Remington 870/1100 Non-MIM (Machined) and Volquartsen Extractors
One of the simplest ways to improve your shotgun’s performance is to change a standard MIM (Metal injection molded) extractor with non-MIM (solid steel) extractor. Steel extractors are used on the Remington 870 Police shotguns because they are more durable and allow heavy use of a shotgun.
An extractor is a part found in most firearms. It removes the spent cases from the ammunition that gets fired after you pull the trigger. With Remington 870/1100 extractors, you can use a non-MIM or a MIM extractor for the shotgun. MIM stands for metal injection molding. Newer Remington 870/1100 shotguns use MIM extractor. But the good news is that you can replace the MIM extractor with a Non-MIM extractor.
Remington 870 Extractor
Non-MIM extractor, which is commonly referred to as a “machined extractor,” is an upgrade for the Remington 870/1100 that many gun owners are more comfortable with. The Non-MIM is known for insuring that fired shells get extracted properly and without any problems. A big complaint people make about the MIM extractor is that it breaks too easily and that it is unreliable.
For anyone who owns a Remington 870, it won’t cost a lot of money to replace the MIM extractor if it breaks off. The non-MIM extractor is very inexpensive and easily to install as an upgrade for your weapon. It will also make the extraction of fired shells much more reliable in your weapon than it did with the MIM extractor.
If you look at the police version of the Remington 870 shotguns these days, they all have non-MIM extractors in them because of their reliability. For all gun owners who still have a MIM extractor in their Remington 870 and find it unreliable, it will only cost you around $15 to replace the MIM with a non-MIM. This is one of the best and most cost effective investments you can make in preserving the quality and reliability of your Remington 870.
Non-MIM or Machined Extractor
Machined extractor is one of the must-have upgrades for your Remington 870/1100. It insures reliable extraction of fired shells. Police version of the Remington 870 utilizes non-MIM extractor too because it is more reliable.
If your Remington 870/1100 has problems with extraction – changing extractor is the first procedure you need to do. This upgrade is not for looks it is for reliability. Better non-MIM extractor costs just $14.99 but improves your shotgun dramatically.
Non-MIM extractor is my first recommendation to Remington 870 owners which starts upgrading their shotguns. Most shooters spend hundreds of dollars on tacticool upgrades but rarely upgrade inner parts. This is one of the cheapest but the most important upgrades you can make to Remington 870 shotgun
Difference Between MIM and Non-MIM Extractors for Remington 870
Here are two photos showing differences between MIM and non-MiM Extractor:
Remington 870 Extractors: MIM and non-MIM
Remington 870 Extractors: MIM and non-MIM
Non-MIM, solid steel extractor is better than MIM extractor. Solid steel is more wearproof than stamped metal. When extractor hook begins to round off, you can have problems with extraction of fired shells.
Remington 870 Extractor Replacement
First of all, make sure that your shotgun is unloaded. Check both magazine tube and chamber, check visually and by touch.
1. Disassemble your Remington 870/1100 shotgun and take out breech Bolt:
Remington 870 Breech Bolt
2. Put a flat head screwdriver between a plunger and the extractor.
Screwdriver Between Plunger and Extractor
3. Pull the extractor plunger back to depress the spring which is located behind it.
Pull the extractor plunger back to depress the spring
4. Then lift the extractor out rotating it.
Then lift the extractor out rotating it.
5. Take the new non-MIM extractor and push it rotating in until it snaps in place with click.
I have created following video to show you how to change the extractor on a Remington 870:
When you fire a Remington 870/1100, or any other type of shotgun, you will see the shells fall out of the chamber onto the ground. The part of the shotgun that removes shell after it is fired is called the extractor. Once you cycle the action of the gun, the shell is removed from the firing chamber. It is important to have a durable extractor if you use your shotgun a lot. Most Remington 870/1100 shotgun models come with a metal injection molded extractor which is good for standard use only. But if you are someone who goes shooting a lot then you will want a solid steel extractor in your shotgun instead. These extractors are typically found in Remington 870 Police models since law enforcement officials tend to shoot shotguns more often than civilians. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t install a solid steel extractor into your Remington 870 to make it more reliable.
