870 feeding issues. PITA

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Billyboy13

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Am I the only one that doesn't like his 870??? I bought it years ago for a song. $150. 870 Express Magnum, 3" chamber.

It doesn't feed trap loads worth a crap, and for this reason I've always preferred my old Winchester 2200. Smooth, no problems except periodicly breaking the bolt carrier bolt off with mag loads. Shoots trap loads all day, just doesn't like mags.

But that 870 just doesn't like to feed 2 3/4 shells. Maybe I'm trying to cycle too fast?
 
What type of ammo are you using? i know mine and both my friends cant cycle winchester rounds to save our lives..

another problem my friend ran into was he hadnt cleaned his gun in so long that the plastic from the shells melted to the inside of his barrel causing cycling issues.
 
I sometimes have a problem where the slide 'locks' when extracting - told its because of brass over-expanding and fusing to the chamber. Is that what you've experienced? What can be done about that issue?
 
bluemike807 said:
I sometimes have a problem where the slide 'locks' when extracting - told its because of brass over-expanding and fusing to the chamber. Is that what you've experienced? What can be done about that issue?
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Happened to me on a new gun (870 super mag), now it doesnt happen anymore. After about 300 rds the problem was gone.
 
I have an issue with a 870 clone that despite consistent vigorous racking of the slide (not "short stroking" but fast) it often does not release the next shell from the magazine, (sometimes still in the mag, sometimes half way out, under the lift mechanism) leaving me with an empty chamber...any suggestions for fix..it's already got a plastic follower that does not seem to hang up and the mag spring seems normal. Is this similar to what you are referring to?
 
My own 870 Express has been nearly flawless. Out of all the ammo that has gone through it the only issue I've had is with Fiocci trap load that gets stuck in the chamber on my short barrel (I've got a shortie and a long hunting barrel).

If you're keen on correcting your issue you'll need to break down where the problem is in more detail. As it sits now we can't really help much because we don't know where the issue lays.

In looking my own Express over there's about three or four parts of the cycle where there may be an issue;

  1. First is the feed from the magazine to the lower receiver. The elevator should swing down to receive the shell early in the pump cycle. Then just before the end of the back stroke the shell should be gated to spring into place cleanly with a nice snappiness. If this doesn't happen look at the springs that control the release of the shell and that the elevator is moving properley into place and is not bent. If the shell contacts the elevator in any way during this travel this may cause the shell to not position itself correctly.
  2. During the first part of the forward pump cycle the elevator lifts the shell up so the bolt can push it forward into the chamber. The shell may or may not hook in behind the extractor. If you move the pump arm forward slowly and with control you should be able to analyze this motion and check for any serious binding. On mine the shell hooks into the extrator during the lift if fed from the magazine. If just dropped in then the extractor springs over the rim during the chambering. When it lifts in behind the extractor there is a little bit of a binding action when moving in the slow and deliberate manner during the exam but with just a little force it slips nicely into place. If it doesn't then your extractor may be bent or stuck or something along that line.
  3. If the extractor looks OK then be sure to inspect the various flat springs on the far side of the opening and compare to other 870's. Yours may have gotten bent in some manner so as to jam the shell during the loading cycle. Similary once the shell's rim hooks in behind the extractor it will rub lightly on the elevator for a short amount of travel before the elevator is release to fall back down. If the shell wedges into place and jams while trying to chamber it may be the elevator is slightly bent. This goes hand in hand with any issues with the feed from the magazine scuffing past the elevator when in the lowered position.

For extracting there's a couple of things to look for;
  1. First is the shell jamming tight in the chamber and not budging at all. Lots of replies have already dealt with that aspect and how to cure it by polishing out the chamber slightly or switching ammo.
  2. If the extractor skips over the casing rim regularly then your extractor may be bent or deformed. But confirm that it's not just being overloaded by reaching in and trying to pull out the casing by hand wiht a screwdriver used in place of the extractor. If it's jammed solid then your chamber may just need polishing or an actual chamber reaming to bring it to spec size.
  3. If the shell begins to move but then sticks you need to find out what it's sticking against. Again one of the left side springs may have been bent out of shape and it is rubbing on the casing as it comes out. This assumes the pump cycle with no shell or casing is smooth like it should be. If not and something is bent or deformed and is causing the pump stroke to be stiff with no casing then there's definetly something bent out of place.

I gather that you've gone into the works quite often looking for the trouble. But unless you know what to look for the problem may be something that is so slightly bent that you won't see it or realize what it is. That's where careful analysis or just giving up and taking it into a 'smith will pay off. While there may be some justifiable issues with the trigger group due to the use of plastics I've never read of any shortcuts taken with the receiver setup. As far as I know it's just the usual solid 870 design all the way. But ANY gun can break or be bent if someone gets into it that doesn't understand what they are doing. Likely they did and then it didn't work and that's why you got it for a song.
 
I seems that if I cycle it slow it is fine, but it I work it like the Winchester it doesn't insert the shell properly. Comes out of the mag ok, but hangs up on insertion.
 
Billyboy13 said:
I seems that if I cycle it slow it is fine, but it I work it like the Winchester it doesn't insert the shell properly. Comes out of the mag ok, but hangs up on insertion.
Click to expand...

Hmmmm.... you got me there. We'll need to wait on someone with more experience. But you've narrowed it down a lot and often that can be enough to suggest what the issue is to someone that has been through the same thing before.

I'd be able to help more but mine has never given me a single hiccup other than that one chamber that's a touch tight. So I've never needed to analyze my 870 any deeper than I did to write up my other post. One thing for certain though, it's definetly worth puzzling it out and fixing it as they are superb fun when working well.
 
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