The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Hide > The Dave McCracken Memorial Shotgun Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old April 21, 2012, 11:48 AM   #1
Rampant_Colt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 17, 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 1,478
870 magazine tube extension opinions

I would like to add a +2 magazine extension on my 870 Express with 18" barrel. I've found a deal on a couple different ones and am not sure if one is any better than the other.



Natchez has ATI for $36:
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm...ag%20Extension

Sportsmans-Depot has ProMag for $27:
http://www.sportsmans-depot.com/prod...100-11-87.html

Cheaperthan dirt also has the ProMag for $27:
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/31023437-1.html

Cabela's has a Carlson's for $63:
http://www.cabelas.com/magazines-cli...tensions.shtml


Please advise or share your opinions on which would be the best one
__________________
member of an elite paramilitary organization: Eagle Scouts
Rampant_Colt is offline  
Old April 21, 2012, 07:05 PM   #2
Dfariswheel
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 4, 2001
Posts: 7,476
The ATI is aluminum. That's not very strong, and the tube will dent easily.

The Pro-Mag is also aluminum.

The Carlson's looks like a re-branded Choate, and Carlson has NO reputation, being new, so it's a crap shoot as too quality.

My advice is to just buy a Choate. It's one of the best there is and is a great price/quality value.
It comes in any length from 2 shot to 10 shot, in satin blue or parkerized, and comes complete with the extension, spring, a heavy duty follower, and the all-important barrel clamp with sling swivels.
Choate has been making extensions for a LOT of years, with the only older one being the Remington factory model. Choate has one of the best reputations for quality.

You can buy it from Brownell's or Midway, or buy direct from Choate for about $45.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=4...ZINE-EXTENSION

Last edited by Dfariswheel; April 21, 2012 at 07:10 PM.
Dfariswheel is offline  
Old April 21, 2012, 09:40 PM   #3
Rampant_Colt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 17, 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 1,478
Thanks for your input, DFW! I respect and appreciate your firearms knowledge
__________________
member of an elite paramilitary organization: Eagle Scouts
Rampant_Colt is offline  
Old April 22, 2012, 06:45 AM   #4
LSnSC
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 5, 2010
Posts: 514
I put a Remington tube on mine. I believe its steel and included a good barrel clamp with a sling swivel. No problems or complaints so far.
Nordic is probably the best aftermarket tube available, but pricey.
LSnSC is offline  
Old April 22, 2012, 08:06 AM   #5
Lee Lapin
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 7, 2004
Location: SE NC
Posts: 1,239
See if you can find one to borrow for a while to begin with. You might not like what it does to the balance of the shotgun. Most of the 'working' 870s here are without extensions.

If I were forced to use one, I prefer Remington's factory version. Choate is a reasonable second choice IMHO. And use a barrel clamp, too... not because the extension needs it, but because the threads on the magazine tube do.
__________________
Mindset - Skillset - Toolset. In that order!

Attitude and skill will get you through times of no gear, better than gear will get you through times of no attitude and no skill.
Lee Lapin is offline  
Old April 22, 2012, 08:37 AM   #6
Rampant_Colt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 17, 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 1,478
I've never heard of the Nordic one. Gonna have to look into that. Thanks.

Lee, I would suspect that a fully loaded steel mag extension would likely slow down my ability to swing the gun quickly, and add extra unneccesary weight. Dfariswheel also recommended to avoid the aluminum mag extensions. Are the aftermarket mag extensions really that thin? Good food for thought. Thanks for your valuable input.
__________________
member of an elite paramilitary organization: Eagle Scouts
Rampant_Colt is offline  
Old April 22, 2012, 03:37 PM   #7
Luke223
Member
 
Join Date: June 12, 2000
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 20
I had the Choate +2 extension but never got around to installing it. When I went to put it on something just did not seem right so I ordered a Wilson Combat +2 extension. I did not like everything about the WC either. Bottom line, I ended up using the tube and clamp from the Choate and the spring and follower from the Wilson Combat. Be prepared to spend some time dremmeling out, sanding and re-blueing the mag spring stop retainer dimple. I think that overall the Choate is one of the better ones for the price.
__________________
Luke
Luke223 is offline  
Old April 22, 2012, 06:10 PM   #8
Rampant_Colt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 17, 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 1,478
Think I'm gonna go with the Choate one.

