How are new Style 870 Barrels retained??

AbHobbyist

AbHobbyist

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Hello all!! I need some help.

As some of you may know, I am a die hard fan of the “old style” 870 Wingmaster. Particularly those manufactured in the 1960 and 1970's. When you screw the barrel retention/Magazine cap down one those models, there is a detent in the barrel lug and corresponding divot in the cap to retain the barrel.

I just bought myself a 21 inch vent rib barrel with Rem chokes. I am quite excited about it, but found that there is no detent in the barrel lug.

How are these “new style” 870 barrels retained buy the cap, and is it possible to modify an old style 870 to take these barrels. I have both old and new style mag caps, but can not quite figure it out.

I think it has something to do with the mag spring retainer, but I am not sure

Regards and all the best

R
 
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Look at the underside of your new style mag cap... see the little teeth? Read on:

New style non-extended 870's have dimples in the mag tube which keep a black plastic insert in place (it can't twist cause of the dimples and is under mag spring tension). This black insert has teeth on the end which are supposed to act against the metal teeth on the underside of the cap, this then keeps the barrel from coming loose. So yeah, it looks like the spring & bearing detent are a thing of the past.

870's which have a mag extension and no dimples in the tube use a clamp which tightens against both the barrel and tube extension to keep the extension from screwing off. So, you could get a tube extension and clamp otherwise you are SOL.

However, I think you'll be fine installing it as is and just keep rechecking it after every box of shells :) (same with the choke).
I constantly do this as the barrel will always come loose anyway after time (Unless it has the mag tube clamp).

One last alternative is the DLASK mag tube extensions - Dlask incorporates a sling-ring which doubles as a lock; it's clever and will solve your problem in addition to giving you and extra shell or two :)
 
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G37:

Thank you for the input. I have not seen a newer express. I have found the Detent to be a very postive system.

However plastic insterst to act against teeth in the cap does noe inspire confidence.

I am going to see if I can find some kind of split ring, or star shaped lock washer.

I have contemplated a larger "O" ring, but not sure if that would work.

Any thoughts??

regards

R
 
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That's really funny that you posted that... tonight I was at both Lordco and Home Depot looking for locking washers which might work. I couldn't find anything big enough.

Ideally I think a crescent spring washer (if available in the right size) would do the trick and be very professional. Let me know if you find one (I too will keep looking).

~Cheers
 
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