870 Shell Latches.

[gleaner26]

Has anyone had a lot a problems with their shell latches on the 870? I came across an old thread on THR and someone said that the shell latches were the 870's biggest weakness. The thread was about a guy's 870 Police that he claimed was a piece of junk right from the start. Said that the shell latch broke before he even shot it. Is this a real problem with the 870?

 

[JNewell]

It is not a big problem. Arguably it's not a problem at all. There are tons of high-round 870s out there with their original shell latches. That particular gun may have been abused. It is possible to damage them, if you work at it and try hard. The poster you refer to sounds like he may have had an axe to grind.

 

[ReloaderFred]

My experience with the Model 870 is limited to the approximately 200 guns my department had when I was rangemaster, plus the two I now own since I'm retired. I've never seen a problem with the shell latches on any of the 870's we had, and they weren't babied, believe me. That's not to say that there haven't been problems, but I've just never experienced them, and I cleaned and inspected every one of our shotguns.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[gleaner26]

Good to hear. I just bought a new 870 Police and this is going to be my only gun for awhile. I just want to know I can count on it being reliable for HD use. I was going to get a 590a1 to go with it, but I just don't have the money right now. I still want a couple aftermarket things for the 870.

 

[Sir Aardvark]

My buddy somehow got the action bar of the forend assembly on the wrong side of the left shell latch when he put his 870 together after stripping it apart.

It was easy to fix, so, short of not paying attention to what your doing, I have not heard of any problems with the shell latches.

 

[Rshooter]

I have two WingMaster Police guns, 1955 and 1960, I also have a police magnum. I have yet to see a problem with the latches. I also believe the older guns speak for themselves.

 

[dak0ta]

did that once myself getting the forearm action bar behind the shell latch.

 

[dfariswheel]

Often the "defective" Remington shell stop is defective because the owner removed it from the receiver, not knowing it was staked in place and isn't to be removed.

I've had these come in with the owner complaining about crappy Remington workmanship and defective guns. When I asked how the shell stops came loose, I usually got evasive answers.

 

[JNewell]

Yeah, that'd do it, for sure.