2 problems with 870 tactical

StrelokRussia

StrelokRussia

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I had my 870 tactical for about 2 years and it works great.....for the most part. I like it but 2 problems are bothering me. I never thought to even research them until recently and was disappointed at what I read.

When in storage the action rusts. I store it in a dry place inside a locked cabinet and wipe it off every time after shooting but it still rusts ever so slightly. It also fails to eject the spent shell once in about every 50 shots.

After some quick research I discovered that the quality control on the newer 870's tactical is rubbish. Remington really let the ball go on that one for some reason and I am now suffering the results. The action bluing is not good enough to protect it from any kind of moisture in the air, on a gun that boasts legendary reliability. And the extractor seems to not do its job as well as it should.

My question is, what are the solutions to these and what are some good upgrades I can install to increase reliability? I am going to do competitions with this gun and don't want to be wrestling with a failed extraction mid-course.

I already have a mesa tactical stock and pistol grip, heat shield, side saddle, and a no-jam tube follower.

Thanks.
 
Well - the rusting issue can be remedied by coating the metal surfaces with oil. Your post is unclear wrt extraction or ejection. Extraction issues can often be solved by polishing the chamber and/or replacing the MIM extractor with a Wingmaster grade one. Weak ejection is another matter, and seems to be the norm for the Express - perhaps changing shell type or length will ameliorate things.
 
The biggest problem with these is that they are cheap. And there's a reason why. But they can be improved a lot with very little cash outlay and a bit of time. Strip it to bits, polish the chamber and remove the "high quality" machining gouges from the inside of the top of the receiver where the breech bolt rides. Replace the extractor claw (get a spare plunger and spring, you'll find out why) and the carrier spring (use a stock model 1100 spring). Replace the magazine follower with a ###y one and the magazine spring if you want. Get all the receiver parts from Graval Agency in Quebec (authorized factory distributor) and the magazine stuff from whoever has the stuff you want.

Then after all that you'll end up with a gun that works and is pretty close to a stock 870P for about $100 less but it will still have an ugly stock.
 
HuntersStand said:
Ceracoat/Duracoat,forged 870 police extractor, chamber polish,S&J hardware hi power magazine spring.
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Hunter pretty much covered all the bases with his post, I would add to use a good CLP and toss a Golden Rod into your cabinet/safe. Seeing as you're near the wet coast you really need a Golden Rod.
 
If it has poor ejection, that would be odd. Express and Wingmaster ejectors and ejector springs are identical. Usually if there are ejection issues and no broken parts, the fault lies with the operator not cycling the gun with gusto.

Extraction is another issue and usually relates to chamber smoothness.
 
For any rusting issues, put a few drops of oil on one side of the receiver and rub it around. See how the finish is now dark and slick and ###y, rather than grey and dry? That is how your gun should look. Now repeat on the other side, top and bottom, barrel: no more corrosion!
 
Claven2 said:
If it has poor ejection, that would be odd. Express and Wingmaster ejectors and ejector springs are identical. Usually if there are ejection issues and no broken parts, the fault lies with the operator not cycling the gun with gusto.

Extraction is another issue and usually relates to chamber smoothness.
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Or buy a Norinco HP9-1 next time and get a gun that works right out of the box for $399.
 
Claven2 said:
HP9-1's need to be cycled vigorously too. I have examples of both and they work better when not babied.
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Since short stroking is probably the easiest jam to have happen with a pump, I rack all of them like I'm trying to break them.

But my HP9-1 did not need: Ceracoat/Duracoat, forged 870 police extractor, chamber polish, S&J hardware hi power magazine spring and it does not rust easily like the OPs 870.
 
Thanks to everyone for good suggestions. I was thinking of changing out the extractor earlier but wanted to get the community's opinion on which extractor to get and whether that's an issue at all. Also chamber polishing and refinishing the receiver. Already have an anti-jam follower and don't think I need a new tube (magazine) spring, it feeds just fine. I polished the loading port so I can double load it.

Just to clarify, I also oil the receiver when I clean the gun but it still manages to rust. The gun extracts every time but not always ejects the spent shell when I rack it with authority. That happens with high brass and cheap birdshot.

Just want it to be as reliable as the police version without paying the $ for one haha.

Thanks again everyone. Good help here.
 
Pick up a Mossberg 500, had great luck with mine.....not sure what happened to Remington, but I think all manufacturers need to step up on the quality... maybe they are trying to keep costs down to compete with all the china guns people seem ok with buying??
 
hank2 said:
Pick up a Mossberg 500, had great luck with mine.....not sure what happened to Remington, but I think all manufacturers need to step up on the quality... maybe they are trying to keep costs down to compete with all the china guns people seem ok with buying??
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Yup. This. Comes complete with awesome features like rust in the chambers and bores, splotchy anodizing, and a flimsy thin plastic trigger guard. Excellent buy.

Seriously though, I'd get a Mav88 before what passes for a basic 500 these days.
 
I know that people don't like the plastic Mossberg 500 trigger but mine has been nothing but abused and disrespected since I bought it in the late 80s and that plastic trigger is still going strong.

Now the plastic safety lever on the top of the receiver, that I broke but the safety still works without it.
 
Thanks for the tips everyone. I like my 870 and I already invested in it so I would rather invest some more to make it good rather than buying another platform altogether. I see it as an opportunity to learn rather than an obstacle. I love tinkering with my guns, replacing parts and learning its function in the process.

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I have never seen a problem with the 500 trigger guard, but because the military likes metal everybody thinks they need it as well, they seemed to hold up for a lot of hunters in Alaska, the non metal one.
 
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