have the newer Express-type retainer system.

To disassemble, use a screwdriver to first push down on the plastic plug, (which has a driver slot in it) then rotate the plug 1/2 turn either way. Gently ease up on the plug and it will come out.

BE CAREFUL, as soon as you push down and rotate the plug, it's unlocked and the mag spring will try to "blow" the plug out of the mag tube. Those springs are strong.

Remove the spring and the old plastic magazine follower.

The Express-type magazine system has two "dimples" in the end of the mag tube which interlock with the plastic plug. These will need to be drilled out, per the instructions that came with the Choate extension.

 

[matis]

I got it done!

Dave McCracken & dfariswheel,

Thanks for the help.

Dave, the spring retainer looked to me like plastic; turns out it WAS a steel donut like you said.

dfariswheel, I pretty much did what you suggested, except that I (gently) pried the donut out, holding my hand over the tube to stop the spring from flying, like YOU said. I managed to avoid buggering anything. No dimples, DFW, 'cause the gun is and older one.

It's all together now and I can load 7 + 1 shells without problems and I can rack them out again ok. Only firing it at the range will tell for sure, but it looks ok.

I used the plastic hi-viz follower. Would it have been better to use the original steel (I think) follower which is more like a cap for the spring and therefore thinner -- would compress the spring maybe 3/8" less?? Does it matter?

And I left the spring retainer (the steel donut, not plastic) off 'cause I thought the extension tube would do the job by itself -- and because it would have taken THREE hands to keep the spring compressed, hold the retainer in place and screw the extension on.

So, 1) Do you recommend replacing the plastic hi-viz with the original cap thin type?

2) Should I grow another hand and put the steel donut spring retainer in, after all?

Thanks again for your help.

(gun sure looks "handsome" with the extension.

Matis

 

[Dave McCracken]

Leave the donut out. It'll just get in the way of feeding all those shells.

I doubt either follower has a major advantage. Kuhnhausen hints that Remington went to plastic because some high use 870s had the steel job peening the receiver at the end of the mag tube.

Throughout my jaunts through Shotgunland, I've no rumors of the plastic followers glitching, and I think I would have, given my fervent regard for the 870.

Hold on to that steel follower, tho, time may come when it may come in handy...

HTH....

 

[Dave McCracken]

Leave the donut out. It'll just get in the way of feeding all those shells.

I doubt either follower has a major advantage. Kuhnhausen hints that Remington went to plastic because some high use 870s had the steel job peening the receiver at the end of the mag tube.

Throughout my jaunts through Shotgunland, I've no rumors of the plastic followers glitching, and I think I would have, given my fervent regard for the 870.

Hold on to that steel follower, tho, time may come when it may come in handy...

HTH....

 

[Dave McCracken]

Leave the donut out. It'll just get in the way of feeding all those shells.

I doubt either follower has a major advantage. Kuhnhausen hints that Remington went to plastic because some high use 870s had the steel job peening the receiver at the end of the mag tube.

Throughout my jaunts through Shotgunland, I've no rumors of the plastic followers glitching, and I think I would have, given my fervent regard for the 870.

Hold on to that steel follower, tho, time may come when it may come in handy...

HTH....

 

[matis]

OK dave,

I'll leave it as it is and yes, I will save the old parts in case I might need to return it to its original config.

I clean my guns but I don't disassemble (sp?) them (yet). I'd like to learn and I guess ya gotta start somewhere.

Thanks much for your help.