I have a Remington 870 Express that came from the factory with an 18 inch barrel and one piece 6 round magazine. I keep it loaded with 6 rounds in the magazine and feel that is enough for home defense.

When I carry a handgun it has a round in the chamber. But my shotgun is not drop safe so it has an empty chamber. I hope anyone that keeps their 870 fully loaded has it laying flat under their bed and not propped up vertically somewhere it can fall onto a hard surface. It probably will not go off if that happens but why take a chance.

After being stored with the magazine fully loaded for a few years the spring gets weak. After 3 years mine just barely got the last round into the gun when I shot it a few weeks ago. Empty you can hear spring rattling around a bit. Springs are cheap, buy a few and plan on replacing them periodically. I always heard it is use that wears out a spring but I do not shoot my 870 nearly as much as I should. The spring got weak just from being fully compressed.