Any other thoughts?
__________________
member of an elite paramilitary organization: Eagle Scouts
Rampant_Colt is offline  
Old April 23, 2012, 01:28 AM   #9
NYCShooter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 2, 2009
Posts: 103
Many choose Wilson: http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Magazine.../products/163/
NYCShooter is offline  
Old April 23, 2012, 09:59 AM   #10
Rampant_Colt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 17, 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 1,478
Thanks, NYCshooter!
Do you know if the WC mag ext is aluminum or steel?

Quote:
Only the strongest materials are used in constructing the magazine tube extensions to insure maximum resilience during rough usage. Each unit is shipped ready to install with our extra-power magazine spring and fully machined, neon green high-visibility follower.
It has rave reviews according to the link you posted..
__________________
member of an elite paramilitary organization: Eagle Scouts
Rampant_Colt is offline  
Old April 23, 2012, 02:15 PM   #11
Fargazer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 4, 2010
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 466
I can't say what the Wilson (actually Scattergun Technologies) is made of, but I can say the spring is stiffer than stock, to help feed more reliably. They also have models for both 12 and 20 gauge shotguns.
__________________
NRA Life Member
Fargazer is offline  
Old April 23, 2012, 06:22 PM   #12
Dfariswheel
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 4, 2001
Posts: 7,476
CDNN has genuine Remington 2 and 3 shot extensions for $50.
Dfariswheel is offline  
Old April 23, 2012, 06:32 PM   #13
Rampant_Colt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 17, 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 1,478
Thanks, DFW and Fargazer. It looks like CDNN is currently sold out of 'em..

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/remo87018mae.html

That's a great price!
__________________
member of an elite paramilitary organization: Eagle Scouts
Rampant_Colt is offline  
Old April 23, 2012, 08:55 PM   #14
JohnAL
Member
 
Join Date: August 19, 2011
Location: Lower Alabama
Posts: 28
I put a Wilson +2 on an older 870 Wingmaster (without the dimples) last year. It has been flawless.

The Wilson is steel.
JohnAL is offline  
Old April 23, 2012, 11:47 PM   #15
NYCShooter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 2, 2009
Posts: 103
Quote:
I can't say what the Wilson (actually Scattergun Technologies) is made of, but I can say the spring is stiffer than stock, to help feed more reliably.
I believe Wilson uses Wolff springs which, IMO, are the best. The extension itself is steel.
NYCShooter is offline  
Old April 24, 2012, 07:42 AM   #16
swinokur
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 17, 2009
Location: Montgomery County, MD
Posts: 215
Vang Comp is another choice
swinokur is offline  
Old April 24, 2012, 09:10 AM   #17
Rampant_Colt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 17, 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 1,478
Thanks, swinokur. It looks like the VC mag retails for around $75
__________________
member of an elite paramilitary organization: Eagle Scouts
Rampant_Colt is offline  
Old April 24, 2012, 09:13 AM   #18
swinokur
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 17, 2009
Location: Montgomery County, MD
Posts: 215
Yup, it's a tank too from what I read.
swinokur is offline  
Old April 24, 2012, 06:58 PM   #19
Lee Lapin
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 7, 2004
Location: SE NC
Posts: 1,239
I think you'll be happy with the Choate, if you wind up being OK with the change in balance to the gun. They've been a good deal (quality vs. price) for quite a while now IMHO.

A loaded steel extension isn't really that heavy, relatively speaking, but it puts a few ounces out in front of the support hand. That makes the weight feel heavier than it really is. It may make a difference to you, or it might not bother you enough to worry about. The only way to know is to try it and see.

But if you do put a 2-round or larger extension on the gun, be sure and use a barrel clamp with it. Otherwise any lateral stress applied to the magazine extension could damage the threads on the magazine tube itself.
__________________
Mindset - Skillset - Toolset. In that order!

Attitude and skill will get you through times of no gear, better than gear will get you through times of no attitude and no skill.
Lee Lapin is offline  
Reply

Tags
magazine , magazine extension , remington 870 , shotgun

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:17 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.09678 seconds with 10 queries