[ArmedBear]

How do you best clean the recoil buffer?

I've disassembled everything else, but haven't tackled that yet. I bought an old field gun with little apparent wear, but a good amount of crud (dirt, plant matter, sand, mud) deep in it. I don't think anyone had ever done a good cleaning of the thing before I got it.

Also, while the gun feeds fine, the last-shot-hold-open feature only works some of the time. Could this just be crud in the buffer, or should I look for another worn part in the trigger assembly?

Thanks to anyone who knows.:)

[mnrivrat]

Hi !

Maybe I can help a little.
I am going to assume that what you want to do is to remove the action spring from the tube that runs to the rear of the receiver.
( The buffer is simply the small nylon bushing that surounds the firing pin at the rear of the bolt and held in with a cross pin - no need to disassemble that for cleaning)

You have to remove the butt stock of the gun to get at the rear of the action spring tube. There is two screws holding the butt pad in place and once the pad is removed you will be able to access the slotted nut at the rear of the action spring tube. These can be pretty tight and special tool is available to remove them. Otherwise a very large screwdriver generaly works OK using proper caution.

When this nut is removed the butt stock can be slid off the receiver. Note how the washers go at the back of the buttstock and there is a spacer plate required at the front of the stock between it and the receiver (metal formed plate).

With the stock removed you can now push the action spring plug forward a little with a screwdriver and push out the cross pin that holds the plug and spring in place. After the pin is removed you will need to ease the plug and spring out of the tube (it is under significant spring tension) . At the front of the spring is the follower. You can now clean the inside of the action spring tube and related parts. Assemble is reverse.

If you are not locking open on an empty gun, then take a look at the carrier latch & cartridge lifter system. (lifter - carrier). There is a small spring loaded part that sits at the front of the trigger group and has a little protrusion that pops into the cartridge lifter to lock up the system with the bolt to the rear.

When you push the release button on the carrier it pushes the latch to rear to dis-ingage it from the lifter. During operation the rear of the shell under spring tension hits this latch to accomplish the dis-engagement. Sometimes the little lever portion of the release button gets bent and can interfer with the latches operation as well, but that system is where you want to be looking for the problem.

[ArmedBear]

Thanks! That's what I meant by recoil buffer; I guess it's actually the bolt return spring if I think about it.

I've replaced the stock to change the LOP, and I don't think I ever found a metal spacer on either old or new stock. Have they always used them? (mine is a 1971 Magnum model with walnut stock, pressed Fleur de Lis checkering if that gives an idea of the vintage).

I thought there might be a way to get the spring out without shooting it across the yard. I do appreciate your instructions.:)

Re the hold-open, I may have bent that part myself when I did the initial cleaning. It worked fine before in a test firing when I bought it, even though it was dirtier than I've ever seen a gun inside. I'll have to look around in there!

Thanks again. I may bug you with another question when I've looked at the trigger assembly again.

[mnrivrat]

I've replaced the stock to change the LOP, and I don't think I ever found a metal spacer on either old or new stock. Have they always used them?

Yes - they have always been there. It is a flat plate (about 1/32" think) that sits loose between the back of the recevier and the wrist of the stock. It is there to act as a spacer so that during recoil the rear receiver edges won't splinter the edges of the stock. If it is gone, it should be replaced.

Ask away - I'll be gone for a couiple hours again now but happy to answer any questions I can.

[ArmedBear]

Oh, that thing is there. Thanks.

I thought you meant something like some modern Benellis have, a spacer visible between the stock and the receiver.

[JoeG52]

You might find this interesting.
http://refugeforums.com/refuge/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70691

[9mmMike]

mnrivrat said;
( The buffer is simply the small nylon bushing that surounds the firing pin at the rear of the bolt and held in with a cross pin - no need to disassemble that for cleaning)


Please expand on this. I bought a used 870 bolt that had something like what you described. I assumed it was modified by a tinkerer and I never tried to use it with, what I thought was, a block. I took the cross (roll) pin out and removed the nylon/plastic block and the firing pin. The pin was shorter at the rear, like it has been trimmed.

[mnrivrat]

The 1100 auto has a breech bolt buffer at the rear of the bolt. It is nylon and generaly opaque in color and sometimes black. It is perhaps 1/2 inch in diameter and 1/2 inch or so deep being retained into the back of the bolt by a cross pin. The center hole in the buffer allows the firing pin to fit through.

If your bolt has the buffer than it may likely be an 1100 bolt and not for the 870 which had no such buffer. Look at the right side of the bolt - if it has a clearance slot for the bolt handle then it is an 1100 bolt. If it is an 870 bolt then someone would have had to modify it - for what purpose I have no idea.

[9mmMike]

Thanks. It was/is an 870 bolt. I have only ever seen one other. It was on an auction and I asked the seller about it. He had no clue.
If I can find the parts, I'll post a pic but I think I took it apart and the bits are scattered.
Thanks again,
Mike