set screw in 870 reciever/barrel

[Wildfoot]

i was reading in the shotgun forums about a problem ive been having with my grizzly 870. There is some play between the barrel and reciever (can turn it a few mm clockwise and counterclock).

I read that some people drill and tap a set screw in the reciver that locks into the barrel. This would solve the problem i have been having with the front post not always being properly aligned, since the rear sight is on the reciever and not the barrel.

I just got a fancy new tap and die set for christmas and was thinking this would make a good first project. Where would the best place be to drill a hole through the reciver and make a small dimple in the barrel? would the top right along the rib in the reciver work? Or would the side of the reciever be better for the structural integrety?

What would be a good size set screw to use?

Does anyone have pictures of this done to a 870?

I know I could drill and tap the barrel for a set of irons, but with the short 12" barrel, My sights would be pretty close together.

 

[ARWEN ACE]

I have seen a lot of shotguns and have never seen this modification. Someone may have done it but it is not the right way to correct a rotational problem.

The rotation on a Remington 870 or clone is controlled by the tip of the ejector sticking into a notch in the barrel hood. If the fit is sloppy, the fix is to peen the notch in the barrel hood until it becomes smaller. The side to peen will depend on which way you want the rotation to go. DO NOT try to bend the tip of the ejector! You will risk breaking it, especially on a Remington 870. In my experience the clone ejectors are soft and made from old tin cans.

 

[Claybuster]

I've seen this modification in guns and recently saw a factory gun with a set screw. IIRC it was a new model Remington 870 slug gun. I can't say whether this is a good modification or not or even how to go about doing one. I've found my Remington 870s sufficiently accurate to not feel the need to do anything more to them.

 

[hedgehog]

oh and be careful of any tap/die "set" you buy. most of these Canadian tire sets (or the like) are only good for chasing holes not cutting them.

 

[RePete]

I've seen that done 20 years ago, but mostly on Hi Standard. But these were basically a benchrest shotgun.

It could be done, but if you install the barrel the same way every time, before locking done the retainer, twist the barrel one way or the other, then lock the retainer.

 

[ARWEN ACE]

I've seen this modification in guns and recently saw a factory gun with a set screw. IIRC it was a new model Remington 870 slug gun. I can't say whether this is a good modification or not or even how to go about doing one. I've found my Remington 870s sufficiently accurate to not feel the need to do anything more to them.

The "set screw" you saw on the new factory gun was not one of the plug screws that is in the factory drilled and tapped receivers?

 

[Claybuster]

The "set screw" you saw on the new factory gun was not one of the plug screws that is in the factory drilled and tapped receivers?

No. These weren't plug screws for a scope mount. It was a screw on the side of the receiver that would have extended into the barrel.