Issues with 870 Mag Extension Install

[Chief Brody]

Issue #1: Bought the oem Remington +2 extension from an eBay retailer (gun shop in FL). It did not come with a new spring. From their listing, "Note: This magazine tube extension does not include the magazine spring and is designed to function with the factory spring." Unfortunately for me, I didn't notice this when I was going through with the transaction. All the other extensions come with longer springs and Remington supplies one with the extension. So is the seller just plain wrong or will it work with the spring that's currently in the gun?

Issue #2: The spring retainer won't come out. I wanted to disassemble it as if I was installing the extension, I'd read about and watched videos. Seemed pretty simple. But the retainer won't budge. Pushing down on it with a flathead does nothing.

Any feedback here is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Steve

[bbull311]

Well I see from an earlier post that you have an 870P. Very good choice. As for you issues I will address them the same way you did.
Issue #1
Will the factory spring work, maybe. Remingtons standard magazine spring is about 19.5" long. The one they put in the 870P should be about 22 inches long to insure a more positive feed. Technically it will work but it may not feed as well as it should. The armorers check list says that the spring for the extended magazine should be at least 28" long which I confirmed with a Wilson Combat replacement spring I have in my box of toys. If I were you I would get a quality replacement spring and not have a worry. I would also contact the seller you bought the extension from and correct them.

Issue #2
I have almost always used a corkscrew tool http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=8875 ... -CORKSCREW

The few times I didn't have one, I put a screw driver through the center hole, placed my thumb on top of the retainer, and gently worked it out that way.

Keep in mind that if you have the Remington factory extension, unlike most extensions, it is two pieces, not one. You have to separate the two pieces, put the collar on first, then screw the extension into that. This will keep you from damaging the magazine tube. Good luck and have fun.