[matchgradeindustries]

Anyone happen to know what connects the magazine tube to the magazine guide? It doesn't seem to be pressed in, and I don't see how it could be threaded, although I've been hesitant to apply heat and torque the crap out of the magazine tube considering its wall thickness.

[NCsmitty]

Welcome to THR, matchgradeindustries.

I had one of that type apart a few years ago, and I'm pretty sure that there are a couple screws securing the mag guide or brackets in that vicinity. Whatever you do don't apply heat or excess force as it's not necessary, that I know. The lifter will flip around when you loosen the mag guide.
I've replaced the guide spring and a few other parts on those models and find that they are good rifles.



NCsmitty

[Jim K]

The tube isn't fastened to the guide; it is fastened to the magazine mount with a pin. The mount dovetails into the barrel.

I am glad someone thinks they are good rifles; IMHO, they are, by whatever name or number, a POS. I repaired dozens and came to the point I hated to see one come in the door.

Jim

[matchgradeindustries]

Got it off, ran a reamer through to shave off maybe a thousandth off the inside diameter of the feed tube (I saw a burr, hit it with a file, and then reamed it), and now the gun's double-feeding. Go figure. Box magazines, anyone?

*sigh*

[mhcomp]

I had previously reduced trigger pull by reworking the release spring. When I went to the range recently, I had all kinds of FE & FF's.

I took the gun apart and found that the magazine guide had shifted slightly rearward towards the trigger assy. I took the lifter & spacers out of the guide and tapped it forward towards the magazine and used star washers under the heads of the retaining screws. I polished the lifter and its spacers and when reassembling the guide, I squeezed it with needle nosed pliers until the lifter was snug but not binding. That took care of the static FF problem.

Now I have FE problems at the range. Brought the gun back to the house and took the ejectors out of the bolt and polished the sides of them. I polished the bolt too, especially where the magazine lifter contacts it and washed the whole mess w/soap & water. I washed the receiver with soap & water too. I soaked the receiver, bolt & parts in alcohol, blew everything out with air and reassembled using silicon spray as lubricant.

Back at the range I put about 350 rapid fire rounds through the gun with 3FE's and no FF's using Remington Golden Bullet value pack bulk ammo. I then tried Blazer bulk ammo and they failed to feed immediately. All in all, I am happy with the results and will continue to clean the parts w/soap & water followed by alcohol and silicon spray. Firing that many rounds really cruds up the bolt and receiver with powder residue.

Note that I am NOT a gunsmith. I just wanted the weapon to work because it is extremely accurate.

[Jim K]

Good show, mhcomp, I just hope the gun keeps working, but those guns are tricky. The trigger pull has to be hard so that the finger holds the trigger back hard enough for the bolt stop to engage. Anyone who wants to work on one has my blessings (and sympathy). The clip fed guns are not too bad, but the tube magazines give tons of trouble and are a PITA to try to fix.

Jim

[Robbins290]

i love my springfield 87a, accurate, and semi reliable. i have had the right extracter missing and she will only get a fte every 3-4 tubes. here is a pic of the missing extracter