[Trifler]

People talk about how smooth the action is on the Remington M870 Police pump shotguns. From what I've read it sounds like this is because of extra work put in at the factory to polish the parts. I was wondering if one could take any pump-action shotgun to a gunsmith and have them do some polishing to create a smooth action?

[Oldnamvet]

Best way I have found to smooth out the action is to work it.......a lot! Shoot it a lot. Eventually it will just fall open when you hit the release button. Drive everyone crazy. Sit there watching TV in the evening just constantly racking the 870. After a few evenings of that, you will have no problems with conflicting opinions of what to watch. Everyone else will have left the room and you will be alone .......... racking the 870. Good for muscle tone as well.:D

[jack the toad]

I agree. Not only will it help smooth things out, but you also get some good gun handleing familiarization.

[Trifler]

Best way I have found to smooth out the action is to work it.......a lot!

Hmm... Ok, but that doesn't really answer my question. :)

[Fred Fuller]

Yep. Wearing smooth spots where your hands go on the gun will do an amazing amount to smooth out the action too. And do a lot to hardwire that computer between your ears as well. Shoot it enough and it'll smooth out- so will you when you swing it and shoot it. Might actually get to where you can hit something with it every once in a while too.

Better to spend the money on shells than on a 'smith...

lpl/nc

[asknight]

Send me your 870 Police and I'll break it in, er... ahem... smooth it up, for you, no charge. You just pay the shipping and I'll get it back to you in 24 months or less. Guaranteed! :D

PM me if you need my address.

[Dave McCracken]

No smith needed...

I doubt the 870Ps run any slicker than my old WMs. Work polishing works.

One can speed it up a mite, though.

Keep pumping it through an entire episode of Jeopardy. Remove the forearm and stone the shiny marks with a hard Arkansas stone, crockstick or similar. Also smooth down the flashing left by the stamping process and radius the corners of the bars slightly. Lube and re-assemble. With the action closed, place one drop of lube on each bar where it enters the receiver and pump it a few times. Note the improvement.

HTH....

[ArmedBear]

For a quick fix, I've found that Bullfrog Lubricant and Rust Blocker on the moving parts really makes the gun run smooth. Doesn't make it break in, though.

RemOil or CLP are too thin to make the gun feel smooth, and I wouldn't gum up the works with grease. But the Bullfrog spray is just thick enough to make the thing feel smooth, without gumming anything up.

[Trifler]

So what about that article that says after 5,000 rounds the Mossberg 590 was still not even close to being as smooth as the 870 Police?

[Dave McCracken]

Dunno,Trifler. I've run across some smooth Mossies.

Some real smoothies I have seen include Model 37s,12s,1200s,1300s, 500s, 520s,620s, 31s and 870s. In all cases, they had been used and not safe queens.

A couple 12s have to be the smoothest. Held vertically, they open themselves when the switch is hit.

Also, don't believe ads at all.

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a Mossberg 500 and a Remingtom 870. I shoot my 500 more than my son shoots his 870 and my action opens itself and I have it less than a year. Like said above, no Smith needed, spend the money on clays and shot!

[Trifler]

All right. Thank you all, although I was more interested in finding out whether it was possible to have a gunsmith do that kind of work than whether I should. I didn't intend to run right out to the gunsmith to have it done, I just wanted the peace of mind of knowing I could if the action just wasn't smoothing itself out the way I wanted no matter what I did.

[momawarbucks]

My Mav88 (a cheaper version mossy) is equipped with a Knoxx Industries Sidewinder (detach box mag). I bought it new and between the excessive trigger slack and pull weight was driving me crazy. It was equipped with a modified magazine tube to accept the box magazine. It was also a rough pull to chamber a new round because of the quality control issues with the forearm slide mechanization. I sent mine to Kirbythegunsmith, Arnold Mo. He took lots of pictures of the internal working of my Maverick. From what I saw, I could have racked and racked and racked until I could rack now more.....nope, it would not have fixed it. No gunsmith needed?.........maybe not, but imho at least have yours look at the problem.
My Maverick?....smooth as butter, excellent trigger pull, a slide action smooth enough that with a single round fired, recoil alone auto ejects the round.
Good Luck:)

[ArchAngelCD]

Trifler,
I think all of the posts, including mine that told you there was no need for Smith work on the shotgun were conceding that it could be done by a Smith. (at least that's the way I read it and intended to get across in my post) Just by saying “no Smith needed” admits that a Smith can be used. I guess we should have said it right out but I though it was clear. Sorry if my answer seemed not to answer your question.

[Trifler]

Just by saying “no Smith needed” admits that a Smith can be used.

No worries. I did understand "no Smith needed" to mean that one could be used, which was why I was thanking everyone and considering my question answered in my mind. The responses in general just beat around the bush too much for my taste. I did receive an excellent response via e-mail from kirbythegunsmith who saw this thread and that was very helpful.