870 jams with 3" shells

Trotter

Trotter

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I had this problem last year deer hunting. The 3" shell got stuck upon ejection jamming. I missed the deer. He was a long ways away after manually recycling.
So, i went to 2 an 3/4" shells this year no problems.
Now we pushed a pile of deer toward a treestand, and my buddy had the SAME problem. It caused a delay allowing at least two to run.
Has anyone had this problem?
I'm sticking to the smaller shells and so is he. Anyone have any remedies besides this?
(and yes this is the 3" stamped barrel with factory receiver.)
 
What do you mean exactly when you say it jams? On a number of occasions over the years I've had 3" hulls fail to completely clear the ejection port on my 870 magnum receiver - the rim of the shell hangs up on the upper rear part of the port, leaving the hull hanging out. I always wondered if I had short-shucked the action a little bit on those occasions or if it is a problem with the design. It certainly has never happened with a 2 3/4" shell. Hasn't happened to me very often, but enough that any ready rounds for home defense would never be 3 inchers.
 
Smoji is along the right route.

You need 2 things to shoot 3 inch shells in an 870.

3" compatible barrel
Magnum Receiver

If the gun was ever re-barreled to a 3" chamber, then the ejector assembly should have been done also. You will not be able to tell with the action closed, but you can tell with the action fully open. A 3" ejector will go further back into the receiver than the 2 3/4" version. It is easier to have another gun as a control to compare too....otherwise, search the net for pics.

Good news though. You can make your standard receiver into a magnum receiver by changing out the ejector assembly. They are the same receiver with different ejector assemblies.

Bad news, it isn't a DYI job. You need armor experience and the gun will need to be refinished once done.

Boltgun
 
Perhaps most often caused by a 3" chamber barrel in a receiver (built for 2 3/4" chamber barrel) that does not have the correct ejector. A clue might be be the Magnum marking, or lack of it, on the receiver. If not so marked, a gunsmith can check, and perhaps change, the ejector.
 
Magnum receivers have an M in the serial number.

Sounds to me, the culprit is the Federal slugs. They are prone to hanging up in the ejector, especially with the 870's.
 
How many rounds have been through this gun? On the newer 870's, this is a common problem with spent shells jamming in the breech, until you have about 50 rounds of light trap loads through it to break it in. Its prevalent on the Turkey Express and on the XCS as well.
 
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i found that a lot of the time it was shooter related .getting rammy under stress and not pulling the pump all the way back with enough power to eject properly .you should try the three inch shells at the range put three in the gun and shot them fast .i think if it was a gun problem it would do it more often .buck fever is nothing to be ashamed of .it takes a pretty good stroke to eject a three inch shell try this could be the problem DUTCH
 
I had the same problem with my 1100. It was a real pain tin the butt.

It is a marked Magnum action etc. Tried changeing the ejector and it was also suggested that I open the gas port a few thou to give it a little more ejection force. I didn't open the port by the way.

What I did do was cut the forward portion of the ejection port so that it was square. This was done with judicous fileing. The rounded front portion of the port would catch the fluted case mouths on ejection. Only by a few thou, but enough to make 3 inch hulls unreliable for use in the field. With the lead shot bans, 3 inch shells are the minimal alternative for enough steel shot and velocities to be effective.

The modification only takes about an hour, doesn't deter safety and is totally reliable every time.

bearhunter
 
I have a winchester 1300 "speed pump" and have the same problems. Not sure if it's a shell hull length problem or operator error. "Most likely the 2nd one" but went to 2 3/4" anyway. Less recoil, flys just as well and kills deer just as dead as 3 inchers do. Shoot the 2 3/4" shells takes away the jamming worry. Now when I shoot at any deer I only worry about hitting it, not my gun malfuncting.
my 2cents CDN1
 
I had a 870 with the same problem when I was younger. It was the ejector.
The ejector spring, or whatevet it is called, that little piece of metal strip thats on the receiver right where the barrel fits is, well that was broke and I didn' know. Towards the end the caps were even chewed up on ejection.

Rubyour finger olong the ejector and see if you vcan find a breal or piece missing. Can't remeber how much for thw it, but my gunsmith fixed it in a few minutes

Good luck
 
The receiver is stamped Remington Express Magnum 870, and there is an M for the last of the serial #, it is 2 years old.

It is a turkey deer (cantilever) combo. I use premium Winchester Platinum 400 gr. sabots for deer and for turkey, the 3" Remington turkey loads.

Does it need breaking in?

Or is it that ejector? or the spring holding tension on the ejector?

She has seen about 150+ rounds loaded and unloaded but only fired maybe 30 rounds. (We load 3 shells at each bush lot we hunt, then unload back at vehicle, so lots of cycling).
 
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Trotter, got and get a flat of ammo, the Remington stuff works well in most guns. Then just have at her, after a good blasting session followed by a good cleaning any breakin that may have been required is taken care of, and its fun too.

It's arguable in both directions weather or not breakin is required or not, but it is certainly factual that they only get better with age, and age comes from shots fired.
 
Had same problem with my 870 wingmaster using Fedral , but started to slam back the action harder and the shells did eject after two nice deer had passed me by. Dissapointed ? yes but not defeated. Dave.
 
Thanks for the replies. It did work pretty good with 2 and 3/4 deer hunting this month. Lots of cleaning/ disassembly in between too.
 
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