Opinions on mag extensions (1 or 3 shot)

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GDW

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I am thinking of adding a magazine extension to my old Police Wingmaster that has a barrel length of 18 inches. What are your opinions on the extensions, 1 or 2 shot? Thanks.
 
I'm not sure that 1 shot would be worth the hassle and expense, and I'm not a big fan of long tubes anyway. I've had a Remington Police 870 with the full tube for several years, and found that I wasn't using it/carrying it as much because I didn't like the weight and forward balance, it just didn't handle right. Good for HD, but not much else.

Later I found a much, much lighter and handier Mossberg 500 without a full tube and with an 18". Much smoother to carry and to shoot with. (Side note: This one also has less bells and whistles, no sidesaddle or light, etc.. I've found that less is much more on defensive tools or on woods/backpacking tools)
 
I wasn't sure if I'd like the extension either because of the weight up front. If I do get one I was leaning toward the VCS. Anyone have experience with one? I'd like to get the VCS safety too.
 
With my 1100 loaded with 8 slugs, the first few shots are real easy to manage in quick succession because of all that weight up front. The cost is weight, of course, and pointability. When I put it back into 3 shot hunting configuration it seems so light and easy to handle, it's like getting a new gun.
 
Extensions are not the best answer for everyone, or everything. My two "Serious" 870s have them, but they do add weight and slow handling for all but the most pumped or strong.

Now that I've attained Geezerhood, t'were I putting together a HD 870, I'd probably skip the extension.
 
I used to be a scoutmaster and would take a camping log out when we camped with the boys (journal). It contains historical information like location, date and weather as well as events and comments like, “We bombarded the scoutmaster last night with snowballs”. The boys have taken to writing a list of words and the definitions of the words I use and recording them in the front of the log. For example: Weenie Whining: mass complaining; “Stop your weenie whining”. Or, Fatty-Watty: someone who is overweight; “That fatty-watty will not make it up the hill”. I still camp occasionally with the troop and will have to add Geezerhood to the camp log with a picture of me next to it.
 
Personally, I do not care for mag extensions.
I have this thing about a shotgun being reliable, and being handy.

El Tejon has shared this same thing, and El Tejon has forgotten more about shotguns than I will ever know.

I want a shotgun to be an extension of me, reliable, handy, versatile, nimble, mobile and move and scoot with me - not impede me.

Just me, then again I am old and set in my ways.
 
It depends on what you can handle... for me at 6 foot 7 and 240, a shotgun without a mag extension just feels too light. I prefer the extra weight.

-with an 18" barrel

So if you can handle it more rounds is obviously a good thing.
 
I have no problem with the "Little" extra weight a tube extension adds. To me the few extra rounds is always welcome in home defense and when practicing. What it boils down to is practice. Get good with the equipment you intend to use. Many competition shooters add very long tube extension and shells holders all over their shotguns but they are still lightening fast, Why? Practice.


GC
 
I have not forgotten stuff about shotguns, but to be clear, my only real talent with shotguns (well, with any guns) is in breaking them.:D

I do not care for them as the extensions add weight, disrupt the balance of the weapon, and can hinder reliability. I have been to school with people who have more hours than I do who use extensions.

Like everything in the gun culture, the subjective is objective and you have to see what you like and if it works.
 
I have an 870 mag extension laying somewhere about the shop rusting. It has been there for close to twenty years. You can see how driven I am to have one of the things on my shotgun.

Besides a competent shotgunner ought to be able to combat load about as fast as he can shuck the slide.
 
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