870 mag extension recomendation

[4given]

Any recomendations for a good magazine extension for an 870? Don't need anything fancy, just simple and reliable. It there a reliable one piece out there? I have a 18.5" barrel so I'm thinking +2 is in order.

[Jason M]

I have extensions from Vang and Wilson. Both are quality products that do what they are supposed to do.

[CleverNickname]

I'll second the Wilson Combat. I have the +1 and +2 extensions on different guns, both work great.

[rd62]

I bought a Wilson Combat +2 a few years ago on sale.

I don't have many rounds through it but I've been pleased with it so far.

[shootist26]

I have the +1 from wilson/scattergun. I like the high vis follower and the lighter weight especially paired with the surefire forend which is fairly heavy.

[Chain]

I can attest to the Choate being totally fine. I've probably had it coming up on 15 years now. However the clamping bracket with the sling mount wants to come loose, so I'd recommend loc-tite.
My 870 was one of the ones that required drilling out the "dimples" from the OEM mag tube, and that went OK with a bit of elbow grease.

[pangloss]

I had a factory +2 on a used 870P that I bought. I replaced it with a Wilson +1. To me, the +2 adds enough weight to the end of the gun that I don't like it. I bought a second Wilson +1 to put on my other 870P. Sadly, I don't have enough round through either to really testify as to function.

Sent from my moto e5 cruise using Tapatalk

[LHS]

You won't go wrong with either Vang or Wilson/Scattergun. +2 will get you additional capacity at the expense of extra weight out at the muzzle. A +1 tube leaves the gun a bit lighter and handier. Which is better? Depends on what you want.

[Hambo]

I can attest to the Choate being totally fine.

Back when it was Remington factory or Choate, I had them on a couple of guns and had no problems. I still have one on an 1100 that's in my safe.

I had an SGT (Wilson) on my 870P and ran a lot of rounds through it. The lack of a barrel clamp concerned me at first, but it help up through 3-gun matches and training.

[gato naranja]

Any recomendations for a good magazine extension for an 870? Don't need anything fancy, just simple and reliable. It there a reliable one piece out there? I have a 18.5" barrel so I'm thinking +2 is in order.

I might be the outlier, but I returned to the relatively heavy Remington factory +2 with its characteristic rolled indent and associated clamp/sling swivel assembly. I was not happy with the aftermarket +2 extensions unless they had an aftermarket clamp added, and not all extension/clamp combinations actually clamped well. The factory +2 setup was a known quantity and I have learned to live with it.

But on the +1 extensions, I had very good luck with the Wilson/Scattergun ones that I tried (after about 2001). If you want to keep things slick and simple, the Wilson +1 with the QD swivel stud in the center of the end is pretty neat. The Vang +1 is nicely thought out and versatile (and well made). I am not a big fan of any magazine extensions having a "plate," but if you can keep them from snagging/fouling on the case or the sling, I guess they are okay.

Somewhat related, I found the S&J Hardware delrin followers to be my favorites of the lot, and gave away or tossed out most of the others.

"For lagniappe," I returned to the Wilson/Scattergun oversize 870 safety after trying the competition and finding that they bugged my forefinger. YMMV.

[mmc45414]

I have a (pretty sure) Scattergun +2 I have no use for and would do a friendly deal on. PM if you want to consider it.

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[4given]

I have a (pretty sure) Scattergun +2 I have no use for and would do a friendly deal on. PM if you want to consider it.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

PM sent

[willie]

There is a big difference in balance and handiness between +1 and +2 extensions. I suggest spending a couple bucks more and buy a Wilson product having its owns spring and follower. This way compatibility is assured. I have had reliability problems with extensions on 870's though I think the brand and model are coincidental. In one instance the Choate follower dragged on the mag tube. In the other the spring hung up on the junction point between extension and tube. I prefer either a stainless steel follower or one from S&J Hardware. But I never had a problem with factory followers. Once I left an 870 with 2 shot extension loaded for 8 or 9 months without inspecting the gun. Spring pressure compressed some of the premium shells which then would not chamber. Extensions add a variable to shotguns, and I am convinced that they can negatively affect reliability. Hence, be careful with installation, don't stick an over strong or too long spring in there, and use a recommended follower.

[SJC3081]

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2171131077

Worked for me since 1997.

[willie]

This company made the last tube I bought, a 1 shot for my 590a1. Top notch. They may make the Wilson tube offerings.