To replace your existing extractor, first, make sure your Remington 870/1100 is not loaded with any ammunition. Double check the chamber and magazine tube to ensure that there is no ammunition. After that, disassemble the shotgun and take out the bolt. Take a flat headed screwdriver and put it between the extractor and the plunger. Pull the extractor back with the screwdriver until the spring behind it is depressed. Now you can lift out the extractor by rotating it until it comes out. Now take your new steel extractor and push it in by rotating it until you hear the extractor snap into place. At this point, you can reassemble the rest of the shotgun by reversing the process you just went through.
Video: Changing Remington 870/1100 Extractor (MIM or Non-MIM):
Solid steel extractors can be purchased at most gun stores for about $25. You might see them advertised as non-MIM, or non-metal injection molded. This just indicates that it is not the standard metal injection molded extractor that usually comes with the Remington 870/1100. But just to be safe, ensure that the extractor you purchase is in fact solid steel because this is the best extractor you can get. After you have installed the extractor, you should go test your shotgun at some targets in order to see how well the shells get extracted. If you don’t notice any problems then you have successfully upgraded your shotgun with the new extractor. But if you do notice problems, then disassemble it again and check to make sure all of the parts were put back correctly.
 Remington 870 Non-MIM Extractor |
Get Remington 870 Non-MIM Extractor on Brownells |
Volquartsen Remington 870/1100 Exact Edge Extractor Review
After long tests, I can tell you that Volquartsen Remington 870/1100 Exact Edge Extractor is a very good alternative to Remington 870 non-MIM extractor. Probably it is even better option.
Volquartsen Remington 870 Exact Edge Extractor
A big reason why this extractor is the preferred one amongst Remington 870/1100 owners is because electrical discharge machining was used to create the extractor rather than the inferior metal injection modeling. Electrical discharge machining, or EDM, creates solid A2 tool steel extractors which greatly reduce the chances of having any extraction problems after firing the weapon. Metal injection modeling, or MIM, is an older process in creating extractors which have been known to cause extraction problems in Remington shotguns after using them for a very short period. The Exact Edge Extractor also has polished edges which assist in the extraction process as well. If you were to compare the edges of the EDM and MIM processed extractors then you would definitely see the difference in quality and design.
If you have an existing Remington 870 with an MIM processed extractor then it is easy to replace it with the EDM processed Exact Edge Extractor. Just check to make sure your existing extractor is MIM-extractor because this is the specific part that the Exact Edge Extractor was made to replace in a standard Remington 870.
It works as good as non-MIM extractor and way better than standard MIM extractor. Standard MIM extractor often causes fail to extract problem. Replacing MIM extractor with Non-MIM extractor often solves this problem.
Volquartsen Remington 870/1100 Exact Edge Extractor is priced little higher (about $23.99) than non-MIM extractor ($17.99) but it’s well worth the price.
It looks rock-solid and going to withstand a hard use and thousands of rounsd. All edges of the Volquartsen extractor are polished for smooth work.
Volquartsen Remington 870 Exact Edge Extractor
Volquartsen Remington 870 Exact Edge Extractor
According to the manufacturer, the Volquartsen Exact Edge Extractor is hardened enough to endure years of consistent use without showing signs of wear. It is primarily made for the Remington 870 but it is also compatible with the Remington 1100 as well. The extractor retails for $24. This is a very affordable investment you can make to maintain the quality of your Remington 870’s performance. If you are someone who usually fires a lot of rounds of ammunition then having the Exact Edge Extractor will be essential for you. This includes people who are hunters or simply like to go target shooting with their Remington 870. But even if you just have your shotgun just for protection, the $24 investment into an extractor will ensure you can fire your rounds quickly when facing a critical moment that calls for it.
Volquartsen Remington 870 Exact Edge Extractor Installation Video:
If you have non-MIM extractor, then you don’t need to replace it. It is as good as Volquartsen Exact Edge Extractor.
Highly recommended upgrade for any Remington 870/1100 shtogun! Please note that Remington 870 Police has more reliable non-MIM extractor installed from the factory.
 Volquartsen Remington 870 Exact Edge Extractor |
Get Volquartsen Remington 870 Exact Edge Extractor |
Modification of the Remington 870 Extractor for Better Extraction of Fired Shells
ATTENTION: Non-MIM and Volquartsen extractors works perfectly and this modification is NOT recommended for them.
Remington 870 extractor modification is one of often questions I received. Many people heard about it but not many did this. This is believed to improve the extraction of fired shells.
This modification was first recommended by American Gunsmithing Institute in their Building The Fighting Remington 870 Shotgun video. Radiusing the extractor is done to ensure better contact of extractor and shell.
