magazine tube for remington 870

bolshoikachok · March 15, 2005, 04:07 PM

I'm in the process of converting my stock Remington 870 into a home defense shotgun. One of the problems that I've encountered deals with an old extended magazine tube that I purchased on eBay. I've found that when trying to mount the extended magazine to my new shotgun, the spring is obstructed by a couple of indentations in my shotgun. Does anyone know what I can do about this? I've thought about just buying an old magazine tube without the notches but am unsure of the best place to look.

Edward429451 · March 15, 2005, 04:22 PM

Ah, the dimples in the mag tube. I drilled mine out and deburred it and its fine. Others dremel them out / down smooth.

bolshoikachok · March 15, 2005, 04:32 PM

what did you use to drill them out with?

Dave McC · March 15, 2005, 04:35 PM

Drill them out with something like a 1/4" drill, then use a Dremel with a grinding tip to smooth up the insides. Simple fix.

bolshoikachok · March 15, 2005, 04:38 PM

Thanks a lot, I really appreciate your advice. What do you think about just buying an old magazine tube (surplus or something) that doesn't have the dimples? do you know of a good place to look for one? or is my best bet just to drill it. I guess my concern is that i'll mess something up or lowering the value by tampering with it.

Edward429451 · March 15, 2005, 04:42 PM

I wouldn't buy another mag tube. Mine was my first try at something of this nature and it turned out fine. I used a 1/4" drillbit and just did it. Didnt use a dremel, just an internal pipe reamer from off my plumbing truck. Nada problem. Looks good.

bolshoikachok · March 15, 2005, 04:48 PM

Thanks a lot, this is my first time ever on an internet forum and probobly wont be my last, it's been very helpful

Dfariswheel · March 15, 2005, 09:02 PM

Buying a new tube won't work.
The magazine tube is brazed in at the factory and it's a factory-only job to replace it.

This is a hard fact some people learn who fail to use a barrel clamp with a magazine extension.

Bump a magazine extension that doesn't have a clamp, and the extension can be knocked out of line, or completely off the gun.

This damages the threads on the gun's magazine tube, and the gun has to be sent back to the factory.

Remington has to remove everything from the receiver, including the ejector assembly and the shell stops.

The receiver is heated up red hot, until the brazing melts and the damaged tube can be removed.

The receiver braze area has to be cleaned up, the new magazine tube is installed and held in alignment with a special clamp and alignment jig, and the entire thing is put into a temperature-controlled furnace to braze the new magazine tube in place.

Then the ejector assembly and shell stops are replaced, and the entire unit is re-finished.

So, first, do as above and Dremel or drill the dimples out, then smooth the entire area to insure the shells will feed smoothly without hanging up.

Second, USE A BARREL CLAMP, it doesn't matter HOW strong the extension is, it could be a solid steel bar. It's still screwed to the thin magazine tube.

March 15, 2005, 04:07 PM	#1
bolshoikachok Junior Member Join Date: March 14, 2005 Location: Provo Ut Posts: 5	magazine tube for remington 870 I'm in the process of converting my stock Remington 870 into a home defense shotgun. One of the problems that I've encountered deals with an old extended magazine tube that I purchased on eBay. I've found that when trying to mount the extended magazine to my new shotgun, the spring is obstructed by a couple of indentations in my shotgun. Does anyone know what I can do about this? I've thought about just buying an old magazine tube without the notches but am unsure of the best place to look.

March 15, 2005, 04:22 PM	#2
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	Ah, the dimples in the mag tube. I drilled mine out and deburred it and its fine. Others dremel them out / down smooth.

March 15, 2005, 04:32 PM	#3
bolshoikachok Junior Member Join Date: March 14, 2005 Location: Provo Ut Posts: 5	what did you use to drill them out with?

March 15, 2005, 04:35 PM	#4
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Drill them out with something like a 1/4" drill, then use a Dremel with a grinding tip to smooth up the insides. Simple fix.

March 15, 2005, 04:38 PM	#5
bolshoikachok Junior Member Join Date: March 14, 2005 Location: Provo Ut Posts: 5	Thanks a lot, I really appreciate your advice. What do you think about just buying an old magazine tube (surplus or something) that doesn't have the dimples? do you know of a good place to look for one? or is my best bet just to drill it. I guess my concern is that i'll mess something up or lowering the value by tampering with it.

March 15, 2005, 04:42 PM	#6
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	I wouldn't buy another mag tube. Mine was my first try at something of this nature and it turned out fine. I used a 1/4" drillbit and just did it. Didnt use a dremel, just an internal pipe reamer from off my plumbing truck. Nada problem. Looks good.

March 15, 2005, 04:48 PM	#7
bolshoikachok Junior Member Join Date: March 14, 2005 Location: Provo Ut Posts: 5	Thanks a lot, this is my first time ever on an internet forum and probobly wont be my last, it's been very helpful

March 15, 2005, 09:02 PM	#8
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	Buying a new tube won't work. The magazine tube is brazed in at the factory and it's a factory-only job to replace it. This is a hard fact some people learn who fail to use a barrel clamp with a magazine extension. Bump a magazine extension that doesn't have a clamp, and the extension can be knocked out of line, or completely off the gun. This damages the threads on the gun's magazine tube, and the gun has to be sent back to the factory. Remington has to remove everything from the receiver, including the ejector assembly and the shell stops. The receiver is heated up red hot, until the brazing melts and the damaged tube can be removed. The receiver braze area has to be cleaned up, the new magazine tube is installed and held in alignment with a special clamp and alignment jig, and the entire thing is put into a temperature-controlled furnace to braze the new magazine tube in place. Then the ejector assembly and shell stops are replaced, and the entire unit is re-finished. So, first, do as above and Dremel or drill the dimples out, then smooth the entire area to insure the shells will feed smoothly without hanging up. Second, USE A BARREL CLAMP, it doesn't matter HOW strong the extension is, it could be a solid steel bar. It's still screwed to the thin magazine tube.