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Posted: 10/12/2008 3:36:53 PM EDT
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How does one tell if the mag extension on a Benelli M1S90 is factory or aftermarket? Are the Tacstar's as reliable as the OEM? I would guess the spring is the major factor in reliability more so than the tube itself. Thank you. |
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While Benelli magazine extensions look similar upon first glance, further study will show how different they really are. The TacStar extension is essentially a "one piece" design, in that the nut cannot be removed from the extension itself. The nut is also a different shape/profile. Also, the magazine end cap is a part of the tube itself, whereas other designs use a removable end-cap. The TacStar tube is essentially a round-pipe, whereas other designs have a "hump" or "raised radius" before the mounting nut. The TacStar extension also doesn't have a "groove" for the barrel/magazine support. I have used Tacstar extensions on my Supernova and M1/M2. IME, they work as good as an OEM extension. Mine have been 100% reliable. I have around 700 rounds through an M1S90 with a Tacstar tube and around 500 with a Nova. In my experience they work the same as a OEM tube. The chief complaint about the Tacstar is that they can "work themselves loose", but this isn't a Tacstar only thing and its incredibly easy to resolve. Fundamentally, magazine extensions are just a metal tube with a spring. Provided the tube is in-spec and the string is strong enough to keep up with the action, the extension would work perfectly. The TacStar spring is a little less-stiff than other models, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Too much spring tension will cause the shells to "bulge" inside the tube, causing a failure. While it doesn't feel as stiff when you are loading it, it cycles shells fast enough and with enough authority to keep up with the action. With other extensions running 100.00+, the Tacstar is an excellent choice. I also have a few SRM extensions that I use on my Benelli's, Berettas and Franchis. These are very close to the OEM extension and quality is identical or possibly superior. FWIW, OEM Benelli extensions aren't the nicest extensions you can buy...I would liken it to OEM Remingto and Wilson/Scattergun. The SRM tube has a removable nut but neither the nut nor the tube are compatible with OEM Benelli components. So, if you want the Benelli sling mount, you will have to finnagle it off the OEM Benelli extension and try and attach it to the SRM nut. Good luck with that... There is an included mag/barrel support that has a side-sling mount.The SRM tube lacks the "grooves" for the mag/barrel support also. It does, however, have a removable end cap. The SRM endcap is superior to the Benelli unit because the "sides" are longer and thus the likelyhood of the cap tilting inside the tube is greatly reduced. The down side to this is that the end cap is made of polymer. What that matters, I have no clue. The SRM includes an "improved" aluminum follower which is much better than the OEM Benelli unit. The spring appears to be very robust and durable. Its likely the tube will stick out beyond the barrel slightly, depending on what length you select. The method of attaching the SRM is slightly different in that you have to manipulate both the nut and tube when installing it. The tube will not be fully seated into the nut and thus it can come loose. The bracket helps mitigate this and its been a bigger issue with my pumps. I have shot my SRM extensions plenty and they too work perfectly. I have yet to notice a functional difference between any of them... The Benelli OEM extensions are pretty easy to identify. They have a groove for the mag/barrel support. The support doesn't have a sling mount, just a "knurled" bolt. The nut is removable and typically has a sling provision on it. There is a raised "hump/radius" around the magazine tube where it meets the nut. The tube can and will fit flush into the nut when attached to the gun. The end cap is removable, made of metal and has short "sides". The Choate extensions I have are nearly pefect replicas of the OEM extensions. The OEM Benelli nuts fit on the tubes. However, I haven't seen Choate Benelli tubes in a long time, it seems like people prefer other mfgs. Daves Metal Works are a combo between SRM and Benelli. The one I have has a wierd "French twist donut" looking nut, but I have seen others that don't have this. The DMW extension I have also has a 1913 mag/barrel support bracket. These are the major extensions and if you post a picture or a more detaile description of your extension,I am pretty certain I can identify it. As I mentioned, I have thousands of rounds through these extensions and functionally, I can't tell any difference. Honestly, I prefer SRM/Choate on my Franchi/Beretta guns. While I have OEM extensions for all my Benellis, I have sold most of my extras. With less expensive alternatives that work perfectly, its a waste to pay 200.00 for an OEM unit. Also, a new SRM/DMW is a much better choice than a god-knows-how-used OEM extension...If you have a Tacstar extension that works, you probably would never notice the difference between it and an OEM unit. While my Tacstars have worked perfectly, I don't use mine any more. Because I have them, I installed OEM extensions on my defensive guns. As I already had them, it was cheap insurance. That being said, my Tacstars work the same and thus I would totally use them on a defensive gun. There are LE agencies that use them on issue guns... Keep in mind, aftermarket shotgun magazines are different than aftermarket centerfire magazines. |
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