Anybody make a steel mag follower for the 870 Express models?

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Vang Comp via Brownells:

100002463.jpg
 
I've bought several aluminium plug type followers from Midway---Remington factory I believe.
 
Thanks 9mmMike.

I haven't been to Brownell's in a while. Nice to see that their website has been updated. It used to be clunky as all get out.

I'll order a couple of the stainless steel versions, but at $20 each, I won't be changing over all the Remingtons right away.
 
There's a plastic follower in my 1100, which is 35 years old. It works fine.

I wouldn't feel too rushed on this purchase.
 
Plastic follower in my 1100 jammed twice during a dove hunt on Saturday.

Occurred when I would empty the magazine, and it took considerable pressure to get the follower unstuck. Gun wasn't dirty. I only had about 100 rounds through it since the last cleaning (75 rounds at the clays range a few days before and whatever I had shot in the field that day). When I clean, I generally run a Hoppes 9 rag though the magazine tube and then leave a very light coating of CLP. So there should not have been any residue/dirt to speak of.

Upon inspection, it looks as though the corners of the follower have worn.

ArmedBear, grades of polymer have changed over time. Maybe you have different plastic. At any rate, I'm going to put some metal in mine at some point.

Edited to add: The 1100 in question is one of the Wal-Mart close-outs that folks snapped up a few years back. It's been a good dove gun, but it does have the Express magazine dimples unfortunately.
 
The followers that Brownells makes do look pretty durable.

Debating about those colored aluminum followers. Wonder if the finish/color would wear off.

080000226.jpg
 
Guyon, the finish on the aluminum followers is most likely anodized and should be rather durable.

Once you get your follower, please post your impressions and a pic or two.
 
Husker 1911, not sure if you mean filing out grooves on the followers or filing out the dimples themselves .

Filing out grooves on the followers... that would work on some of the solid polymer followers and maybe on that Vang Comp. On the old-style steel followers that I have, however, the metal is pretty thin. If you file away enough for the dimple, you've filed through the metal!

Filing out the dimples... well, they do serve some function as far as keeping the magazine cap more securely in place. Sure you can just crank down on it with some pliers, but I'd rather leave the gun as designed (as crappy as the design is) and just buy a quality follower that fits.

I'm going to start with the 1100 I use for dove and the 870 I use for duck. Those see more shots through them than the others. Much more likely to empty the magazine while hunting.

I have two other 870s I use for turkey, but turkey hunting is more often than not a one-shot affair. And my HD 870 already has one of the old-style steel followers. Dimples are gone on it since I had to remove them to add the mag extension.

May get one SS and one colored aluminum for a comparison.
 
Guyon, I meant to file out the dimples on the Express' magazine tube. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe only the Express has said dimples, and the Wingmaster series has no dimples. Many's the Express I've removed the dimples from and installed the Choate high visibility synthetic follower.
 
The problem with the dimple removal is that you will need to change to a detent-ball style barrel and mag cap.
I have done this on my Express models but then I also add and remove the extensions depending on mood.
If you do not need an extension, there is nothing wrong with the Express-system (even though I do not like it!).
Without the detent and correct cap, the mag cap will come loose.
IMHO, the slotted follower is a good solution.
Mike
 
The problem with the dimple removal is that you will need to change to a detent-ball style barrel and mag cap.
Click to expand...

On the 1100, the detent ball isn't on the barrel; it's on the foreend, I believe on the metal insert that fits over the mag tube (I'm not where I can grab my old 1100 and look right now).

So, it'd be easier than with an 870, but you'd have to get a few parts. Frankly, I think the dimples and cammed plug are more user-friendly than the spring-steel plug in the non-dimple versions, so it's 6 of one, half dozen of the other.

And who cares if some of the anodized color wears off? Its only purpose is to make the plug more visible when you're checking if the gun's loaded. It's not like you're going to spend a lot of time looking at your follower.

I will probably get one of those eventually. There's one downside to the plastic follower in my 1100: it's black. It's probably better plastic than the newer orange ones, but it's kinda hard to see in there.:)

Final note: the reason you wouldn't necessarily want a steel follower is its weight.
 
On the 1100, the detent ball isn't on the barrel; it's on the foreend, I believe on the metal insert that fits over the mag tube (I'm not where I can grab my old 1100 and look right now).
Click to expand...

True. My own 1100 Magnum has that metal ring in the forend. I am not even sure how the Express-style 1100's are secured since the forend slides over the barrel ring. Hmmmm.
 
Guyon, the anodizing looks decorative and will wear easily if so. Hard anodizing is as tough or tougher than parkerizing on steel. I'm not familiar with where that shotgun would wear. Still soaking the part in one of the teflon wonder oils overnight can't hurt.
 
Why would you want steel? The magazine is a place that people are notoriously lax in cleaning (like in the field, not at home), is under friction, is nearly open to the elements (like re-loading in a duck blind) and therefore is a rust hazard. An aluminum or plastic part makes sense there.

I've never had a problem with the plastic one that shipped with my Sportsman 12 Magnum (the earlier version of the express).
 
I'm starting to lean toward the aluminum because of the anodized colors.

In Brownells' defense, it is stainless steel. Shouldn't be a rust hazard.
 
I use that Wilson on a few SG's here. It is a good deal with the spring. It is not Express-dimple friendly though.
 
As Dr. Rob stated, I would prefer a plastic or aluminum follower, too.

I guess the issue is finding one with the grooves to accomodate the Express mag tube. If the old Choate followers are still available, they are probably easier to groove, than the Wilson followers. The Wilson follower is fine, but it doesn't seem to have as much material in the sides, where it needs to be grooved. (Granted, I'm going by how my ~15 year0old Choate followers look. I don't know if they've changed or not.)
 
Again, rust shouldn't be an issue with stainless steel, if it's quality stainless.

I've grooved a Choate follower. Worked okay, but was a bit of a pain to do.

Ordered one of the Brownell's followers. I'll let folks know how it look & holds up.
 
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