Bit of barrel play, normal or dangerous?

novan3

novan3

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Hello, there's a bit of play between my 870 Express' barrel and action. Some guy at the club said its totally normal, another said I may need future facial reconstructive surgery.

Is this safe & normal.. Or would I be better off putting a ring between the sling plate and magazine to eliminate the play?

 
It's not normal, at all.
Something tells me you're not tightening it enough, or it's out of spec which should really not be the case. Make sure your magazine extention is screwed properly and not too deeply, everything should be tight, the barrel on my tactical model moves a bit sideways (less than 1mm) and that's normal, but moving forward... not so much.
 
Definetly not good. I don't know if it'll go KABOOM any time soon but the movement is certainly going to lead to much faster wear and possible breakage.

The magazine/barrel retention cap should be able to pull the barrel back firmly. I'd start by checking the threads on the magazine to ensure they don't have damage that is preventing the cap screwing on far enough. Or if this uses an extension instead of the cap and it bottoms out before the barrel is firmly clamped then fit a ring as you suggested. Regardless this is something I'd want to fix pronto either by correcting something that isn't working right or if need be to add a shim ring to correct something that can't otherwise be easily modified or corrected.
 
I had a little bit of that before on my 870, just didn't tighten the locking nut tight enough. I have a mag extension and I would try tightening the nut with the extension on and could not do it properly. Tightening the locking nut first then screwing on the extension next and never had that problem again.

Don't know if you have the mag ext or not but maybe your cap is faulty and too short.
 
One solution that might work for you. place an o-ring in between the barrel band/ mag extension. Should fill the void causing the slop and it will also keep the mag extension on tight. I did this with my express when I added a magazine extension because of the lack of detent ball.
 
I like to apply pressure on the barrel by resting the butt on the ground while pushing down on the muzzle with bodyweight and tightening the cap....helps both putting it on and removing.

edit. I just watched your video and that 's a crazy amount of slop....something's not right.
 
After all that was said there is no danger the recoil lug in the bolt locks into the recess in the barrel so the headspace does not change safety design so there is no chance of KABOOM that being said it is not wright and should be corrected
 
O rings are too compressive for this. If the info about the locking ring and mag tube extension isn't the situation here then a metal spacer ring or fixing what isn't right would be the only proper options.
 
BCRider said:
O rings are too compressive for this. If the info about the locking ring and mag tube extension isn't the situation here then a metal spacer ring or fixing what isn't right would be the only proper options.
Click to expand...

Yes, a metal spacer ring is what I thought of to fix this also. I had tightened the mag extension to the point it got stuck, but the play was still there. Probably too little threading on the extensions as one poster suggested.
 
struff55 said:
After all that was said there is no danger the recoil lug in the bolt locks into the recess in the barrel so the headspace does not change safety design so there is no chance of KABOOM that being said it is not wright and should be corrected
Click to expand...

Unless the play indicates that the recoil lugs can't lock into the barrel because of lack of fit. I don't know if it could fire if this was the case, but I wouldn't risk it.

Plus play over time could hammer a weakness into the barell or receiver, eventually causing something to fail.

Either way, send it back or to a smith before firing it.
 
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