Funds and availability permitting, I'd like to buy an 870P one day for HD and general practice/proficiency. I'm leaning toward one of the extended mag versions. I've been told that it would be better to buy a Wilson Combat extension instead as these are superior to the Remington factory extension. Thoughts?
Remington 870 Police question
- Thread starter Slater
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Thoughts?
Standard magazine, 5 more shells on a buttstock cuff.
Cheaper, better balance and weight, rock-solid reliable, simpler, easier to field strip and clean. It's so easy to "top off" a tubular magazine by stuffing rounds in, that a couple more rounds in the tube don't do much for you unless you are in a competition that specifically requires 7 quick shots.
You can top off an 870 magazine by feel, without lowering the gun or looking at the loading port. And it's easier to UNload, too, should you want to.
Furthermore, 5 rounds of 00 is a decent amount of firepower.
Those are my thoughts.
Standard magazine, 5 more shells on a buttstock cuff.
Cheaper, better balance and weight, rock-solid reliable, simpler, easier to field strip and clean. It's so easy to "top off" a tubular magazine by stuffing rounds in, that a couple more rounds in the tube don't do much for you unless you are in a competition that specifically requires 7 quick shots.
You can top off an 870 magazine by feel, without lowering the gun or looking at the loading port. And it's easier to UNload, too, should you want to.
Furthermore, 5 rounds of 00 is a decent amount of firepower.
Those are my thoughts.
556A2
Member
The Remington factory extended mag is better than the Wilson due to it having the barrel clamp. Without a clamp on the extended mag, if you hit the magazine tube hard enough, you will bend it, requiring a trip back to Remington to get fixed.
LoadedDrum
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As far as mag extensions go, buy anything but the plastic ATI and you will likely be fine. As has been said before you are more likely to break the threads on the mag tube before you break the mag extension it self.
dfariswheel
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I personally rate the Remington factory extension higher than any other.
It's been in heavy police use for many years, and has stood the test of time.
The factory extension has the best magazine clamp made.
If I was buying a new Police gun, I'd order it with the factory extension, even if I didn't plan on using it.
Factory extensions are hard to get as after-market accessories, and bring higher prices than any other brand.
If you don't want the extension on the gun, it's a simple and cheap matter to remove it and change to a standard magazine.
If you want, you can sell the extension for good money on Ebay.
It's been in heavy police use for many years, and has stood the test of time.
The factory extension has the best magazine clamp made.
If I was buying a new Police gun, I'd order it with the factory extension, even if I didn't plan on using it.
Factory extensions are hard to get as after-market accessories, and bring higher prices than any other brand.
If you don't want the extension on the gun, it's a simple and cheap matter to remove it and change to a standard magazine.
If you want, you can sell the extension for good money on Ebay.
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
Remington's factory magazine extensions are among the best- I wouldn't remove a factory extension and replace it with an aftermarket myself, ymmv of course.
Magazine extensions are useful to allow the full normal capacity to be loaded in the magazine while still leaving room for at least one more round. Hereabouts the house guns are loaded with buckshot in the magazine and slugs in the Sidesaddle. Since ours have no magazine extensions, there are three rounds of Hornady TAP 00 in the magazine, and since the guns have short stocks and full field length fore-arms to better fit my wife, they have four rounds of Kent/Brenneke KO slugs in the sidesaddles. Loading the magazine short one round allows you room to do an immediate select slug drill on retreiving the shotgun if a different type of ammo is necessary.
Learning to load the gun at the shoulder without looking at it (keeping your eyes downrange, on the threat) is an invaluable skill. Learning the habits that will help you keep the gun loaded and running in a firefight are equally valuable- things like doing a presscheck on the magazine and the chamber when time permits to assure yourself there are rounds in both places, and immediately loading to capacity when you can. And learning a workable way to emergency load the gun should it run dry in a fight- that should be a prime tool in the toolbox as well.
lpl/nc
Magazine extensions are useful to allow the full normal capacity to be loaded in the magazine while still leaving room for at least one more round. Hereabouts the house guns are loaded with buckshot in the magazine and slugs in the Sidesaddle. Since ours have no magazine extensions, there are three rounds of Hornady TAP 00 in the magazine, and since the guns have short stocks and full field length fore-arms to better fit my wife, they have four rounds of Kent/Brenneke KO slugs in the sidesaddles. Loading the magazine short one round allows you room to do an immediate select slug drill on retreiving the shotgun if a different type of ammo is necessary.
