Well. I purchased a Tacstar 5-shot extension for my 870. Just thought I'd share my experiences with regards to installation for anyone else considering it. The shotgun is an Express Synthetic, 26". For the record, it's my first 870, with a very smooth action. I purchased it to be a multi-purpose shotgun, and the 870's seem to be a platform with the most available mods out there.
So, not much to it. There are no installation instructions that come with the extension, so I watched Youtube, which is a very good idea. Pretty easy, overall. Clear the weapon, unscrew the mag cap, remove barrel. There's a black plastic cap-thingie that has a slot in it - a flathead screwdriver and a twist and it comes out. It has two channels you must align in the mag tube to get it out - there are TWO dimples in the mag tube (not one) - this is a brand-new shotgun; one at the top (12 o'clock) and one at the bottom (6 o'clock). Spring comes out, and then the orange mag follower comes out also. It has channels as well, and must be manipulated with your fingers to line it up with the dimples to remove it.
Next, I'd recommend stuffing a rag down the mag tube all the way down to the elevator. This will keep crap from falling down into the rest of the gun where you will have to spend a frigging hour taking everything apart and cleaning metal shavings out from everywhere. Argh. Because I know a guy...
In the video I watched, the guy recommends first using a file to shave the dimples in the mag tube down. These indeed have to be filed/ground down smooth or the new spring will bind, the follower won't go any further, and shells won't fit.
I tried using a rat-tail file, and it will work, but it takes a while, and doesn't do a very even job. Not to mention I just spent the last two days shovelling snow, and wasn't really in the mood for manual labour at this point.
I'd certainly recommend using a dremel and a grinding stone. I don't know if "grinding stone" is the right word, but it's one of the very hard fittings. I don't know the right term here, either, but I had two colours of stones - orange ones and green ones. I used the green one. Man, that baby worked slick. I would say it had each dimple ground down in under 2 minutes each. I used the medium speed on my dremel and gently moved it in and out over the dimples (giggity).
Once it was done, I cleaned out the metal shavings, and I used a cloth polishing attachment for the dremel and some Autosol. I polished the inside of the mag tube smooth.
Re-assembly was also easy. Remove the rag you stuffed in the end (preferably out the end of the mag tube) and clean the tube. Orange mag follower, followed by new spring. Put the barrel on next; the knurled fitting at the end of the mag extension will act as the new mag cap, so the barrel will not fit over it. Screw the extension on, and pick a spot for the magazine clamp on and you're good to go. I loaded it and cycled it and it works fine. 10 rounds in the tube, which should be perfect for 3-gun. I will purchase some wooden dowel and cut it to length to be in the clear for hunting, and the removable choke makes the gun great for any application.
In the end, the magazine extension comes out to be about 1/4" longer than the barrel. I intend to purchase an extended choke anyways, so it should even it up. I've attached a pic here which should be used to show the finished product and not display my stellar photography skills.
Cannon
So, not much to it. There are no installation instructions that come with the extension, so I watched Youtube, which is a very good idea. Pretty easy, overall. Clear the weapon, unscrew the mag cap, remove barrel. There's a black plastic cap-thingie that has a slot in it - a flathead screwdriver and a twist and it comes out. It has two channels you must align in the mag tube to get it out - there are TWO dimples in the mag tube (not one) - this is a brand-new shotgun; one at the top (12 o'clock) and one at the bottom (6 o'clock). Spring comes out, and then the orange mag follower comes out also. It has channels as well, and must be manipulated with your fingers to line it up with the dimples to remove it.
Next, I'd recommend stuffing a rag down the mag tube all the way down to the elevator. This will keep crap from falling down into the rest of the gun where you will have to spend a frigging hour taking everything apart and cleaning metal shavings out from everywhere. Argh. Because I know a guy...
In the video I watched, the guy recommends first using a file to shave the dimples in the mag tube down. These indeed have to be filed/ground down smooth or the new spring will bind, the follower won't go any further, and shells won't fit.
I tried using a rat-tail file, and it will work, but it takes a while, and doesn't do a very even job. Not to mention I just spent the last two days shovelling snow, and wasn't really in the mood for manual labour at this point.
I'd certainly recommend using a dremel and a grinding stone. I don't know if "grinding stone" is the right word, but it's one of the very hard fittings. I don't know the right term here, either, but I had two colours of stones - orange ones and green ones. I used the green one. Man, that baby worked slick. I would say it had each dimple ground down in under 2 minutes each. I used the medium speed on my dremel and gently moved it in and out over the dimples (giggity).
Once it was done, I cleaned out the metal shavings, and I used a cloth polishing attachment for the dremel and some Autosol. I polished the inside of the mag tube smooth.
Re-assembly was also easy. Remove the rag you stuffed in the end (preferably out the end of the mag tube) and clean the tube. Orange mag follower, followed by new spring. Put the barrel on next; the knurled fitting at the end of the mag extension will act as the new mag cap, so the barrel will not fit over it. Screw the extension on, and pick a spot for the magazine clamp on and you're good to go. I loaded it and cycled it and it works fine. 10 rounds in the tube, which should be perfect for 3-gun. I will purchase some wooden dowel and cut it to length to be in the clear for hunting, and the removable choke makes the gun great for any application.
In the end, the magazine extension comes out to be about 1/4" longer than the barrel. I intend to purchase an extended choke anyways, so it should even it up. I've attached a pic here which should be used to show the finished product and not display my stellar photography skills.
Cannon
