870 Shell Lifter

[dak0ta]

Is the chrome shell lifter better than the flexi-tab ones?

 

[canucklehead]

Define 'better'.

Prettier - yes.

More functional - I doubt it.

I have a few with each, and never had an issue with any one of them.

 

[Ike]

Flexi tab cuts in the carrier is part of the anti-jam upgrade introduced a long time ago (there are changes to other parts as well) and which helps to prevent the imfamous 'Remington Jam'. The only chrome ones I have seen are the old solid style, therefor from pre 'anti jam' guns. So technically if you were to put it into a new gun it would not be better, from a purely functional POV the flexi tab carriers are better.

 

[bobo1972]

carrier mods

insted of buying a new carrier could you just make the cuts in one that does not have them? Same thing?

 

[LloydM]

Anyone have photos to compare the two styles?

 

[ENERGYBOSS]

Flexi tab cuts in the carrier is part of the anti-jam upgrade introduced a long time ago (there are changes to other parts as well) and which helps to prevent the imfamous 'Remington Jam'. The only chrome ones I have seen are the old solid style, therefor from pre 'anti jam' guns. So technically if you were to put it into a new gun it would not be better, from a purely functional POV the flexi tab carriers are better.

This is is right on, the chrome ones need a slot cut in them to be able to clear the jam without having to take the gun apart.

 

[ENERGYBOSS]

insted of buying a new carrier could you just make the cuts in one that does not have them? Same thing?

Not that simple there are more parts that need modification.

 

[Artiz]

What is this "Remington jam" thing? I know what is a jam, but what was special with the 870?

 

[ENERGYBOSS]

What is this "Remington jam" thing? I know what is a jam, but what was special with the 870?

If you short storke a Reminton 870 just right, it will let a shell onto the lifter jaming the bolt so it can't come back, or move ahead. You have to pull the barrell and the trigger group to free it. The old answer used to be to cut a slot in the lifter so the shell could be pushed back into the mag tube.

The new ones with the tab have space cut out of the bolt and the flex tab to let the bolt ride over the shell on the lifter.