Tactical expert needed to help me build my tactical 870

For anything other than a safe queen, a barrel clamp on a magazine extension more than two rounds is definitely needed. And if you whack the magazine extension on the safe door getting the shotgun out, you might wish you'd put a barrel clamp on the safe queen too.

Look at the thickness of the metal in the magazine tube where the extension attaches. See how thin it is? THAT'S where the problem lies- NOT in the sturdiness of the magazine extension.
Click to expand...
I'm fully aware of this situation, as well as the anecdotal reports, and, IMHO, if it were an actual problem then I believe Hans Vang and the guys at Scatterguns/Wilson Combat would indeed equip their mag extensions with barrel clamps, as it would harm their reputation/credibility for building sturdy, reliable shotguns/shotgun parts not to do so.
 
"if it were an actual problem"

I have three verified cases of unsupported magazine extensions getting knocked off guns and damaging the gun's magazine tube threads.

Case #1 was a small town police chief answering an armed robbery call at a bank (false alarm).
He bumped his Wilson extension on the car getting out.
The extension was blown off with such force, the opposite window was shattered.
The gun's magazine threads were damaged, needing a trip back to Remington for replacement.
The chief told me how sick he felt to be possibly facing armed bank robbers with a 6 shot revolver, because he failed to install a clamp as several people told him to do.

Case #2, a local doctor who kept a Winchester 1300 with a Choate extension in the bedroom.
He opened a closet door and knocked the gun over. It slide down the wall it was leaning against and landed on a low wooden chest.
The extension was not knocked completely off but was bent out of line and "hanging by a thread".
The gun's magazine threads were deformed and ruined.
He traded the gun off, the new owner installing a new magazine tube.

Case #3, I personally saw.
A police officer at a training session was shooting a stage where he kneeled over a table simulating a car hood. He would then stand and step over to a PPC barricade to simulate taking cover behind a wall.
When he stepped over to the barricade, he bumped the Wilson extension on the barricade, knocking the extension off.
The extension and spring shot a considerable distance down range, and shells were scattered all over the line.
The gun's threads were damaged and the gun required a trip back to Remington for a new magazine tube.

I actually saw the incident and the bump was NOT a particularly heavy blow.

As is always the case, people are free to do as you wish, but knocking magazine extension off guns DOES happen, and more often than you think.

There are no really good reasons NOT to use a clamp, and several excellent reasons you SHOULD.
Make your own choices.
 
I'm with the Farriswheel !:D It never is a problem until you launch your tube downrange and you stand there wondering!:p The Remington factory kit is always my first choice. But a TacStar extension with a Clark clamp is prolly the ultimate in beef!;) I and many pals have evovled to both systems.:cool:
 
I have three verified cases of unsupported magazine extensions getting knocked off guns and damaging the gun's magazine tube threads.
Click to expand...
In any of these cases we have no way of knowing whether the magazine extensions were securely screwed (loose) onto the magazine tube (maintenance problem as opposed to a hardware deficiency).

The Wilson Combat (Scatterguns) position is that a barrel clamp is not needed. So either Scatterguns is not receiving user feedback or the problem is more urban legend than geniune problem. Could you imagine the legal liability if they've been made aware of this alleged problem and do nothing about it?

Bottom line: if you feel more comfortable with a barrel clamp then by all means use one.
 
I don't believe Vang Comp uses a clamp either.

BTW, I was in a class where during a firing excercise a gentleman's extension and mag spring headed down range. The problem is that he had a sling attachment mount that went between the barrel lug and the extension. Unfortunately, the extra thickness of the sling mount left very little thread for the magazine extension to attach. This was problamatic throughout the class.
 
Not to hijack your thread but, I just bought an 870 Express and I had read where if you remove the dimples to put a tube extension on that voids your warranty? I'm not real pressed to add the extension if it voids my warranty.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top