Pump Shotgun kept loaded

tenusdad · November 20, 2010, 10:41 PM

Considering keeping a Remington 870 in the bedroom loaded. Are there any issues with keeping a pump shotgun with extended (7 round) magazine tube loaded? Will the spring hold up or go dead? Anybody with experience keeping one loaded over time; I would like to hear their advice.

Slopemeno · November 20, 2010, 10:45 PM

I left a Mossberg loaded for about 18 years. Did the spring soften up? Sure. Does it still function? You bet. In an 870 the spring is cheap and easy to replace. Don't worry about it. Good choice for a HD rig.

Dave McC · November 20, 2010, 11:06 PM

My HD 870 has a two shot extension and has been kept loaded since the early 80s. I may have changed the spring once.

The mag is kept one round down from capacity, instead of 6 it holds 5 and has been absolutely reliable for nigh 30 years.

nogo · November 21, 2010, 08:13 PM

I too have the 870 with extension, and once when I checked the ammo after a year or so, I discovered that the shells compressed slightly causing a bulge above the rim. They would not chamber. The ammo was premium grade law enforcement buckshot. Like a good citizen, I showed this stuff to one of the local pd supervisors who did not appear concerned.

Have you noticed that the l.e. buckshot has low base rims? Would the high brass shells of conventional buckshot be stronger?

In this example the 870 is all factory.

hogdogs · November 21, 2010, 08:18 PM

and before any one tries get all "squishy" (pun fully intended) about their mag springs... Do you keep your car on jack stands under the frame when vehicle is not in use? I thought not... There are plenty of pre 1940's vehicles still riding fine on the factory supplied springs...

Brent

zippy13 · November 21, 2010, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogo

Would the high brass shells of conventional buckshot be stronger?

Contrary to popular belief, with modern plastic hulls, the height of the brass is inconsequential. Shell manufacturers continue using low and high brass, to distinguish target from heavy loads, out of tradition from the days of paper hulls. Several manufactures (Herters, Wanda, Activ, etc.) have made all plastic hulls (see-thru hulls have their advantages). Some of these all-plastic hulls incorporate a metal washer-like reinforcement around the primer hole, but the rim is plastic.

VADER · November 21, 2010, 11:02 PM

what about having just one or two loaded, and have the extra on a side saddle or on the stock?

zip22 · November 21, 2010, 11:17 PM

Keeping a spring compressed does not wear it out. Keeping it loaded to capacity will also not wear it unless there was a seriously overlooked flaw in the design or manufacturing.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...7/ai_99130369/

swinokur · November 22, 2010, 04:41 PM

I keep my 870 "cruiser ready" with the magazine full 6 and an empty chamber, safety off. To use add BG, rack and enjoy.

oneounceload · November 22, 2010, 05:06 PM

I have a 500 that has been kept in the same loaded position for about 25 years - shells eject and load every time - springs go bad from "work', not from tension

Pahoo · November 22, 2010, 05:45 PM

I have an older 870 Express and recently loaded it to max. Noticed that the spring got weak on me and the last shell got so loose that it did not feed. Extended the spring and it held tight but not for long. Ordered a new one from Midway for around $4.00 and so far so good. I gave the old spring to my smith and he said he would use it. I would agree that springs should not go weak but mine did. Probably due to old age .....

Be Safe !!!

Hardcase · November 22, 2010, 05:56 PM

My great grandpa kept his Winchester 1897 loaded from 1905 until he gave it to my grandfather around 1940. Grandpa did, too. So did my dad, from around 1970 on. And I do too, since 2007. Original springs.

I'm sure that the metallurgy has changed over the years, but I think that you're safe

kraigwy · November 22, 2010, 06:40 PM

I've kept my 870 in the back of a police car for years loaded, my spring still works.

**Mike Irwin** · November 22, 2010, 06:47 PM

My Smith & Wesson (Hey Dave, it fondly remembers you!

) has been loaded for most of the last 15 years or so.

The elastic buttcuff where I kept some 00 buckshot (it's loaded with No. 4) has given up the ghost, however.

highvel · November 22, 2010, 07:56 PM

I have had my 870 loaded since 84-85 and the only time it's unloaded is for cleaning, I have zero issues with it.
I must admit, I leave the hammer down on an empty chamber though.
Nothing gets more attention, or sounds more intimidating, than a shotgun slide!
The only thing that could be worse, would be the slide operation along with an angry woman's voice

Brad Kenney · November 22, 2010, 11:00 PM

Shouldn't be a problem. Our cars have had loaded 870's for years also. Haven't noticed a problem with the springs.

silvercorvette · November 23, 2010, 09:43 PM

Quote:

I keep my 870 "cruiser ready" with the magazine full 6 and an empty chamber, safety off

Ditto, a spring will wear out faster form loading and unloading the tube.

Cruncher Block · November 23, 2010, 11:25 PM

As nogo mentioned, I would be more concerned about shell compression than the spring wearing out.

I had one of those super extra power springs for a while and it made several shells hard to chamber.

Obvious and most enjoyable solution is to not go too long without firing and rotating.

henryfrapp · November 25, 2010, 05:21 AM

Hardcase is right on the 97 Win. I have kept one loaded for about 20 years with no problems and keep an 870 loaded about the same amount of time in the barn.

