20 Ga 870 questions

[Bigjake]

I won this piece at an NRA banquet Eons ago, and it just sits in the safe. The Receiver is marked 20 ga MAGNUM, for 3" shells. does that mean 2-3/4 isn't going to cycle well through this?

I've had it jam before, buts its been easily 5 years since i've messed with it and I can't remember what i was running through it.

thoughts??

[Dave McCracken]

2 3/4" shells will work. If yours jams, try different ammo.

[Bigjake]

Just tried a couple boxes, same nonsense with each brand.

What happens, is that 2 shells pop out of the mag when I work the action, thus jamming it. (technically, its more like a shell and a half.)

??

[dagger dog]

I have the same gun it cycles the 2&3/4 as well as it does the 3".

Sounds like you have some mechanical issues and not the ammo.

I'm not that fimilar with the 870 . but some of the others might be in the know. The trigger group is easy enough to remove just 2 pins I would start with a good cleaning, and inspection.

If it were mine and it got much more involved it would have to go to the smith.
Make sure the barrel to magizine tube nut is screwed down enough.

[Snarlingiron]

There are 2 shell latches, left and right. The round rests against the left latch. As the action bars are cycled, the left latch is pushed out of the path of the shell, and it drops back to the right latch, and the left latch is released to catch the next shell.

There could be a couple of things going on. First, it could just be sticking (either one).

Second, it is not common, but not unheard of either for one of these to become loose. They are staked in place, so if this is the case it is definitely gunsmith or Remington service time.

Did you dismantle and clean the gun when you first got it? Even if you did 5 years in the safe will pretty much insure that whatever lubricant was present is now pretty much varnish. If it were mine, I would completely disassemble (per Dave McCracken's cleaning 101 (http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=17035&highlight=cleaning+101)) and very thoroughly and completely clean and lubricate it. I'm betting the problem clears.

If you want to see the action of the two latches, put a snap cap, or a shell keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, in the magazine. Turn the gun upside down. Now look at the latch that is holding the shell in the magazine. Unlock the action and very slowly move the forend toward the receiver. You will see the latch move over, allowing the shell to move back to the latch on the other side of the receiver. In your case one or the other of these is not stopping the shell, most likely the right latch.

Good luck.