New Remington 870 - Some Questions

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justin22885

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well, i just bought a new remington 870 express.. standard model with wood furniture and 26" ribbed barrel, front bead sight...

when i have more money i plan to buy an 18" or 20" barrel with a full tube mag extension... my question with this doesnt seem to be fully discussed as i couldnt find much info while searching... anyway, the spring is held in with the dimples that have to be removed to install an extention, i like this method of holding the spring in because to remove the spring all i do is press it in with my finger.. twist, and release and it comes out.. no tools needed....
so, if i remove the dimples, how will i be able to hold the spring in place with the cap off?, is there a sort of aftermarket spring i could use when i remove the tube mag for hunting?... also, after removing said dimples, whats an inexpensive way to touch-up the parkerized finish of the tube mag?.. my shotgun is entirely parkerized, no blueing

one more thing.. i like the speedfeed pistol grip.. it looks like it was cut from a buttstock, leaving the same comb angle and such... anyone know where i can get a simply pistol grip made from wood to match the forearm? or have a spare wooden buttstock theyre willing to sell so i can cut one myself?... i want to give the shotgun a modified look when i put on the shorter components, instead of just going with a manufactured plastic grip and forearm
 
Don't understand what you mean by holding the spring in place. I just put the cap over it and push down and screw it on. I throw that piece of plastic out. I dremeled small groves in my cap so it contacts the ball then crank it down with a rag and channel locks. Never came loose.
 
The 'old' style spring retainer is what you're looking for when you do not have the magazine extension attached.

142767.jpg

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productnumber=142767

Another thing to consider is that you currently have the new style magazine cap as well. The teeth from the new style spring retainer engage the teeth on the magazine cap to prevent it from loosening while firing.

Once you remove the dimples, the older style ball detent system is what prevents the mag cap from loosening. This is a little spring loaded ball in the barrel ring and it engages the dimples inside of the older style magazine cap, and I'm assuming that your current barrel is not set up like this.

I do not know if there is any 'home made' remedies that work to keep the cap from loosening once the dimples are removed.
 
Actually, I think a little bigger 'O' ring than that works best, Snarlingiron. I like a 3/32" cross section.
Don't worry about touching up the finish with anything but flat black paint. It is not Parkerizing.
 
hmm.. that midway link specifically states it does not work with newer 870 expresses?.. whys that? it appears to be just a friction fit... so.. older retainer, and an o-ring and im good to go?... doesnt sound bad.. or hard, id be willing to do that...

the finish isnt parkerized? it sure seems like it.. and it seems durable as hell, but if theres some sort of flaw with this style of finish.. id like to know so i can think about refinishing it later on... i have a friend who could parkerize it, or apply a teflon or ceramic based finish to the shotgun

one part i would like to find.. that slide release button i dont like.. the location is fine (when safely dumping a magazine, i couldnt care less if my finger was still on the trigger)... but it tends to cut into my bare finger since i never wear gloves, and cant seem to find a larger replacement to that
 
hmm.. that midway link specifically states it does not work with newer 870 expresses?
Click to expand...

I think it's just stating that it doesn't work on the newer ones because they use the other system to hold the spring in place. Once you remove the dimples, you essentially made your mag tube the older style.
 
The finish on the Express guns is a bead-blasted bluing. Some hate it, some swear by it. Keep it oiled up well; there's lots of little pits for moisture to hide in.

one part i would like to find.. that slide release button i dont like.. the location is fine (when safely dumping a magazine, i couldnt care less if my finger was still on the trigger)... but it tends to cut into my bare finger since i never wear gloves, and cant seem to find a larger replacement to that
Click to expand...

You don't have to empty the mag like that. Retract the forearm, reach inside the loading port, and depress the shell stop on the right side (the side with the ejection port.) Be careful, the shell will squirt out of the tube in a hurry, and it can hurt if it smacks into your finger. This method doesn't involve a loaded chamber, and it saves the rims of your shells from getting dinged up on the stops. Quieter, too.
 
i have ejected like that before.. its a pain in the ass to do so.. i did see a photo of a guys 870 that appeared to have a wider slide release

anyway.. i hear most people drill out their dimples.. though mine sort of rectangular, would take a large drill bit to clear the entire dimple.. but im wondering if theres perhaps a tool that can remove them without drilling?.. by pressing them out from the inside, leaving the metal on the outside of the tube flush?

i actually think 4+1 is plenty for just about anything.. so chances of me adding an extention are slim...

however, if the finish was parkerized, id keep it, parkerized is nice, but since its not i probably wont and might be looking towards a ceramic or teflon based, probably baked on finish sometime in the future... and since most finishes like that are offered in an aresol, it shouldnt take much for me to do at all if im able to strip off the old finish first
 
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well ive been thinking more.. and ive decided when i do have a little more money.. im going to take the time, and a bit of cash to make my 870 express a more premium shotgun... dimples will be pressed out with a reamer, if i can get more information of the ball detent system, id like to modify my barrel to use it with an 870 wingmaster magazine cap... and the entire gun will be stripped and refinished.... receiver/mag and most likely the stock barrel will be coated with a satin black cermic based coating, all internals will probably get a matte silver/gray teflon based treatment, all components will be deburred and polished on all metal to metal contact surfaces, and the chamber will be polished as well

i have a CNC router, so i could probably cut higher quality wood furniture myself later on, but thats a last minute detail, ill get a new barrel and tube mag extension first, probably even a deer barrel before new furniture

i will however keep the plastic trigger plate/guard because well... i like it... its lighter, softer, not so cold in cold weather, plenty durable, and a part ill never have to think about having to refinish or getting corroded... so ill keep it... and its not a structural piece so..