November 20, 2010, 10:41 PM	#1
tenusdad Junior member Join Date: April 27, 2008 Posts: 396	Pump Shotgun kept loaded Considering keeping a Remington 870 in the bedroom loaded. Are there any issues with keeping a pump shotgun with extended (7 round) magazine tube loaded? Will the spring hold up or go dead? Anybody with experience keeping one loaded over time; I would like to hear their advice.

November 21, 2010, 08:18 PM	#5
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	and before any one tries get all "squishy" (pun fully intended) about their mag springs... Do you keep your car on jack stands under the frame when vehicle is not in use? I thought not... There are plenty of pre 1940's vehicles still riding fine on the factory supplied springs... Brent Last edited by hogdogs; November 21, 2010 at 08:56 PM.

November 22, 2010, 05:56 PM	#12
Hardcase Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Location: Sunny Southern Idaho Posts: 1,909	My great grandpa kept his Winchester 1897 loaded from 1905 until he gave it to my grandfather around 1940. Grandpa did, too. So did my dad, from around 1970 on. And I do too, since 2007. Original springs. I'm sure that the metallurgy has changed over the years, but I think that you're safe __________________ Well we don't rent pigs and I figure it's better to say it right out front because a man that does like to rent pigs is... he's hard to stop - Gus McCrae

November 22, 2010, 06:40 PM	#13
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I've kept my 870 in the back of a police car for years loaded, my spring still works. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

November 22, 2010, 06:47 PM	#14
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	My Smith & Wesson (Hey Dave, it fondly remembers you! ) has been loaded for most of the last 15 years or so. The elastic buttcuff where I kept some 00 buckshot (it's loaded with No. 4) has given up the ghost, however. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

November 20, 2010, 10:45 PM	#2
Slopemeno Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2007 Posts: 2,663	I left a Mossberg loaded for about 18 years. Did the spring soften up? Sure. Does it still function? You bet. In an 870 the spring is cheap and easy to replace. Don't worry about it. Good choice for a HD rig.

November 20, 2010, 11:06 PM	#3
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	My HD 870 has a two shot extension and has been kept loaded since the early 80s. I may have changed the spring once. The mag is kept one round down from capacity, instead of 6 it holds 5 and has been absolutely reliable for nigh 30 years.

November 21, 2010, 08:13 PM	#4
nogo Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2009 Location: central texas Posts: 215	I too have the 870 with extension, and once when I checked the ammo after a year or so, I discovered that the shells compressed slightly causing a bulge above the rim. They would not chamber. The ammo was premium grade law enforcement buckshot. Like a good citizen, I showed this stuff to one of the local pd supervisors who did not appear concerned. Have you noticed that the l.e. buckshot has low base rims? Would the high brass shells of conventional buckshot be stronger? In this example the 870 is all factory.

November 21, 2010, 11:02 PM	#7
VADER Member Join Date: May 21, 2002 Location: NE FL Posts: 60	what about having just one or two loaded, and have the extra on a side saddle or on the stock?

November 21, 2010, 11:17 PM	#8
zip22 Member Join Date: April 29, 2009 Posts: 99	Keeping a spring compressed does not wear it out. Keeping it loaded to capacity will also not wear it unless there was a seriously overlooked flaw in the design or manufacturing. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...7/ai_99130369/

November 22, 2010, 04:41 PM	#9
swinokur Senior Member Join Date: April 17, 2009 Location: Montgomery County, MD Posts: 215	I keep my 870 "cruiser ready" with the magazine full 6 and an empty chamber, safety off. To use add BG, rack and enjoy.

November 22, 2010, 05:06 PM	#10
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	I have a 500 that has been kept in the same loaded position for about 25 years - shells eject and load every time - springs go bad from "work', not from tension

November 22, 2010, 05:45 PM	#11
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	I have an older 870 Express and recently loaded it to max. Noticed that the spring got weak on me and the last shell got so loose that it did not feed. Extended the spring and it held tight but not for long. Ordered a new one from Midway for around $4.00 and so far so good. I gave the old spring to my smith and he said he would use it. I would agree that springs should not go weak but mine did. Probably due to old age ..... Be Safe !!!

November 22, 2010, 07:56 PM	#15
highvel Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2010 Location: Powhatan VA Posts: 633	I have had my 870 loaded since 84-85 and the only time it's unloaded is for cleaning, I have zero issues with it. I must admit, I leave the hammer down on an empty chamber though. Nothing gets more attention, or sounds more intimidating, than a shotgun slide! The only thing that could be worse, would be the slide operation along with an angry woman's voice __________________ Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.--Mark Twain "I have opinions of my own 'strong opinions' but I don't always agree with them."--George Bush

November 22, 2010, 11:00 PM	#16
Brad Kenney Member Join Date: June 9, 2000 Location: DFW area, Texas Posts: 40	Shouldn't be a problem. Our cars have had loaded 870's for years also. Haven't noticed a problem with the springs.

November 23, 2010, 11:25 PM	#18
Cruncher Block Member Join Date: December 11, 2008 Posts: 63	As nogo mentioned, I would be more concerned about shell compression than the spring wearing out. I had one of those super extra power springs for a while and it made several shells hard to chamber. Obvious and most enjoyable solution is to not go too long without firing and rotating.

November 25, 2010, 05:21 AM	#19
henryfrapp Member Join Date: November 11, 2010 Posts: 58	Hardcase is right on the 97 Win. I have kept one loaded for about 20 years with no problems and keep an 870 loaded about the same amount of time in the barn.