Learning to load the gun at the shoulder without looking at it (keeping your eyes downrange, on the threat) is an invaluable skill. Learning the habits that will help you keep the gun loaded and running in a firefight are equally valuable- things like doing a presscheck on the magazine and the chamber when time permits to assure yourself there are rounds in both places, and immediately loading to capacity when you can. And learning a workable way to emergency load the gun should it run dry in a fight- that should be a prime tool in the toolbox as well.
lpl/nc
I also vote for the factory mag extension AND clamp as numero uno.
Any extension adds a bunch of weight to the wrong end of the gun though, especially fully loaded. Of course guys seem to like to add all sorts of stuff to the noisy end, extesnions, lights, dangling slings with shells in them.....
Most of my HD guns have factory extensions but I rarely load them much beyond five rounds with six on the side-saddles. I like the room in the mag for slug-to-buck drills or buck-to-slug.
If you have not noticed, the key is THE CLAMP.
Mike
Any extension adds a bunch of weight to the wrong end of the gun though, especially fully loaded. Of course guys seem to like to add all sorts of stuff to the noisy end, extesnions, lights, dangling slings with shells in them.....
Most of my HD guns have factory extensions but I rarely load them much beyond five rounds with six on the side-saddles. I like the room in the mag for slug-to-buck drills or buck-to-slug.
If you have not noticed, the key is THE CLAMP.
Mike
Joe Mamma
Member
I've had problems with a Wilson Combat mag extension. I've also used a Choate and Remington factory. I would recommend either one of those over a Wilson Combat.
Joe Mamma
Joe Mamma
GoRon
Member
What do you mean?
GoRon
Member
Huh, my extended tube is flush and the clamp is aprox 3 inches back from the end of the barrel.
Maybe you have more capacity than I do. I have 6 in the tube 1 in the chamber.
Maybe you have more capacity than I do. I have 6 in the tube 1 in the chamber.
dfariswheel
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The Remington factory extension sticks beyond the muzzle to act as a bayonet mount.
The extension was originally designed as part of a military project, and for some reason, Remington never changed it.
Recently, Remington appears to have changed their barrels. From the beginning, the factory barrels were exactly 18 or 20 inches.
New barrels are apparently now approximately 1/2 inch longer, at 18 1/2, and 20 1/2 inches, so now the extensions are muzzle length.
The extension was originally designed as part of a military project, and for some reason, Remington never changed it.
Recently, Remington appears to have changed their barrels. From the beginning, the factory barrels were exactly 18 or 20 inches.
New barrels are apparently now approximately 1/2 inch longer, at 18 1/2, and 20 1/2 inches, so now the extensions are muzzle length.
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
The extension may protrude, but not the clamp. Clamping air doesn't help much. Kestrel, if your clamp extends beyond the barrel, it sounds like you have a problem. You just mean the mag tube, right? If so, consider it a bonus. It helps protect the muzzle.
"Protects the muzzle"
True. I can stow a couple of my 870's nose-down in the safe because of the factory mag extensions. This allows me to cram even more guns in there!
The factory clamp is also a great place for a sling stud. Very strong.
Mike
True. I can stow a couple of my 870's nose-down in the safe because of the factory mag extensions. This allows me to cram even more guns in there!
The factory clamp is also a great place for a sling stud. Very strong.
Mike
Depends on whether you're going to put a Giles sling or something along those lines on it. If you plan on putting one of those on it, get the Wilson as it's got the integral sling mount (side or bottom) and is very strong. Otherwise, you'd be fine with the Remington factory extension.
A note on the factory extension - disassemble the extension and nut together, but install the nut first and then the extension when reassembling. There is a tech bulletin on this on remingtonle.com
A note on the factory extension - disassemble the extension and nut together, but install the nut first and then the extension when reassembling. There is a tech bulletin on this on remingtonle.com
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