"New" 7 shot Express model 1 piece tube

[BlueSmoke]

What's everyone's take on the "new" model 7 shot express with the one piece 7 shot mag tube?

I wonder if standard 870 barrels will fit it....? Or if this is an example of a corporation trying to fix something that isn't broke and saving some cost at the same time......

[Synchronizor]

It's been discussed here before in multiple threads.

The long magazine tube does offer greater simplicity. Fewer parts makes them easier to repair and maintain, and you won't get feed hang-ups if you improperly install a magazine extension. But on the other hand, you're stuck with only a few special 18.5" barrels, some accessories won't fit (though that's mostly pointless stuff like heat shields or full-length rails), and the longer magazine tube is more exposed and vulnerable to damage during rough handling. You can install magazine and/or barrel extensions on models with 6-round mag tubes, but if you're planning on that, you might as well just build on a standard receiver unless you're already stuck with the special gun.

For a dedicated HD or combat build, the long mag tube works fine, and some folks even prefer the simplicity. For those who want a hunting or multi-role gun, or a combat build with something other than an 18.5" barrel, or even if they think they might want to use other barrels in the future, the standard receivers with 4-round magazine tubes are a better way to go.



As for company policy, this was obviously done to market a cheaper and simpler "tactical" shotgun with an integral extended magazine. Some have made a fuss over what this says about Remington, but they are a business, and there are a lot of folks who just want an inexpensive HD gun or a cheap base for a tacti-cool range toy. Hard to fault Remington for recognizing and meeting that demand, especially when they did so without any real design sacrifices. Plenty of other manufacturers have released low-end, light-duty versions of their guns to cater to this market, but apart from the simplified magazine, the long-mag 870s are exactly the same as the standard models. So as long as Remington is still offering the same traditional 870s alongside these new options, I'm fine with it.

However, I do wish Remington still offered the pre-2012 25077 7-shot model with the standard magazine and +2 extension; it was an excellent base gun for projects or new owners on a limited budget, and it was my first firearm. But you can still find them around, and there are other good base 870s in the current lineup. I'd also like to see the people selling these guns telling potential customers that they can't use other barrels, but that's on the retailers, not Remington.

[Banshee]

Standard 870 barrels will not fit. Personally I think having a 7 Rd capability without having use an add on tube is a good thing. It is probably more of a specialized shotgun than a all around general purpose shotgun. If you are wanting a single shotgun to use for home defense and to be a bird gun in its spare time, it probably would not be the best choice for you. If Remington made it in a higher grade than an express I would buy one, but I absolutely hate the belt sander finish on it.

[Menace]

I bought strictly to be an hd gun and it fills that role perfectly. Straight out the box I had exactly what I wanted in a home defense shotgun without having to add anything to it.


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[Reaper]

Does anyone know if these newer factory long mag tube guns have those damn dimples in the end of mag tube?

[Synchronizor]

Yes, the single-piece 6-round magazine tubes are dimpled, and use the internal-ratchet plastic spring retainers.

Personally, I think it makes a lot of sense to use the new-style spring retainers in these guns. They're are all about reducing part count and simplifying take-down and reassembly; and with the elongated magazine and only one choice of barrel length, most of the people who buy them aren't going to want to install extensions.

[BlueSmoke]

Thank you all for your answers.

[badboybeeson]

Its a good idea but until after market or factory bbls are made for it then most of us shotgun nuts are not going to be to happy with it

that said we did make this for it

[Hedgelog]

It appears to me that a conventional 870 barrel would work if a cylindrical spacer tube were placed between the cap and the shorter barrel lug. Especially if it uses the internal cap retention.

[Synchronizor]

In theory, yes, it would. In practice, the idea has some issues:

1) In order to safely and reliably serve its function under the recoil of a magnum 12ga, a spacer would have to be specifically designed and manufactured for the role. Just sticking a random piece of pipe or something over the tube wouldn't be wise. The spacer would need to have a precise fit, negligible deformation under recoil, and should probably incorporate some feature that positively engages the barrel or its guide ring to keep it from spinning in place. Until a company is willing to invest in mass-production, we're talking about a custom-made component that'll likely be impractically expensive for anyone who doesn't have a machine shop in their garage, or a machinist buddy willing to do them a favor.

2) Assuming an effective spacer is practical to make or obtain, the end result is going to be a poorly-balanced, front-heavy gun (and a 12ga 870 is no featherweight to begin with). The spacer could always be drilled, fluted, or otherwise lightened, but that's more complexity and more cost, and you'll still end up with some unnecessary added weight.

3) The single-piece 6-round magazine tubes are only really worth having in combat or "recreational-tactical" roles. For most hunting or sporting roles where you'd want a different barrel, a capacity of 4+1 rounds is more than adequate. There are some hunting and competition applications where a longer barrel and an extended magazine are desirable, but even in those situations, a standard 4-round 870 with a magazine extension (ideally a lightweight aluminum kit like the Nordic offerings) would be a much better tool than any jerry-rigged long-mag Tactical model.


The bottom line is that prospective 870 owners who want a sporting arm, a multi-role gun, or a defensive weapon with a barrel longer than 18.5" (or shorter than about 17") will always be better off building on a standard receiver with a 4-round magazine tube. Even those who just want to keep their options open should avoid the special-purpose long-mag 870s.

That said, I would like to see Remington (or some aftermarket company like Carlson's) offer one general-purpose sporting barrel that would be compatible with the long-mag Tactical receivers - say a 24" or 26" vent-rib Rem Choke barrel with the basic Express finish. This would still make for a more poorly-balanced and/or less durable sporting arm than a standard 870, but I'm sure some folks who rightfully bought a long-mag 870 Tactical solely for defensive use will decide later on that they want to dabble in some very casual or occasional clay-shooting or hunting with a minimal monetary investment. Again, a standard 870 would still probably be a better choice, but I could see this happening enough to justify producing one general-purpose sporting barrel, especially if Remington continues to expand the lineup of long-mag Tactical models.