Questions about Rem 870 and dimples

[sectional_density]

I was wondering if anyone could help answer a few questions.

I have an 870 wingmaster, that I'd like to turn into a dual purpose shotgun. Want to get a 20" barrel and a magazine extension and I've got one of the newer ones with the dimples in the magzine tube.

As I understand it, I need to remove these dimples to put an extension on, either by filing or drilling.

So do I do anything to the value of the gun by removing the dimples? What's the best way? Can I convert back and forth relatively easily? Should I have a gunsmith do it, or can anyone with reasonably steady hands do the job?

Thanks.

 

[ArmedBear]

A Wingmaster has dimples?

 

[rantingredneck]

As to value, I don't know personally.

It is very easy to do. I definitely wouldn't pay a gunsmith for it. I use a dremel with a sanding wheel and then progress to a polishing wheel. Takes about 15 minutes to do. It's best to stick some papertowels or something down the mag tube while you're doing this to keep metal filings out of the action. For switching back and forth you'll have to do either of a few things:

1) Buy an old style spring retainer. For this method you'll also need barrels that have a ball detente in the barrel ring. The 20" barrel you buy likely will have this. The barrel you already have likely does not. This presents a problem with the possibility of the magazine cap unscrewing under recoil. If you're not a high volume shooter (skeet/clays and such) you may never have a problem, but there's always the possibility. You can use plumbers tape on the threads to keep it in place, or you can have your old barrel drilled for the detent (bout 40-50 bucks at the gunsmith, this I would pay them to do).

2) Use your current magazine spring retainer that has the teeth that engage your mag cap, but be aware that the spring will likely come popping out when you unscrew it.

All in all not a hard thing to do and you have a couple options for switching.

 

[rantingredneck]

A Wingmaster has dimples?

From my understanding some of the newer ones do.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

There goes the neighborhood.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Wingmaster dimples???? GAAAK!

Take a look at http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=107853 ... good advice rendered above as well.

lpl/nc

 

[ArmedBear]

The spring retainer is kinda sucky anyway, to be honest, if you use the gun in the field. Not always easy to remove the !@#$ thing if you want to do a complete end-of-season cleaning and/or remove the plug. It can easily fling the contents of the mag tube across the yard, and it can get all bent up.

Bummer that Remington, in 58 years, has never come up with a retaining system that didn't require either dimples or that !@#$ spring retainer.

If it were me, I'd probably keep the Wingmaster as-is and get another shotgun for HD if I wanted multi-use. By the time you've bought the new barrel and mag extension, ground off the dimples, and acquired the annoying spring retainer, you could almost have another 870. With a spare, you can leave it loaded while you use the Wingmaster as a hunting gun. Depends on your personal situation, too, but that's my humble opinion.

 

[rantingredneck]

Yeah, you basically have the option of the spring flying when you undo the mag cap if you use the plastic toothy retainer or flying when you undo the spring retainer if you use it. Either way, springs aflying.

 

[ArmedBear]

I find the plastic toothy retainer to be very easy to control. Stick a large screwdriver in the slot and use that to depress and turn it, guide it out with your other hand. Good luck doing something that controlled with the spring retainer.

 

[rantingredneck]

Yeah, but I meant once the dimples are removed from the gun. Then it's "Surprise!!" if you aren't paying attention

 

[ArmedBear]

Oh, well, yeah.

 

[SGW42]

I probably still have a mark above my eyebrow from the first time I took the spring retainer out of my 870. One of those things where I deserved the Stupid Mark for having the thing pointed in my face when I took it apart, lol.

 

[btg3]

My stupid mark is in the ceiling. Been there 2 years and so far, nobody's noticed -- but it's served as a reminder to me.

 

[Jeff F]

I took the spring retainer out of one of a couple of my wing masters because I was swapping barrels and taking the mag extensions off when I wanted to go shoot clays. I never put the retainers back in and am just carefull when I remove the magazine cap. First time I went to take a plug out I to had a spring and retainer go flying.

 

[sectional_density]

Thanks for the replies.

Think I'll start by taking a look at the retention system that I've got going now before doing any possible extensions and barrel swaps.

Gotta say though that for a first time 12 guage owner, this thing is lots o' fun!

And of course I like the suggestin of just keeping my gun as is and buying another one with a short barrel and and mag extension.

 

[testify4]

Ahh- I didn't realize I could use my old spring and toothy-retainer when I didn't want to have my magazine extension installed. I filed out the dimples on my 870 Express, but have only shot skeet and clays since then. I was looking at longer magazine plugs if I take it out in the field, but the old parts sound like an easier solution.

 

[rantingredneck]

The plastic toothy spring retainer is still basically under the same spring tension it would be if the dimples were there. The dimples just arent there anymore to keep it from flying out when you unscrew your cap. Just be careful when taking it off and no worries.