Trouble With 870 Barrel Clamp?!?

[CrazyGunBarney]

Bought a TacStar barrel clamp for my 870 with a TacStar magazine extension. The center of the clamp (the part that would be between the barrel and mag) seemed bigger than the gap. When I installed it, it tweaked the mag tube a bit away from the barrel. When testing for function, with 7 rounds in the mag, the first two fed fine, after that, the follower was stuck the there was no spring pressure behind the shells in the mag. I moved the barrel clamp to a couple of different places on the mag tube and had the same results every time, 100% failure rate. With the clamp removed, I have 100% functioning. The gun feeds every shot perfect, no matter what orientation the gun is in (even updise down), but it just won't work with the barrel clamp.

Anybody else have this issue? What brand barrel clamp works for you?

[turbobrick]

Do you have the clamp turned the right direction? The tube and barrel have different diameters, and the clamp is offset to compensate for the difference. I'm sorry to point out the easy one, but I can't figure out what it would be otherwise.

[TacticalBling]

I have a Choate extension on mine that works fine, except that I'd like to maim the designer who thought putting a sling swivel on the clamp bolt was a good idea.

[CrazyGunBarney]

turbobrick...I checked that. The halves are marked to make it easy to pair up correctly, and I did try reversing it once just to make sure. It doesn't come close to being correct if you flip the clamp upside down, the diameters are different for the mag and barrel. The problem is the flat area between the formed curves of the clamp. That area seems to wide, it is larger than the gap between the barrel and magazine.

[fredj338]

Yep, the Tacstar is pretty crappy. I went w/ the original Rem., works great.

[El Duderino]

Go with a factory Remington extension or Wilson Combat.

I wouldn't waste my time or money with any of the others.

[Another Miller]

Sounds messed up.Tac star doesnt impress me that much.


I used a choate machine and tool mag extension,clamp and a wilson combat spring and follower.Never a hang up.You can buy a kit online but they are pricey through brownelles website.These choate extensions are made of steel,not plastic.Worth it though if it removes the aggravation of stoppages in the mag tube.

20" barrel accepts the 8 shot extension,18" barrel accepts the 7.(thats 6 in the tube and 1 in the chamber)


Also note; the 870 express models have mag dimples in the mag tube that must be removed before it will allow extra shells in an extension to pass by it.

[MAX100]

You need to get a quality clamp. The Tac Star and Choate clamps are that good. Their tube ext are good quality the clamps suck. You don't need a clamp if your 870 has the detent ball on the barrel locking lug.


Not all 870 Express have the mag tube dimples only the models that don't come with the factory mag tube extension.


GC

[liliysdad]

[QUOTE]You don't need a clamp if your 870 has the detent ball on the barrel locking lug.
[/QUOTE

I greatly disagree. I have seen more than one 870 lose the extension at the Acme threads. the mag tube is not strong enough to support the extension by itself. Remington desinged their extension with a clamp for a reason.

[MAX100]

Remington is the only one who puts a clamp on their shotguns.

Wilson Combat - ScatterGun Tech doesn't put a clamp on their custom 870 shotguns. I guess they are wrong also.

Remington didn't do the best design job on their mag tube extension. There is no need for the indented ring or the narrow end. Tanks Rifle Shop copy of the Remington tube extension doesn't have them on their improved version. The only reason a clamp is good on a 870 is because it provides a place to put a sling swivel stud.



GC

[ChrisVV]

I bought the same thing and couldnt get it to work. The fit was horrible. Through it in a drawer and forgot about it.

a year later I found it and used it to mount a surefire on the 870 instead. Works great for that purpose.

http://spentcasings.com/images/arms/870/870light1.jpghttp://spentcasings.com/images/arms/870/870light2.jpg

I wish I could find the one piece remington clamp one day when I have a few bucks to burn. Seem like the only ones that fit right.