870 mag tube capacity not adding up.

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My 870 super mag is listed as having a mag capacity of 4x 3" or 3x 3.5" shells.
So if I put on a +3 extension I should get 7x 3" shells. I looked at the 870 desert tactical. It is listed as having a mag capacity of 7x 3" with a +2 extension and 8x 3" shells with a +3 extension.

I am only able to get 6x 3" shells in the mag with a +3 extension. What am I missing?:confused:

EDIT: I can only get 7x 2.75 in the tube. so even if they list the mag capacity using 2.75, how do they get 8?
 
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My mag tube is the same length as the 8x capacity desert tac. So even if you subtract one for the chamber that still leaves 7 in the tube. I only getting 6. Not A huge problem, but I am just wondering what's the deal?
 
Well, I measured my tube, it's 20", so you can only fit 6 shells. so I am wondering if the 8 is a missprint. Any one have a desert tac with a +3 extension?
 
Ok, next question. Since I have 2 snap caps and a bunch of dummy rounds in 2-3/4 (empty ones that are filled with silicon) I still can only get 7 in the tube. But the magazine capacity is listed as 8. Plus the spring has to fit. how are they listing 8?
 
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stormbringer said:
That is the 7+1 = 8 deal.
Click to expand...


I see. so in reality, when they say mag capacity =8 they mean 7+1.

So the 7 shot synthetic is 6+1, and is listed as mag cap =6
But the desert tac are still listed as mag cap =7 and =8 respectively.
So, based on mag cap listed, it would mean 7+1 =8 and 8+1 =9.

I seems there is an inconsistency in how they list the mag cap.

Any one have the desert tactical who could clear things up?
 
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Very simple.

An 870, any 870, without any extention, will have a magazine capacity of four 3" shells with the factory spring.

You will not be able to fit more than four 2-3/4" shells either, nor more than three 3-1/2" shells. Things change when you add an extention and mix up springs.

Always use 3" shells to calculate with. Even if you have a 3.5" shell chamber.

Add an extention and its appropriate length spring, add the factory magazine content of 4 and the amount of the extention and you have your total content of the magazine tube with extention.

Example: Four shell factory magazine + three shell extention = seven shell total capacity.
Example: Four shell factory magazine + two shell extention = six shell total capacity.
Example: Four shell factory magazine + one shell extention = five shell total capacity.

Some companies include the chambered shell in their total capacity description. Some companies use 2-3/4" shells to measure total capacity so they can show that their product can contain more shells than another company's extention.

Some may also have the wrong spring for their respective magazine extention in their total capacity calculation, so the quantity of shells that fit will obviously vary.

Get it, got it, good. :)
 
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RobSmith said:
Just a guess here, different follower ?
Click to expand...

The only excessively long follower I'm familiar with is the Choate follower. The Choate follower may limit the factory magazine tube to only three 3" shells. It has a rather long tail which may exceed the length of the compressed 4 shot factory spring. Not really sure ... I've owned one, it was an orange follower, though I've never experimented with it.

All other followers like the Wilson HiViz, or the new S&J HiViz follower, wouldn't be a problem even with a Wilson extra power 4 shot spring. You should still be able to fit four 3" shells into a factory mag tube without any extention installed.
 
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Yes, the remington 870 will only fit 7x 2.75" shells with a +3 extension and 6x 3" shells with a +3 extension. What is throwing me off is how they list it on there web site. it seems they sometime include the 1 in the chamber when they list magazine capacity.

http://www.remington.com/products/f...model_870_express_synthetic_7-round_specs.asp
Model 870™ Express® Synthetic 7-Round Specifications:
Mag cap = 6 w/ +2 extension

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model_870/model_870_TAC_Desert_Recon.asp
Model 870™ TAC Desert Recon Specifications
mag cap = 7 w/ +2 extension (Not possible to fit 7 in the mag tube)
Mag cap = 8 w/ +3 extension (Not possible to fit 8 in the mag tube)

The specs for the desert recon should say:
mag cap = 6 w/ +2 extension
mag cap = 7 w/ +3 extension
 
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