Remington 3200 Question

[the spank]

Earlier in the year I acquired a 3200 trap off a fellow gunnut in the EE. Outwardly the gun shows at about 98% but upon assembling it I discovered that once the action is closed when you raise the gun to shoot there is a slight bit of play between the lock hood and the shoulder of the barrel the hood slides over to lock the barrels in place. You can feel the barrels move ever so slightly with minimal effort with your forward hand on the forend and stock in your shoulder. I am wondering if the barrel shoulder is slightly worn where the hood contacts it or if the hood may be slightly bent though invisible to the naked eye? At rest you can see a tiny gap between the barrel shoulder and the hood but if you lift up on the forend while holding the stock from moving you can see that gap close up with a full metal on metal contact. This is occurring on the left side only, the right side has no play. I have not shot the gun yet as I am a bit leery to. Has anyone else ever come across this issue and if so do you recall what it took to correct it?

 

[bdft]

I shot trap at the BC Provincials once with an old guy whose 3200 was so worn that it would blow bits of brass from his shells out the crack where the barrels and the breech come together. He was seemed pretty unconcerned about it but was annoyed that he wouldn't be able to reload those empties.
I will check mine and see how much play it has. Do you mean side to side movement of the barrels or up and down or both?

 

[the spank]

Just up and down. There is no sideways movement. It’s very minimal but its enough you can see the end of the barrels move under weight of holding the gun up in the shooting position and its quite annoying to see and feel. As I said I haven’t shot it yet but just holding it onba stationary object it’s to see the poi would be affected when it moves and it might not be noticeable once you’re swinging the gun to chase a target and wonder how or where you’re missing. I bought it to be my dedicated doubles trap gun and though I don’t shoot doubles often I’d like to have it working 100%.

 

[bdft]

Here's some pics of mine. I take it the play is in area highlighted in the first picture. The only place the catch contacts the barrels is highlighted in the second picture. I would look for excessive wear at that point or at the barrel hinge. If the hinge is badly worn it will allow the barrel to move forward, but you already knew that. FWIW, mine is tight so yours is not normal. I would shoot it and see what happens. How bad could it be?

 

[hunter5425]

If the play is up and down is this not indicative of a worn locking bolt? Is the lever left of center or does the 3200 lock up differently than other shotguns?

 

[3macs1]

If there is significant play up and down under the lock that slides over the barrels it may need to be adjusted or rebuilt if no adjustment remains. The adjustment is achieved by putting thinner shims in the lever mechanism that is if all have not already been removed. To do this requires complete disassembly.

ht tp://classicamericangunsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Remington-Field-Service-Manual-for-Model-3200.pdf

From the description doesn't sound like it needs anything to me but to be used and shot. It is not new and I would expect some slight movement but to cause targets to be missed I cannot see that but cannot judge the movement from an internet description

 

[bdft]

If the play is up and down is this not indicative of a worn locking bolt? Is the lever left of center or does the 3200 lock up differently than other shotguns?

The 3200 is different that a lot of shotguns but not by any means unique. In my second picture the piece to the left of the barrels slides forward and locks the barrels in place. You can see the wear marks that I circled on the barrels where it slides over. That is the locking mechanism. Any play between the barrels and the receiver would be caused by excessive wear there or at the hinge point. I forgot about the shims. It may never have been adjusted. 3200s were a popular trap and skeet gun back in the 70's and it may have been shot a lot. It would take tens of thousands of rounds through that gun to wear it out signifigantly.

 

[the spank]

I must apologize here. I have the gun disassemled as I sold the monte carlo stock and forend off it and purchased a competition grade standard comb trap stock & forend for it and have yet to assemble it. I took out the receiver and barrels and upon closer examination the up/down movement is equal on both sides. With the barrels in place and hood latched you can clearly see in the pictures the hood is making full contact evenly on both sides. The up/down play is occurring between the receiver edge and what I’m referring to as the barrel shoulders(forgive my poor terminology please). Here are some photos. I included the bottom photo showing the hood locked in place. Yes I know that gap is normal, I just put up the pic to explain when I hold the barrels and let the receiver lay at rest that gap is about 1/2mm wider than when I hold them and pull the receiver tight. There is just a tiny bit of up/down play as you can see in the pics where the (shoulders?) fit into the curve of the receiver. The shims adjustment makes alot of sense to me looking at the gun closer. Yes it appears to have had a fair amount of use but as you guys suggested it may never have been adjusted.

 

[3macs1]

90% have never been adjusted since most owners don't even know they have an issue with the play unless it is so severe
It is a good thing if they haven't since then there should be shims left to reduce
Too bad you are so far away something really a guy has to have in his hands to say what to do but the shims would be my focus
Fix that link and check out that repair manual I posted
Cheers

 

[the spank]

I was looking at the manual last night. Thank you for posting it. I received a PM on trapshooters that there is a fellow on Vancouver Island who specializes in 3200 repairs. I am awaiting his contact info so I can call him.
Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

 

[3macs1]

No problem
Sounds like you have it well under control
Been a lot of years since I handled one but don't recall that adjustment being too difficult as long as there is some shims there
All the best with it . They are a fine shotgun as you know
Cheers

 

[hogiron]

I must apologize here. I have the gun disassemled as I sold the monte carlo stock and forend off it and purchased a competition grade standard comb trap stock & forend for it and have yet to assemble it. I took out the receiver and barrels and upon closer examination the up/down movement is equal on both sides. With the barrels in place and hood latched you can clearly see in the pictures the hood is making full contact evenly on both sides. The up/down play is occurring between the receiver edge and what I’m referring to as the barrel shoulders(forgive my poor terminology please). Here are some photos. I included the bottom photo showing the hood locked in place. Yes I know that gap is normal, I just put up the pic to explain when I hold the barrels and let the receiver lay at rest that gap is about 1/2mm wider than when I hold them and pull the receiver tight. There is just a tiny bit of up/down play as you can see in the pics where the (shoulders?) fit into the curve of the receiver. The shims adjustment makes alot of sense to me looking at the gun closer. Yes it appears to have had a fair amount of use but as you guys suggested it may never have been adjusted.

hey Spank
Where did you find the straight stock and fore end for the 3200? I had a chance to pick another 3200 up, but the stock was monte carlo and had been cut and made into a home made adjustable stock. the gun was used, but other then the stock, looked to be in pretty decent shape.
thanks .

 

[the spank]

hey Spank
Where did you find the straight stock and fore end for the 3200? I had a chance to pick another 3200 up, but the stock was monte carlo and had been cut and made into a home made adjustable stock. the gun was used, but other then the stock looked to be in pretty decent shape.
thanks .

I found it for sale on trapshooters.com but check Numrich....they have a brand new standard comb unfinished with recoil pad for under $150 if memory serves? Pretty sure I saw a few on ebay a while back too.

 

[the spank]

So I was given a contact in BC who specializes in 3200’s. He told me I have a real simple fix. My forend iron needs adjusting. He said its just a matter of removing the forend, remove the forend iron from the forend, loosen the jam nut and turn the adjustment screw one turn then tighten the jam nut, put the iron back in the forend and attach to the gun and check the fit. If it locks up without any movement you got it. If there is still play repeat the above procedures and check again. He said I could do it easily myself but since I need my new stock and forend fitted and glass bedded he is going to take on the job and do a full servicing on the gun and bring everything up to par. I’m a happy camper now! 3200....the blue collar workers Perazzi! LOL.

 

[3macs1]

Humm that normally tightens the action I thought not remove the play you described
Interesting
Page 6 of manual it is noted also but I know very little about these now
Cheers