Grizzly shotgun tune up!

.22LRGUY

.22LRGUY

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Hey guys~I recently became a Grizzly owner again (after a 3-4 year hiatus) and while my 870s aren't threatened...it would be nice to get this Grizzly running just a little smother. The gun is new/stiff...and other than the trigger group, has been totally stripped, cleaned inside and out...light lube, and reassembled. Runs fine, the action just a little stiff. I've read accounts online of guys "polishing the internals" of their 870s to get them to run smoother...but looked online last night and couldn't see much. Has anyone here done this, and what exactly are you doing..and where?

It would be easy enough to polish the action bars, but the tracks they ride in, INSIDE the receiver would not be a straightforward task. Cycling the thing 500 times, clean, re-lube is also an option. :)

Again, not looking for 50 year old Wingmaster, buttery smooth...but something a little better would be worth the effort. Thanks for taking a few minutes to reply.
 
I polished my 870 when I got it and it helped, I'm sure if you gave it a light buffing it would help. You can also sit in your chair watch the jays play and cycle the shotgun for hours too, it also works..
 
Just go thru it looking for Burrs and sharp edges. I got one that was burred so bad a shell couldn't get thru the mag tube when loading it. I de burred the whole thing and promptly sold it unfired, and won't even look at another one. I still prefer grabbing an old 2 3/4 wingmaster. although now is the wrong time and not on the EE. at the end of bunny season the local gun stores always get an influx of 870's. That's the best time to buy
 
Yeah, a little bit of work with a needle file was required to get the "action lock" to engage properly on mine. Now it works like it should, haven't done a whole lot of other polishing to it yet, figure I'll just keep shooting it until it smooths out a bit. Maybe on a boring cold winter day I'll pull it apart and polish what I can.
 
I haven't tried it but would a abrasive lapping compound work? Smear it all over your action bars and reciever guides and pump the heck out of it then give it a good cleaning. I know any napa can get all sorts of grits (800-3500). Maybe there would be one that is not so aggressive that it would burn through the parkerized Finish and would butter it up a bit. Just a thought.
 
Thanks for the input guys, greatly appreciated. The action bar is something I think I will inspect more closely, I think I have reason to suspect that being part of the issue.

dogzilla said:
Just go thru it looking for Burrs and sharp edges. I got one that was burred so bad a shell couldn't get thru the mag tube when loading it. I de burred the whole thing and promptly sold it unfired, and won't even look at another one. I still prefer grabbing an old 2 3/4 wingmaster. although now is the wrong time and not on the EE. at the end of bunny season the local gun stores always get an influx of 870's. That's the best time to buy
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input dogzilla. I've read this ^ comment from you at least twice now, and think I appreciate the differences between the Grizzly and various 870s. My main pumper is an 870P, but I've carried Wingmasters for years, 11-48s (I've owned 3 of them, down to the old 12ga. I inherited 31 years ago) and even an 870 Youth 20ga my kids shoot clays with, my daughter hunts with, etc. Grizzlies are heavy, lumpy, poorly-finished copies of 870s but I figure if I could get one for the right price, it would be fun to play with...and it is. :) I know time will smooth things out, but as I didn't pay much for this and crappy weather is coming...why not play around with it.

Thanks again everyone.

Oh...and the lapping compound~I've considered that...
 
Step #1: Buy a case of target loads.

Step #2: Buy a case of clays.

Step #3: Use item purchased in Step #1 to obliterate items purchased in Step #2

Step #4: Repeat steps 1-3

I found that my Grizzly smoothed out just fine by using it. It isn't now, nor will it ever be, as nice as a broken in Wingmaster. However, it's rough and rugged, and reliable. It does what I need it to do, and I'm not worried about it banging around in the trunk.

If you're looking for a smooth shooter, look elsewhere. The grizz is a rough and ready bush gun. Accept it for it's own beauty and you'll be happy with it.

grizz_left_s.jpg


grizz_right_s.jpg
 
grelmar said:
Step #1: Buy a case of target loads.

Step #2: Buy a case of clays.

Step #3: Use item purchased in Step #1 to obliterate items purchased in Step #2

Step #4: Repeat steps 1-3

I found that my Grizzly smoothed out just fine by using it. It isn't now, nor will it ever be, as nice as a broken in Wingmaster. However, it's rough and rugged, and reliable. It does what I need it to do, and I'm not worried about it banging around in the trunk.

