Remington 870 mag clamp

[Slater]

If you buy the standard 870 HD model with extended mag, it comes with an installed barrel/mag clamp. If you buy this quite expensive Wilson Combat Border Patrol 870, it seems to come without such a clamp:

http://www.wilsoncombat.com/s_borderpatrol.asp

So is the mag clamp a desired item or unnecessary? I would imagine that it would add some rigidity to the shotgun's barrel and mag tubes (which seems like a good thing).

 

[The Deer Hunter]

When you got a 28" barrel and a matching magazine, its deirable. When you got an 18" barrel, the extension is so short that it wont flex as much as a longer one.

 

[dfariswheel]

You should use a clamp on ALL extensions.

The one real hazard of an extension is if you bump the extension, it can be knocked off the gun.
This invariably damages the gun's magazine tube threads, and this means an expensive trip back to the factory for installation of a new tube.
Not to mention the fact that with the extension knocked off, the gun is out of service.

It doesn't matter how strong and tough the extension is, it could be a solid steel bar.
The weak link is the gun's magazine tube, which is fairly thin steel further weakened by the wide, deep square cut threads.
An unsupported magazine extension is an effective handle by which the extension can be broken off.

Use a clamp.

If the extension you buy doesn't have a clamp, buy one.
One of the very best is Uncle Mike's almost exact copy of the Remington factory clamp.
http://www.unclemikes.com/adtemplat...y=1465723&subcatky1=4548843&subcatky2=2000180
The Remington factory clamp only works on the factory extension, since the clamp screw interlocks in the groove in the extension tube.
The Uncle Mike's will work with most any extension.

 

[Fred Fuller]

The barrel doesn't need reinforcing.

The magazine extension doesn't need reinforcing.

But with any extension that is 2 rounds or longer, you should use a barrel clamp. The reason for this is that the magazine extension acts as a lever, magnifying any force applied to it onto the area that does need reinforcing- the magazine tube threads. Take a look at that area on your magazine tube, unobscured by magazine cap or magazine extension. See how thin that metal is? And it is already disrupted by having threads pressed into it.

Now understand I have no vested interest in any company selling magazine clamps. It puts no money in my pocket if you buy one, it costs me nothing if you don't. But it might cost you- if you whack your unsupported magazine extension against something in the middle of the night and it springs off the gun. You will have just converted your repeater to a single shot.

If you want to risk that, feel free...

lpl/nc

 

[Slater]

Agreed on all the preceeding statements, but why would Wilson not include such a relatively cheap part on an otherwise pricey weapon?

 

[Fred Fuller]

That one you need to ask Wilson. I have no idea why they wouldn't use a clamp on their guns with magazine extensions- it seems that Remington "gets it" since they 'issue' clamps on factory guns with magazine extensions. Maybe Wilson knows more about this stuff than Remington? You think?

lpl/nc (But then maybe they do- after all, Remington only charges $300 for an Express gun... while Wilson can get people to pay $800 for one. 8^)

 

[Stretchman]

Doesn't the Wingmater/Police model have a different locking mechanism for the mag extension?

I know the express is different, uses plastic or something. Can't say what the WIlson model is based on, but whatever it is, for the price, it should be gold plated. A good 590 or 870 Police model only runs about $600. Porting, back boring, and all the other little niceties are more of a luxury than a need. I am sure they do something for the weapon, but if you don't have to carry it as a duty weapon, then it's really overkill.

I think you'd be better off with an 870 HD model plus a tac light and maybe a Mesa Tac or Cav Arms stock. For home defense, that's probably the best set up. Mossberg Pursuader series shottys, and 590s are pretty good too. Don't like the location of the safety, because I prefer a pistol grip, but YMMV.

 

[dfariswheel]

The 4 shot Wingmaster/Police guns do use a different magazine cap locking device than the 4 shot Express, but this has no effect on a gun fitted with a FACTORY fitted extension.

All the locking device does is prevent a magazine cap or extension from unscrewing under recoil.
Since the extension fitted factory guns all use the same locking device, this is a non factor.
In any case, the barrel clamp prevents the extension from unscrewing.

 

[richardschennberg]

Here is my experience:
if you put a clamp on the barrel and tube, you will at least slightly alter the bluing/finish/metal underneath the clamp. If it is too loose, it will also slide when fired and make a longer scratch on the barrel and tube. However, don't overtorque either, as you can strip the screw or the clamp itself. I kind of wish the clamp or extension kit makers would specify the recommended torque for this clamp.
I can only guess what Bill Wilson thinks, but my best guess is that Bill does not want to deal with issues related to scratching your pretty new shotgun, or stripping the clamp.
Richard
Schennberg.com