Wilson combat spring and follower

Discuss all accessories and upgrades available for the Remington 870 shotgun: stocks, forends, barrels, chokes, magazine extensions, followers, safeties, sights etc.
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Jbur
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Wilson combat spring and follower

Post by Jbur »

So I got the Wilson combat spring and follower installed. Feels and looks good. The spring was a little confusing to me though. While it was 2 inches longer the coils look almost loser or maybe bigger is the right word. The factory spring almost looks better to me, like it got tighter coils. Wilson combat advertises it as a stronger spring though. I'll guess we'll see. Any thoughts from the pros here on the forum? In the photos the WC spring is the one on the bottom.

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Last edited by Jbur on Wed Nov 29, 2017 5:24 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Magpul SGA stock, M-lok forend, ms3 sling, Wilson combat follower/spring, vangcomp safety, volquartsen extractor, heavy carrier spring, Nordic barrel clamp.
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John A.
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Re: Wilson combat spring and follower

Post by John A. »

Is Wilson combat still using wolffe springs?

At one time or another, they were relabeling a lot of products as their own.

Example:

https://www.gunsprings.com/BERETTA/92,% ... mID2/dID36

http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Wilson-Comb ... tinfo/643/
When people ignorant of guns make gun laws, you have ignorant gun laws.
-John A.
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jbur88
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Re: Wilson combat spring and follower

Post by jbur88 »

I didnt see anything about that on their webpage.

here is the one i bought:
http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Spring-Foll ... /SGSFK-EX/

it just says "Extra-Power Magazine Spring for Improved Reliability". It is a 29in spring where the factory spring is 27in but like is said the coils are more spread apart. I dont know a lot about springs so i dont know if that makes it stronger or what. I will say that it does seem to load a lot smoother. i cycled some rounds through it and it feels great.
Rem 870 Tactical w/ Magpul stock, Forend, MS3 Sling and sling mount/Wilson Combat follower and spring/Vancomp big dome safety/Volquartsen Exact edge extractor/Heavy carrier spring/Elzetta Mount/ Streamlight polytac/Mesa Tactical poly Side saddle.
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John A.
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Re: Wilson combat spring and follower

Post by John A. »

Not sure and would be hard to say.

But Wolffe does sell 870 extra power springs for standard and extra capacity tubes. No follower included though.

https://www.gunsprings.com/REMINGTON/87 ... 108/dID216
When people ignorant of guns make gun laws, you have ignorant gun laws.
-John A.
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Synchronizor
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Re: Wilson combat spring and follower

Post by Synchronizor »

The springs from Wilson Combat (whoever makes them) are a different style of spring than the factory extension springs. They're a beehive-style spring with wider central coils and a longer coil pitch. It's a fairly space-efficient spring that works best with tailed followers. The factory extension springs are narrower, with more closely-spaced coils. They're designed to fit into cup-style followers and pass through the follower stop in the factory extension tubes with minimal resistance. I also think the Wilson springs are chrome-silicon, while the Remington springs are 17-7 stainless, but don't quote me on that.

I've used both, and I think they're both good springs. The Remington spring will probably give you more force, since it's a shared part that's also used in the factory +3 extensions, but either should be stiff enough to run reliably. I do think the Wilson spring is better used in straight tubes, as it's a bit wide for the follower stop in the factory extensions, and you might notice a bit of drag if you listen or feel carefully, but I know other folks have used them in the factory +2 extension without any functional issues.

I do prefer to snap the center post off the Wilson follower (assuming Wilson hasn't changed the follower in the last few years). I've seen those posts crack open shell rims, which can make a mess if you're using buffered ammo. I think the resultant hole is easier to pick up by touch, anyway.

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jbur88
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Re: Wilson combat spring and follower

Post by jbur88 »

Thank you as always for the good info!
Rem 870 Tactical w/ Magpul stock, Forend, MS3 Sling and sling mount/Wilson Combat follower and spring/Vancomp big dome safety/Volquartsen Exact edge extractor/Heavy carrier spring/Elzetta Mount/ Streamlight polytac/Mesa Tactical poly Side saddle.
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John A.
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Re: Wilson combat spring and follower

Post by John A. »

I think I would prefer to have the little tab removed/missing/recessed too. Good call on that.

When I made my follower, I made it so that it has a little bump in the center, which helps fill the front of the hull at the crimp for a more productive surface contact.

But it's a lot wider and more rounded than the Wilson follower tab.

When I was first getting my measurements to make it, I went by some of the profile that the factory plastic follower had, and I measured the depth of the crimp on a live round so the little bump would fill 98% of the entire circumference of the crimp. This allows the follower to push on the crimp and the top shoulder of the shell fairly equally.

There is no hull deformation, and I've never had a problem with a crimp.

Knock on wood.
When people ignorant of guns make gun laws, you have ignorant gun laws.
-John A.
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