yup.. just going to transform it into a standard 870.. or more like a wingmaster... but ill have a few preferred options over the wingmaster, and will still probably cost less too since i can do the trigger/action work and a friend of mine has all the supplies to do the refinishing... from there i can add the accessories... any suggestions or comments on this idea?.. also, any schematics or photos that can help me understand the ball detent system since mine lacks one to look at?
 
any suggestions or comments on this idea?
Click to expand...
I'd do it. You'll love working on your gun and get to know it inside and out. I'm working on a 1911 and a 1903, and while sometimes I think it would be cheaper just to flat out buy a customized version of each, I wouldn't get the chance to learn as much about the operation and function of each, not even mentioning the history.
 
yea your finish is just flat black paint unless you have the new power coated finish but i think they only come on tactical models
 
tmpick hit the nail on the head, i work on all my own stuff for the exact reasons he stated.. he understands where im coming from when talking about doing the work yourself... however, i think working on my own 870 would still be cheaper than a wingmaster... considering all i really need is a new mag cap for parts, and i already have the tools to do the work... heh.. believe it or not my dremel was the workhorse behind the AK-47 i built.. the drill press helped too...

satin black ceramic based spray on finish for the receiver/tube, and the barrel... and probable a satin (semi-gloss) grey for the interior components... shouldnt be too hard

but i would like to add the ball detent system to mine so i can essentially convert this shotgun to a more premium model.. any photos anyone could take to better describe to me how this system works? since my 870 doesnt have this system, i cannot use it for reference
 
well.. got my next chunk of dough.. anything particular i should look for when selecting a barrel if i decide to somehow install a ball detent system?
 
I just pruchased a remington 870 12 guage and was wondering what other people who have used it think of it.
 
Here is a picture of my 870 with the ball detent system.

The ball detent (which is in the barrel ring) is circled in red. You can see the dimples on inside of the magazine cap & the old style spring retainer inside of the mag tube.

I hope this gives you a better idea of how this system works as compared to the new one.

870balldetentsystema.jpg
 
well thank you springfield 30-06, that made everything clear to me... it looks like all im going to need to install a ball detent on an express barrel is an appropriate sized drill bit, detent punch, and the ball and spring itself... and of course, the cap... shouldnt be a difficult job..

how deep is the hole, what size ball and drill bit would be needed for this? any ideas?... im also willing to just trade my unfired brand new remington 870 express barrel, 26 inch long fully ribbed bead sighted smooth bore remchoke barrel with a mod choke... willing to accept the same specs or a 20-22 inch fully rifled barrel for a trade... i do have a drill press though rather than a hand drill, so drilling this precisely and staight wont be hard for me... that being said i guess it doesnt matter of the 18.5 inch barrel i buy this week has the detent or not

which brings me to my last question.. with this short barrel, im going to get a new stock and forearm... and im having just the hardest time deciding whether i should get a pistol grip on its own (some recommendations are welcome as to specific make and models of furniture).. and im also considering getting a pistol grip with a buttstock so i can still use this new stock for hunting.. not having to swap off when at home... and third, im considering a top folding stock as well if its legal.. though i dont think top folders are recoil pad friendly, so most likely not
 
eeh.. scratch that.. scratch all of it.. im just going to use the ATI fixed stock with pistol grip so i wont have to change it out for hunting, i will use an 18.5 inch barrel, but there is absolutely no advantage, no reason, no point in ever having a tube mag extention... maybe if i was some wannabe action movie star commando... but screw it, its not worth the time, not worth the effort, not worth the chance to damage my shotgun, just to add a couple extra rounds im never going to need... so negative on the extention....

however, a ceramic exterior, teflon interior refinishing, and a complete deburring/polishing and a full chamber polishing is still a green light... and i already have all i need to do all of that...

i might add rifle sights to the receiver sometime though... maybe a simple 3 dot high visibility setup for clay shooting and hunting purposes... so advice towards rear sights would be helpful, preferably low profile, and fixed out to about 50 yards.. a little drill and tap i can certainly do
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rw800863
I just pruchased a remington 870 12 guage and was wondering what other people who have used it think of it.


That has to be one of the best all-around shotguns I have ever owned and I have taken mine everywhere, if that helps ya any.
 
rw8000863... i was looking for one gun that could do everything i want a gun to do.. the 870 is a perfect choice for it.. i will never regret taking the 870 over other models i had the choice of
 
i was looking for one gun that could do everything i want a gun to do.. the 870 is a perfect choice for it.. i will never regret taking the 870 over other models i had the choice of
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You will regret it if you actually go through with making all these mods to it before you learn to shoot it. BTDT.

Shoot it for a year or two, at least once a month, wherever you can find a clay thrower. If you do that, you'll be amazed at how you opinion of shotguns changes in that time and how much more proficient you've become in the process. You'll likely find that the ATI stock and sub-20" barrels and mag extensions don't seem nearly as functional in the cold cruel light of experience as they do when you're new to this and trying to glean data by reading magaxines and ads and online forums. :)
 
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