Magazine tube springs....

[Rockman]

I have a Remington 870 Express Magnum deer gun in 12 gauge. I was wondering who makes a beefier spring for the Magazine tube other than what Remington offers so I can leave the shotgun loaded in a corner for say, an unlimited amount of time. I know Mossberg's springs are far stronger than Remington's by a generous country mile. I have a 5 shot {without plug} model 870, but someday I'd like to make it an 8 shot model with the Magazine extension and the new spring too. I also would like to replace the "rifle" sights with something other than what it has already. Any ideas? Fiber optics, bead, ghost ring and post, etc.? It is a smooth bored Imp. Cyl. Choke too, 20" barrel. I want to make it look like a riot shotgun. It has the Remington factory furniture on it too, but I want to ugly that up as best as possible. This shotgun will beat the tar out of me with Activ 2 3/4" rifled slugs though. Remington puts that ugly dog leg in their stocks, this is why they kick so badly with 2 3/4" rifled slugs too. The same loads through my 8 shot Mossy Persuader will kick like a .410 with 3" slugs.

Thank you for your time in advance folks.

P.S., Who makes a Magazine tube cap with a swivel stud so I can attach a sling to my 870 as well? T.I.A.

[Rockman]

Here is an identical photo of my 870 too. Just so you folks know what I have, and what I'm inquiring about. T.I.A.

[Mosko]

I have a Remington 870 Express Magnum deer gun in 12 gauge. I was wondering who makes a beefier spring for the Magazine tube other than what Remington offers so I can leave the shotgun loaded in a corner for say, an unlimited amount of time.

I have an 870, that stands behind the bedroom door loaded with 5 rounds. Every year or so, I fire the 5 shots to test the shotgun, clean and reload it before placing it back behind the door.

While I can't be exactly sure, that 870 has been doing that for the better part of 20 years.

The last time, and every time I've ever fired it, it worked perfectly. I have always heard that keeping a mag spring "depressed" in a firearm is not a good thing due to causing weakness in the spring, but personally, I do just that to the shotgun mentioned and 3 auto pistols kept in different locations, and have never had the problem myself.

I could be wrong, and it may be the maker of the firearms fault for using bad springs, but I have always thought that feeding problems from a mag or tube was usually becauce the mag or inside of the tube is dirty, and restricts the "sliding" of the cartridges rather than weakness of the spring.

Part of my cleaning process, especially in pump and auto loader shotguns is to thoroughly clean the mag tube and lightly oil, the same as I do the bores.

The down side of that is that the light oil will "accumulate" dust, whereas a dry one wouldn't be as likely to do so. But if it's part of the normal cleaning process there's no problem.

I have seen many nice, clean shotguns, with pitted and or rusty mag tubes. It's apparent that most folks don't go that far.

[Rockman]

Mosko, Thank you very much for your time here, as always, it is more than appreciated. I'll check out the mag tube ASAP and see if there are any "gremlins" in there and clean it post haste too. I have learned a lot form your expertise in the various forums I have haunted in the past, and I must thank you again for sharing this with not only me, but all of us too.

[Rustybore]

Rockman, did you ever find a stronger spring source? I was just reading this post and am also guilty of keeping an 870 loaded behind the door. Rust in my area is not a problem, very dry climate as far as humidity goes. My shotgun is an old cop gun and I have been thinking of putting the extended tube on it also, although really no reason to do it. I have put a synthetic stock on it, and shot a few badgers.

Kevin in Or.

[Mosko]

That 870 that I spoke of above, is a military M870 MkI. I have been told that they were used by the military in viet nam. This particular one is used only for home defense. The mag tube goes all the way to the muzzle, and I think will actually hold 8 rounds of 2 3/4" 12 ga. A standard M16 bayonet fits the business end.

It's an excellent home defense weapon with buckshot, and the bayonet.

[Rockman]

Never found a new source Rustybore.

Mosko, Wanna trade? :) I am serious.

I still need help here guys.

[Mosko]

No, I'll have to keep it mainly because of where, and who I got it from. It has a lot of "personal" value. That's also the reason it's not used for anything but home defense. As I posted above, the old girl gets fired 5 times a year, and cleaned thoroughly, then back behind the door. My hope is that my family, "knowing the history of it as well", will have it do the same job for them after I'm gone.

[Rustybore]

Mosko, could you post a picture of the 870? Don't think I have seen one in real military configuration. I think it would be interesting to see.

Kevin in Or.

[Mosko]

Sure, as soon a I get my camera running. Well, the camers is not the problem, it's fairly new. The thing is full of pictures from the summer vacation, guns, and two Europe trips. I have discovered that it saves the pictures to the flash disk in some goofy format. The software that came with the camera "ran out" with me thinking it was the permenant type like it should have been.

I must purchase a full fledged "official" copy before I can retrieve the photos, so they say.

My partner, who I call "bit head", tells me there's no need to do that. He is writing me a "VB patch" to solve the problem.

[Rustybore]

I have one of those digital cameras, and frankly, I didn't understand a thing you said.:dontknow: I take it, whenever your camera does something, like make more room for a picture, you will do that. Sounds good to me.:)

Kevin in Or.

[Mosko]

No what the problem is that the pictires in the camera are .ead format or something like that. The software converts the .ead format to .jpg, or .bmp or one of those formats that we all can view and use.

[Rustybore]

I've taken some pictures with mine, my son even put them on the computer, somewhere, for me, but am still baffled how to get them to a forum. He has shown me a couple times, but he goes so fast, I can't remember five minutes later. He gets fustrated with me, I think. "Can't teach an old dog new tricks" sure applies here. lol

Kevin in Or.