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Posted: 4/12/2004 10:24:15 AM EDT
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Do you have to have the special wrench to remove the plug in the magazine tube? I am getting ready to buy an extension for my 870 Express and I would like to know if need to order the wrench as well. 96Ag |
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No, a wrench is needed only to remove the handle from the slide assembly. To remove the plug on the Express: Remove the barrel. In the end of the magazine tube is a plastic sleeve with "teeth" sticking up. Press the sleeve down and turn 1/2 turn right or left, until the sleeve unlocks. GENTLY allow the sleeve to come out of the mag tube. (It's under STRONG spring pressure, be careful). With the sleeve and mag spring out, just dump the magazine plug. Before mounting the magazine extension, you will have to remove the two "dimples" or tabs inside the end of the magazine tube. These can be drilled out with a 3/16" drill, or ground away with a Dremel tool. You have to be sure to get ALL the dimples out and the inside of the tube smooth, or the extension won't feed properly. With the dimples removed, you cannot go back to the standard setup, since the magazine cap won't stay screwed on unless you REALLY tighten it down. The plastic "toothed" sleeve is what prevents the magazine cap from unscrewing. Without the dimples it won't stay in the tube when you remove the barrel. |
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"With the dimples removed, you cannot go back to the standard setup, since the magazine cap won't stay screwed on unless you REALLY tighten it down. The plastic "toothed" sleeve is what prevents the magazine cap from unscrewing. Without the dimples it won't stay in the tube when you remove the barrel." Actually, there's a relatively inexpensive way around this situation: To my knowledge, all 870 barrels are drilled out for a mag cap detent - install one and a spring(part#'s 40 and 41), then use an early mag cap(#39) that's compatable with the detent, and use the early style spring retainer(#45) - from the model 870 parts list at the back of the owners manual... That way, you could use an extended mag, or switch back to standard length for hunting, or sporting clay purposes, etc... Although the above situation is why I like the older receivers - no dimples to deal with, and the other parts are already present... I have worked with either set-up sucessfully, though... - georgestrings |
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