11-87 Premier Magazine Problem

[Hammilton]

I recently broke my 11-87 down for a thorough cleaning (which I've done dozens of times before) and now all of a sudden the magazine is not working. I can't get a round into the magazine- something is catching on the shell to the point that it's gouging the plastic of the shell and getting caught on the head.

I don't know how breaking it down could have caused this, I don't think I did anything that would even affect it. Don't think I did anyway...

Hopefully this is a stupid mistake on my part and easy to fix. Weather finally looks good for a weekend here and I'd like to bust some clay this weekend.

 

[deacon8]

I'd try taking it apart again and putting it back together. When you break it down again, try and figure out what your problem is, was, or could be. I have an 11-87, but it's at my house and not with me (I'm away from home). Otherwise, I would look at mine and try to figure it out for you. However, I noticed that nobody has posted an answer for you, so I figured I would throw in my $0.02. Yeah, take it apart again...

-Deacon

P.S. Sorry for the lack of help, but that's what I would do.

 

[deacon8]

Oh, I forgot...

What did you mean by "head?" You said it's getting stuck on the "head," what do you mean by that?

 

[Hammilton]

the head is the metal bit of a usual plastic shell.

 

[rehorne]

Maybe your shell latch is not back all the way in the receiver recess or it is turned over causing it to bind on the shell.

Robert

 

[Sunray]

"...taking it apart again and putting it back together..." Yep. It's not the 'breaking it down', it's the re-assembling.

 

[Hammilton]

Well, surprisingly, it works again. I don't know what I did differently, or if I really did anything different, but it's working again. I've never liked the magazine on that gun, but I've always loved the gun in general.

I kind of want to sell it and get an over-under or nice side by side. I did really well with this gun when I first started shooting trap (it was the first gun I ever shot trap with and managed a 22 my first round and averaged 23 for the summer. Amazing I can't hit a pheasant if it landed on my head ) but I want to consider competing down the road and I'd rather not have to pick up shells all the time.

 

[Hammilton]

How does a gun which has never even jammed on me cause me so much frustration in such a short time??

On saturday we were shooting and all of a sudden I pull the trigger and nothing happens. It pulls, but no click. Thought maybe I heard wrong and there just wasn't a round in the chamber. Go to check and discover that I can't even pull the bolt back! No amount of pulling does anything. Had to take it home with a round in the chamber and no idea what was wrong. Ended up having to remove the trigger assembly, giving the bolt a light wack with a rubber mallet (carefully, outside, aimed toward a thick stand of trees). Got it out, reinstall the trigger assembly, but now the bolt won't stay open! I don't know exactly what he did, but my dad was able to get that working again.

Taking it all apart though, it was extremely clean for a gun I've been shooting regularly for 12 years- even the trigger assembly, which I've never removed before. Nothing to cause this sort of nonsense.

It kind of makes me want to sell it and buy myself a decent O/U double for trap, but I love this gun. I won it at a pheasant forever banquet and despite my dad telling me to leave it in the gun case and sticking to my Mossberg pump, I took that gun everywhere from shooting trap to grouse and even rabbit (with light hand loads- after breaking a rabbit into two pieces down across the middle I decided to stick to my .410 whenever I might get a close shot w/o possibility of grouse). I actually shot my New England Arms 'Pardner' break action .410 until I was 18... lol