[Rick R]

I’ve used a +3 Choate with their spring and factory follower for 25+ years in my 21” 870. It sat loaded here at Chateau Despair -1 for several years with 3” Remington 000 and 3” Brenneke slugs in the side saddle. Because every shoulder fired Claymore also needs to be able to destroy any wandering LAV? As I’ve grown older the load out has changed to reduced recoil 00 and simple Winchester Foster slugs. I’m still using the original spring, I just replaced the follower with a red aluminum one last month. So far it’s worked splendidly.

We also had four or five Choate extensions on guns at my department and they never gave any problems. We did get a batch of Express 870s with ghost ring sights and Remington two piece magazine extensions that were a concentrated fluster cluck. I have fond memories of the tubes detaching from the threaded collar and launching down range during qualifications.

[LHS]

This company made the last tube I bought, a 1 shot for my 590a1. Top notch. They may make the Wilson tube offerings.

Wilson bought Scattergun a bit over 20 years ago, they're the same company now.

[That Guy]

I had a factory +2 on a used 870P that I bought. I replaced it with a Wilson +1. To me, the +2 adds enough weight to the end of the gun that I don't like it.


There is a big difference in balance and handiness between +1 and +2 extensions.

I have a 21" barrel in my 870, and I switched from a Remington +3 extension to a Wilson/Scattergun +2 because I felt the +2 was much handier and more nimble than the Remington +3. :) Personal preferences, balance of bulk and capacity, and all that I suppose...

I haven't done much shotgun shooting for a couple of years now as my Shooting Buddy has had some health issues that limit use of heavy recoiling long guns, so we've been focusing more on other firearms, but that Wilson extension has worked rather well thus far.

[willie]

I have a 21" barrel in my 870, and I switched from a Remington +3 extension to a Wilson/Scattergun +2 because I felt the +2 was much handier and more nimble than the Remington +3. :) Personal preferences, balance of bulk and capacity, and all that I suppose...

I haven't done much shotgun shooting for a couple of years now as my Shooting Buddy has had some health issues that limit use of heavy recoiling long guns, so we've been focusing more on other firearms, but that Wilson extension has worked rather well thus far.

My preferences on such changed as I aged. 20 years ago I could pick up an 870 and extend it full length with one hand. Today I struggle when using two hands and a proper stance. I do notice the extra weight of a longer tube and extra shells. At this moment I have a 2 shot tube on my 870 but am using it as a 1 shot tube. This strategy reduces spring pressure within the magazine. That may not be necessary. My plan, if the shotgun is needed, is to chamber a round and add two shells. If haste is required, I would pick up a hot AR. I keep returning to the shotgun because of lifelong use and hence familiarity.

Premium tubes are sold with a wave washer which prevents unscrewing. S&J's website has images of these. About spring pressure. Once as an experiment with 870's I added long tube springs in standard length tubes. In every case the too powerful springs caused malfunction by forcing shells past shell latches. I have had this occur in new 870's when the latches were not fitted properly. Hence, my extra caution with extended tubes. I did no tests with Mossbergs, We must remember that when using sporting shotguns for defense, we can encounter reliability issues.

[revolvergeek]

A silly thing, but does anybody make one with something like polished blue finish? I am rehab-ing an old SO trade-in 870 Wingmaster with slug barrel and would kind of like to match the original finish if possible. It is going to be my office gun, and will be indoors so I am not worried about reflections nor weatherproofing.

[Wingate's Hairbrush]

A silly thing, but does anybody make one with something like polished blue finish? I am rehab-ing an old SO trade-in 870 Wingmaster with slug barrel and would kind of like to match the original finish if possible. It is going to be my office gun, and will be indoors so I am not worried about reflections nor weatherproofing.Remington factory extensions were available in polished blue (as well as matte and parkerized); two and three shot.

You can look at online retailers but I haven't seen those commonly available in a couple years. Best bet is probably eBay.

More involved option, if it means that much to you, would be to find a currently available extension from any maker and confirm it's carbon steel, and pay to have someone polish and blue it to match you Wingmaster. Probably more trouble than it's worth, but it's an option if you can't find a new old stock or used factory extension.

[LJP]

I’m a big fan of the Vang 1 shot extension, although they make a 2-shot version as well. Comes with a new spring and follower. I’ve had mine for a few years now and it’s been on my gun through both 00Haught and Shotgun 360 classes with no issues whatsoever. Lives on my house gun. It’s one piece and the sling mount is pretty slick if you choose to use it.