If you will look at the photo below, you will see that extractor hook is sharp and flat. But shell is not flat and that is why point of contact is very little. When you modify the extractor putting a little radius, you will make a point of contact bigger ensuring better extraction.
This post is about small but very useful modification of the Remington 870 extractor hook. Radiusing of the extractor hook allows to have a better contact with a body of a shell. Thanks to Eros from Italy for the photos and information.
Remington870 Extractor Modification
This modification of the Remington 870 extractor ensures reliable extraction of the fired shells.
From Eros:
The radiused extractor will give you a better extraction. Put on the flat surface of the extractor a little radius so it will contact more surface of the shell’s body.
Radiusing Remington870 Extractor
Remington 870 Extractor Upgrade
where can i get one???
Martin, you can get it here: http://tinyurl.com/b7lzcbt
Why is it that when asked if the Brownells extractor is better than the original extractor by Remington; the Brownells staff reviewer says their extractor is no better than Remington’s original extractor?
Non-MIM, solid steel extractor is better than MIM extractor. Solid steel is more wearproof than stamped metal. When extractor hook begins to round off, you can have problems with extraction of fired shells.
Remington 870 Express comes with MIM extractor.
The mim or metal injection molded extractor is a cheaper more efficient way to crank out shotguns. Unfortunately, they are rough and not as exact nor are they as strong as steel cut extractors. This is only half of the problem with the 870 express magnum and super magnum models. The other issue is the bore having grooves left in it from high speed lathes. If you want to fix or just make your 870 more reliable then you must do a few things.
1. replace mim extractor with non mim extractor. It does not hurt to polish the sides of the steel extractor for reliability.
2. Take down high spots anywhere the shell may come into contact with the metal of the barrel.
3. Polish the bore and any spot the shell may come into contact with metal.
4. Maybe I should have mentioned this earlier but when you replace the extractor before installing the new one remove the extractor spring and detent. Inspect for flaws IE: burs or scratches. If there is no flaws clean off the spring, detent and housing in the bolt carrier for the extractor spring and apply a light coat of oil.
Following these steps will make your 870 feed and extract reliably.
I changed out the extractor and polished the chamber. I bought the Volquartsen replacement suggested above. No ejection problems since. It actually was quite easy. Go ahead and do it!
Rick, I’m glad that problems are gone and that post was useful for you!
Is there any benefit in installing the Marine extractor and will it fit in a 12ga 870 Wingmaster 3″ magnum?
I called Remington they sent me two new extracters and new spring for extracter one mim and one non-mim best customer service ever
Does the marine magnum have a mim extractor and is the extractor nickel plated like the rest of it?
It looks like a non-MIM extractor to me: http://www.rem870.com/2017/03/09/remington-870-police-marine-magnum/
The one in that picture looks like non-mim. I just looked at mine on a marine magnum I just purchased and it looks just like the mim version you have pictured above but seems to have a nickel finish on it. Looks like I’m gonna have to upgrade after all.
But here is part number for nickel plated MIM extractor: F97597 which is installed on 870 Marine Magnum
What type of extractor came in the 1987 or 1988 express model? Mine appears to be non- MIM due to the grind marks I see on it. It also has the metal trigger guard and no dimples on the magazine tube.
All of the 1980’s guns should be machined extractors, they were produced before the cost cutting measures that brought in the MIM extractor, plastic trigger guard and dimpled tubes. Incidentally, I don’t have an issue with the plastic trigger guards – they’re more uniform, easier to make fit and just as strong as the metal ones – maybe more so – but when you can pick up the older Wingmasters for less than the price of a new Express, it’s crazy not to. Your gun sounds like an early Express, which is very cool.
I have a 95′ Express Magnum. What kind of extractor does it have? I have never had feeding or ejection issues. If it’s MIM, I surely would like to replace it? Suggestions??
Look at a pic and see if it’s mim or machined. Then just swap it out. That’s what I did.
I bought a Remington 870 left handed yesterday. Today I was about to install the Volquartsen extractor, but I noticed my stock extractor is non-MIM(!) It is real smooth and there’s an “R” (for Remington I guess) on it. You reckon the left handed guns are getting better parts due to smaller volumes produced?
Does the non MIM extractor on your site work on the left hand 870?
Will the extractor fit any gauge on a Remington 870