If you're looking for a smooth shooter, look elsewhere. The grizz is a rough and ready bush gun. Accept it for it's own beauty and you'll be happy with it.

grizz_left_s.jpg


grizz_right_s.jpg
Click to expand...

^lol...well, that's been the method x about 250 rounds thus far. :) Like I sort of hinted..I've owned Wingmasters that practically pumped themselves, AND I've also owned a Grizzly. Bought this gun with my eyes wide open, and it works fine. It's probably the only gun I've ever owned that doesn't get a heaping helping of TLC. lol

Your gun looks great, I dig the leather! Where did you get that? (buttstock/shell holder)
 
Start firing away on it, mine is nice and well broken in........tho I hava very high round count, over 70K rounds since I got mine soon as they came into country back in 2008 or 2009?

Will post pics later of its current condition.
 
I have a first gen. grizz. 12 ga as well.

It's been modded a bit. Limbsaver R3, Hogue short LOP stock & forend, S&J follower, Van Comp over-sized safety, Wilson Combat ghost ring sights, hammer and sear swapped out for Remington parts, work done by Tac-ord.... a little too much invested in it to be honest but still worth it to me.

Anyway, completely agree with grelmar, it's a rough & ready bush gun. Saved me from a charging black bear at 2 am about 3 years ago.
 
madashell said:
I have a first gen. grizz. 12 ga as well.

It's been modded a bit. Limbsaver R3, Hogue short LOP stock & forend, S&J follower, Van Comp over-sized safety, Wilson Combat ghost ring sights, hammer and sear swapped out for Remington parts, work done by Tac-ord.... a little too much invested in it to be honest but still worth it to me.

Anyway, completely agree with grelmar, it's a rough & ready bush gun. Saved me from a charging black bear at 2 am about 3 years ago.
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^I'd love to hear that story! I've only had one negative bear encounter, and all I was armed with was a fly rod and a wading staff. Not eager to be in that situation again.
 
.22LRGUY said:
^lol...well, that's been the method x about 250 rounds thus far. :) Like I sort of hinted..I've owned Wingmasters that practically pumped themselves, AND I've also owned a Grizzly. Bought this gun with my eyes wide open, and it works fine. It's probably the only gun I've ever owned that doesn't get a heaping helping of TLC. lol

Your gun looks great, I dig the leather! Where did you get that? (buttstock/shell holder)
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This guy off eBay:

http://www.ebay.ca/usr/extremestyle_ua

I've bought a pile of gun leather off him, far better quality than the price might lead you to believe.

Good stuff, good prices. I also have a soft spot for the guy because the town he works out of keeps changing hands between The Ukrainians and The Russians, so he goes dark from time to time while the local politics settle themselves out. Dude must have some serious grit to keep a business going in those conditions.
 
grelmar said:
This guy off eBay:

http://www.ebay.ca/usr/extremestyle_ua

I've bought a pile of gun leather off him, far better quality than the price might lead you to believe.

Good stuff, good prices. I also have a soft spot for the guy because the town he works out of keeps changing hands between The Ukrainians and The Russians, so he goes dark from time to time while the local politics settle themselves out. Dude must have some serious grit to keep a business going in those conditions.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link grelmar!
 
.22LRGUY said:
^I'd love to hear that story! I've only had one negative bear encounter, and all I was armed with was a fly rod and a wading staff. Not eager to be in that situation again.
Click to expand...

Long & short of it ..

At the cottage, fell asleep on the couch for a few moments about 2 am.

Heard something tearing into a shed across the yard. Had been some area break-ins at the time so certainly had to investigate. Didn't know for sure if a person or bear but guessed a bear because of amount of noise so grabbed an SG, chambered a round just incase. (hard cast slugs - was either Brenekke or Challenger, don't recall).

Opened door and hit the area with flashlight. Bear immediately charged at me, covered that distance in an instant. Shot it about 1/2 way, chambered another round.

All happened extremely fast.

Made me realize pretty much all this bear spray/bear banger stuff is a lot of PC - BS.

Have tritium night sights but honestly don't recall even looking at them. That little DA Grizzly may not be a top-end smoothed out older wingmaster but it does work reliably.
 
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