[willie]

The Remington factory extension is a two piece affair that came with a clamp. Two pieces add to complexity. I suggest buying one of Wilson's offerings.

[xtrtsqrt11]

Had the Remington factory +2 with clamp at work. I didn't care for the 2 piece of the tube itself. The tube itself seemed to come off easy, but the nut portion was just a hassle-nothing to hang onto and needing a tool if it was overly cranked on. It was heavy, too. The clamp was also a hassle to put back on-very fiddley.

I've personally owned a +2 Scattergun and +1 Wilson (same product/company). I attended a Rob Haught shotgun course hosted by 10 8 in 2007 with the +2. I decided to try the +1 for weight at the muzzle and there is a difference that I could actually just barely feel. I also really like the one piece aspect of these products. It's easy to remove by hand.

I also decided that I wanted to protect the threads on my 870. I read somewhere that a non reinforced (no clamp) extension puts your threads (of the magazine tube) that the extension screws onto at risk and that if it gets tweaked, it's a REAL game stopper for your 870. I remember reading that the magazine tube is relatively soft metal and somewhat vulnerable. I didn't research this further, it just struck me as plausible enough worth it to protect those threads, because those +2 extensions are hanging out there a bit. I didn't really want the weight of a clamp, so between the Surefire light fore end I have and the barrel, I feel that that gives the minimally extended +1 tube decent protection.

[Willard]

Get the Vang Comp or Wilson. I wound up taking the Remington extension off.

[TCinVA]

I have found that the Wilson and Vang Comp extensions do a really good job of staying tight even when you run the shotgun really hard. The magazine tube/mag cap loosening up is one of the major causes of a number of maladies on the 870 so having one that tightens down and stays tight should be a high priority.

Truth be told those two extensions are probably more durable than the factory magazine tube itself.

[gato naranja]

I read somewhere that a non reinforced (no clamp) extension puts your threads (of the magazine tube) that the extension screws onto at risk and that if it gets tweaked, it's a REAL game stopper for your 870. I remember reading that the magazine tube is relatively soft metal and somewhat vulnerable. I didn't research this further, it just struck me as plausible enough worth it to protect those threads, because those +2 extensions are hanging out there a bit.

I would never run a factory extension without the clamp. Besides ensuring the extension doesn't act like a brush/trash collector* or inadvertently act as a lever on those mag tube threads, it is extra insurance that neither the the mag tube nut or the extension loosens. Aftermarket +2 and +3 extensions also benefit similarly from a clamp to a greater or lesser degree, but in either case, takedown will require another step or two because of it. You pays your money and takes your choice.

I like the Wilson (ex-Scattergun Technologies) +1 extensions and ran them on an 870 for some time with no clamp and no problems whatsoever. I still have a couple of them in the Drawer of Yesterday's Shotgun Parts.

*Murphy's Law dictates that a thicket, stand of rushes, etc will manage to put something irritating between the barrel and the extension; the clamp doesn't prevent it totally, but it does limit the amount and reduces the distance you need to back off and/or pull out. Without the clamp, it can be like having a pronged flash hider or a tuning fork on the end of the gun.

[xtrtsqrt11]

I would never run a factory extension without the clamp. Besides ensuring the extension doesn't act like a brush/trash collector* or inadvertently act as a lever on those mag tube threads, it is extra insurance that neither the the mag tube nut or the extension loosens. Aftermarket +2 and +3 extensions also benefit similarly from a clamp to a greater or lesser degree, but in either case, takedown will require another step or two because of it. You pays your money and takes your choice.

I like the Wilson (ex-Scattergun Technologies) +1 extensions and ran them on an 870 for some time with no clamp and no problems whatsoever. I still have a couple of them in the Drawer of Yesterday's Shotgun Parts.

*Murphy's Law dictates that a thicket, stand of rushes, etc will manage to put something irritating between the barrel and the extension; the clamp doesn't prevent it totally, but it does limit the amount and reduces the distance you need to back off and/or pull out. Without the clamp, it can be like having a pronged flash hider or a tuning fork on the end of the gun.

True, your thoughts have merit on a duty shotgun and would be worth the weight. My 870's role is for home defense and training. I feel that for my needs, a clamp is just more than I need. Further I don't take my 870 out in the field which would be for hunting. I have another shotgun for that role