870P Max Question

[kkinderen]

This is my first shotgun and I'm just getting to know it.

The first question I ran into has to do with the magazine tube capacity. The Max comes with the 2 shot extension tube. I expected to be able to load up the magazine with 6 shells. The first 5 go in easy but the last one comes to a dead stop just before locking into place. I'm using 3" shells.

Is this normal? Is it 6 2.75" shells and only 5 3" shells? Or is there something amiss?

Thanks,
Kevin

[Synchronizor]

It'll depend on what shells you're using. When I have my Remington +2 extension installed, I can just barely fit 6 3" slugs (which are slightly shorter than other 3" loads due to their roll crimps) into the magazine, but if I replace even one of those with a fold-crimped 3" turkey load, I can't get that last shell in.

If you're running one, some aftermarket followers will take up more room in the magazine than standard-length ones. Only a couple followers will do this in the Remington extensions though, due to the notch in the extension tube.

If you really want to fit six of your shells into the magazine, an aftermarket extension and cup-style follower might give you a little extra room; but as 3" loads aren't really that much better than 2.75" shells for most combat uses, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[kkinderen]

Thanks for the info. I wasn't sure everything was working right. I'm reading and searching for a good PD shell. For now I have a few boxes of Winchester 3" 00 buck as a starter.

[Synchronizor]

We have threads here, here, and here on defensive ammo.

The consensus (here and elsewhere) is 2.75" buckshot, with slugs or other specialty ammo kept handy if an anticipated use exists for them. High-velocity is fine if you can manage it, but low-recoil 12ga ammo is still more than potent enough, and may help you attain a faster effective rate of fire. 3" loads are primarily for hunting; they're overkill for social work, and can only increase the time it takes you to recover and line the sights back up for the next shot.

Pick a buckshot size depending on what ranges you anticipate - smaller buckshot for maximum energy transfer and more wounding channels at close range, or larger pellets to preserve more energy at longer ranges. Plated buckshot will tend to deform less and pattern tighter, but will also penetrate farther through targets. Whatever you pick, make sure you pattern the load out of your own gun, at the ranges you expect to use it, so you know exactly what it'll do and that it'll run reliably in your gun. If your barrel is threaded for chokes, you can adjust your pattern as you see fit.

[rb211]

No reason to punish yourself with 3"loads, As Synchronizor said, a 3"for HD/PD is overkill. 2.75 #4, #1, or OO will do the job nicely even in the reduced recoil variety. I use 2.75 OO and keep 3 slugs on the side saddle if I need them.

[kkinderen]

Agreed rb211. Based on other threads I will keep it loaded with 2.75" 00 buck.

I also want to try out (play with) some other types just to get a feel for them. I have some sabot to try - which is an outrageous looking shell. I also want to try out the PDX1 with a slug plus three 00 shots (I think).

[rb211]

The Sabots are cool - but you wont get stellar accuracy out of a non-rifled barrel. For slugs, I use Winchester Ranger segmented, which are the same as the PDX1S slugs (I found the Rangers cheaper than PDX1S's), or Brenneke Black Magic. I havent really tested the Rangers, but the Black Magics are beasts!

[Synchronizor]

I also want to try out (play with) some other types just to get a feel for them. I have some sabot to try - which is an outrageous looking shell. I also want to try out the PDX1 with a slug plus three 00 shots (I think).

Like Rb211 said, sabot slugs are intended to be spin-stabilized by rifling, so they'll just tumble out of a smoothbore barrel. Foster, Brenneke, or Plumbata slugs use other design elements to fly stably without spinning, and will be more effective out of a smoothbore barrel.

I never saw the point of those PDX1 shells. They'll overpenetrate worse than plain buckshot at close ranges without adding any lethality, and at long ranges it's just a slower slug with three buckshot pellets flying off in useless (and potentially dangerous) directions. They'd be interesting to screw around with just for fun, but I see no reason to buy them for serious defensive use.

[rb211]

I cant say I'd want to use the slug/buck combo either, dont know if I can see a point behind that load. I'll stick to either / or.

[Kentactic]

The slug/buck combo load is just another gimmick load. A slug is for longer distances, Buckshot is for closer distances. Its one or the other. That load is nearly worthless.