Remington 870 problem
- Thread starter RBTom
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I’ve never seen that but mine are all older 870s and I don’t tend to cycle too fast. It sounds like you’re moving the action so fast the lifter is moving up faster than the magazine spring can push the shell out.
If it cycles fine at normal speeds then maybe just don’t run the slide that fast. I’ve found the faster I run the slide the more I come off target anyway.
If it cycles fine at normal speeds then maybe just don’t run the slide that fast. I’ve found the faster I run the slide the more I come off target anyway.
Came across a similar issue a few years ago with a guy's 870, turned out to be the spring inside the mag tube and the inside of the mag tube was real rusty. Ended up pulling the spring out and a poof of dry rust came with it. It was hanging just enough when pumping it fast that it hesitated to put a shell into the gun, but slowly would function. After cleaning and oiling the mag tube and spring it was functioning fine. Not saying this will be your issue, but you may look into it. Still might be gunk building up in the mag tube if it has never been disassembled. Worth a look.
Riomouse911
Member
Check the shell-stops on either side of the magazine tube. It sounds like the second of these is either sticking in place or the staking indentation(s) came undone and the steel clip is loose in the frame. (I think that's the left side one when looking down the barrel, but I may be mistaken.)
Take the bolt out of the gun and you'll see these two spring steel pieces, one on either side of the receiver. (If one falls out like mine did, you have ID'ed the issue. )
The first shell stop holds the shells in place when they're put in the magazine. Then as the action is cycled forward it releases the shell in the magazine to the second one, which holds it in place for the next round of cycling. When the action is opened the second shell stop releases the shell to the lifter, which pops it up to the breech, the next shell is caught by the first shell stop, then released to the second, etc. Then it all repeats itself until the gun is empty.
It sounds like yours is allowing the shell to slide towards the lifter after the lifter has popped the previous shell up to the breech. While the lifter is up, the following shell gets let go by the malfunctioning shell stop and drops out. (Further shells don't drop out because it is caught by the first shell stop.)
My old Wingmaster had this issue; the second shell stop had come unstaked causing double feeds. Once it was restaked in place it's as good as new.
Just a thought...
Stay safe.
Take the bolt out of the gun and you'll see these two spring steel pieces, one on either side of the receiver. (If one falls out like mine did, you have ID'ed the issue. )
The first shell stop holds the shells in place when they're put in the magazine. Then as the action is cycled forward it releases the shell in the magazine to the second one, which holds it in place for the next round of cycling. When the action is opened the second shell stop releases the shell to the lifter, which pops it up to the breech, the next shell is caught by the first shell stop, then released to the second, etc. Then it all repeats itself until the gun is empty.
It sounds like yours is allowing the shell to slide towards the lifter after the lifter has popped the previous shell up to the breech. While the lifter is up, the following shell gets let go by the malfunctioning shell stop and drops out. (Further shells don't drop out because it is caught by the first shell stop.)
My old Wingmaster had this issue; the second shell stop had come unstaked causing double feeds. Once it was restaked in place it's as good as new.
Just a thought...
Stay safe.
Riomouse911
Member
They are 55 and 56 in the Numrich image.
Stay safe.
Virginian
Member
The staking has nothing to do with the functioning of the shell stops. That's just to hold them in place when disassembled.
The replies are appreciated.
I really think there's something worn out in the trigger group causing the lifter to raise too early and blocking the round from entering the receiver. When I open the pump, the lifter is raised preventing the new shell entering the receiver. When I close the pump, the lifter rises and just spits the new shell out the bottom.
I don't know if something could be worn out in the plastic trigger group, or maybe a weak spring?
I really think there's something worn out in the trigger group causing the lifter to raise too early and blocking the round from entering the receiver. When I open the pump, the lifter is raised preventing the new shell entering the receiver. When I close the pump, the lifter rises and just spits the new shell out the bottom.
I don't know if something could be worn out in the plastic trigger group, or maybe a weak spring?
I took the trigger group out this morning and removed the little spring that sits in a cup ( it's connected to the lifter). I gave it a slight little stretch and after I put a little bit more oil here and there, I put it all back together. It hasn't malfuctioned once yet. I think I'm on the right path, but I don't really like the stretched spring. Seems to be fine for now anyhow.
Are there any upgrades to get rid of this plastic trigger group? It just kinda rubs me wrong.
Are there any upgrades to get rid of this plastic trigger group? It just kinda rubs me wrong.
Virginian
Member
When you pull the fore end straight all the way back, does it release a round from the magazine. It should. Then as you move the fore end back forward the carrier should rise then. I really don't think there is a thing wrong with the plastic trigger group housing. I should be superior to the cast aluminum..
Virginian
Member
When does the carrier start moving up ? While the fore end is still coming back ? This is key.
It was moving at the end of the stroke. It would pop up about a half inch or so and prevent the new round from entering the receiver. When I would pump it forward, the carrier would move up and the new round would just spit out the bottom. I "adjusted" that spring inside the cup and all is good now. New spring is on order.
If you're going to fix it on your own, the timing on an 870 holds the upcoming round in the magazine until the bolt is all the way to the rear, then it releases it. It snaps into position on the lifter (the 1100 and 11-87 work the same way). When you move the slide forward, a small catch on the carrier plate engages the pawl of the lifter, pushing it up. If your gun is spitting rounds out the bottom, I would suspect the lifter is sticking and not returning to the lower position after feeding the live round. Possibly there is an issue with the lifter spring.
Virginian
Member
Opinion - At least one of the shell latches is messed up. If the gun is a standard receivered (12 gauge size) one it is almost guaranteed.
I don't think you have a good understanding of what was happening. The lifter would pop up at some point during the rearward stroke (if it was pumped hard and fast). The lifter would prevent the new round from entering the receiver, at forward movement, the lifter would raise, and spit the new round out the bottom. Ending at the forward lock with no round in the breech.
entropy
Member
I know Virginian has a very good idea of how an 870 works, RBTom, and that would be the first thing to check. The next thing to check would be the carrier dog spring.
The carrier shouldn't move up until the forward stroke. This was moving up about a half inch on the rearward stroke preventing the new round from entering the receiver. On the forward stroke, the carrier would move up, and the new round would just pop out the bottom. The rest of the rounds in the tube, are stopped by the first carrier like they should be.
Is it possible that I'm not explaining this well enough?
Is it possible that I'm not explaining this well enough?
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