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Remington 870 HD magazine extension removal?

9.3K views 8 replies 5 participants last post by  wJAKE19  
#1 ·
My GOD... I can not get the magazine tube extension off of my 870... I want to clean the thing dammit!

My question is... is the magazine nut actually PART of the extension, or should it unscrew independently of it? Do I have to undo the barrel/tube clamp?

The manual is for generic 870's (Those bastards!) and merely says "remove the magazine tube cap" or something equally unhelpful.
 
#2 ·
The magazine nut on every extension I've ever seen is part of the extension tube. There is a ball bearing that acts as a rachet-locking system on it that makes it a PITA to get turning. Once it's broken loose though, it doesn't lock anymore. Yes, you'll need to remove the clamp that's holding the tube and the barrel together (of course :)).

Just turn the piss out of it. It'll come loose. Be careful not to shoot yourself in they eye with the spring though. (Need you ask why I warn you about this? :wink: ).
 
#3 ·
Man, Remington is making me really unhappy that I buoght this thing......

I'll give that a try when I get home. Thankya'!
 
#4 ·
I do know that on some 870s you have to mod the inside of the mag tube that is attached to the gun so that the mag follower will go past the end of the original tube and into the extension. Not that this would have anything to do with not being able to remove it (I wouldn't think) -- just another 870 annoyance when modding it.

I'll be honest, I see a Mossberg 590A1 in my future. The long 26" barrel will go back on the 870, along with the wood, and it'll be a hunting/sport gun. The 590A1 will take the place that my 870 is fulfilling now.

Why? I just think the 500/590 design is better. A little more complicated, a little more time consuming to strip, but still not hard to do at all. Also, I like the layout of the controls and buttons on the 500/590 better than the 870.

The pushbutton safety on the 870 (in the exact same location as many hunting rifles) says to me "The 870 is a hunting shotgun. That's what it's designed for. It feels just like your hunting rifle, so you don't have to learn another gun." Same thing with the slide release on it -- "You're hunting with this gun; your right hand has no need to stay on the grip. You've got lots of time."

The Mossy, on the other hand, with the tang located safety says "Left hand, right hand -- doesn't matter, you're ready to go." The slide release located right under the ring finger says "You're already holding on here, and your trigger finger is busy -- just use your ring finger; it'll be faster and more convenient."

What am I saying? The Mossberg 500/590 design was built around a general purpose design philosophy -- a hunting gun, a sport gun, a combat gun (hence, the 590 with it's bayo lug). The 870 seems designed around a hunting-only philosophy, and while it works well as a self-defense or combat arm, it's not designed as well to the role.

Does any of this make sense, or am I just rambling?





Also, sorry to get off topic Overkill. Maybe you can read my post to your 870 and it'll get bored and just take itself apart for you. :)
 
#5 ·
The 870HD (Home Defense) comes with the extended mag. Little bro has one, and his took some serious working to get loose the first time. Just don't use pliers and mark it all up. :) I on the other hand, bought an 870 w/ 26" barrel and then got an 18" barrel and a mag extension. Overall, I should have gotten an HD, but I wanted something I could hunt with, should the desire ever come. :)

Matthew
 
#6 ·
mr0w1 said:
I do know that on some 870s you have to mod the inside of the mag tube that is attached to the gun so that the mag follower will go past the end of the original tube and into the extension. Not that this would have anything to do with not being able to remove it (I wouldn't think) -- just another 870 annoyance when modding it.
My tube fortunately doesn't have the neutering dimples in it... I guess Remington trusts me.

I'll be honest, I see a Mossberg 590A1 in my future. The long 26" barrel will go back on the 870, along with the wood, and it'll be a hunting/sport gun. The 590A1 will take the place that my 870 is fulfilling now. Why? I just think the 500/590 design is better. A little more complicated, a little more time consuming to strip, but still not hard to do at all. Also, I like the layout of the controls and buttons on the 500/590 better than the 870.
I concur! But the problem is... Up until a couple days ago, every single Mossberg I had ever seen or handled was either an uber-dorky stock-less pistol-grip-only shotgun, or some total piece of crap rattle-trap in the gun store, where the fore-grip twisted this way and that. Naturally, after buying the 870, and then seeing CDNN's FN shottie, a REAL Mossberg, etc... I'm kicking myself.

The pushbutton safety on the 870 (in the exact same location as many hunting rifles) says to me "The 870 is a hunting shotgun. That's what it's designed for. It feels just like your hunting rifle, so you don't have to learn another gun." Same thing with the slide release on it -- "You're hunting with this gun; your right hand has no need to stay on the grip. You've got lots of time."
Not sure what the plastic trigger group says about it... or the J-lock safety that can lock itself without the key, but requires a key to unlock...

The Mossy, on the other hand, with the tang located safety says "Left hand, right hand -- doesn't matter, you're ready to go." The slide release located right under the ring finger says "You're already holding on here, and your trigger finger is busy -- just use your ring finger; it'll be faster and more convenient."
Wanna buy an 870?

What am I saying? The Mossberg 500/590 design was built around a general purpose design philosophy -- a hunting gun, a sport gun, a combat gun (hence, the 590 with it's bayo lug). The 870 seems designed around a hunting-only philosophy, and while it works well as a self-defense or combat arm, it's not designed as well to the role.
Who the hell had me convinced that the 870 was THE shotgun?

Does any of this make sense, or am I just rambling? Also, sorry to get off topic Overkill. Maybe you can read my post to your 870 and it'll get bored and just take itself apart for you. :)
This is all QUITE on topic. It chaps my ass that no matter how much searching I did on a new shotgun, trying to determine what was what, I never found anything that spoke against it. Then, while trying to research a specific problem, I find all sorts of ****, and then I want to get rid of it.

Of course, this is all aided by the fact that I haven't shot it yet....
 
#7 ·
msidner said:
The 870HD (Home Defense) comes with the extended mag. Little bro has one, and his took some serious working to get loose the first time. Just don't use pliers and mark it all up. :) I on the other hand, bought an 870 w/ 26" barrel and then got an 18" barrel and a mag extension. Overall, I should have gotten an HD, but I wanted something I could hunt with, should the desire ever come. :)

Matthew
After taking the clamp off, it came right off.

Did bugar up the "nut" trying to take it off earlier though.

Seriously, the generic "remove the magazine tube nut" instruction in the manual is a disgrace. Looking at it, I don't see how anyone would know instinctively that the extension is one piece, with the nut a part of it. Grrrrrrrrrrr!!!!


Never have I bought a gun and been as happy about the purchase as the XD.
 
#8 ·
the magazine extension tube on the 870 is separate from the coupling nut (the donut with the ridges). it's not hard to get off of it the way it comes from the factory, you just can't do it by hand. get a piece of leather from an old shoe or belt (i used a four inch strip cut out of an old belt) and a pair of channel locks or (better yet) a large sized robogrip pliers. wrap the leather around the coupling and clamp the robogrips on it and turn counter-clockwise (lefty-loosy), and it should come right off. be careful as you get to the end of the threads because the mag spring will come popping right out. then you'll notice that the coupling can also be unscrewed from the extension tube. so an extended mag from the factory on an 870 is 3 external pieces- standard length mag tube, coupling, extension tube. once you get it off the first time and hand tighten it back on, the coupling should come off easily with a twist after you've first taken off the extension tube clamp holding it to the end of the barrel.