11-87 torn Barrel seal problem

[yankytrash]

Huntin buddy of mine has an 11-87 Express 12ga, bought NIB late last year.

During duck season, when he was cleaning it, he noticed the rubber O-ring barrel seal was ripped in half. It didn't cause any problems in the action. We chalked it up to getting frozen and he ordered 4 replacement seals, to have extra lying around.

You can see the part on Remington's schematic, part #12: http://www.remington.com/support/parts/1187parts.htm

Well, after about 3 more outtings it was the end of duck season. At the final cleaning, he noticed the ring was ripped in half again. He replaced it again. That was probably 6 boxes of shells since the last replacement.

We've shot a little skeet since then, and patterned our shotguns for the upcoming spring gobbler season. After patterning, dang if that seal isn't ripped in half again!

I asked him if he thought it was the way was reassembling it, and he said, "No, back when I worked at the gun store I had an 11-87 just like this one, and never had a problem with it."

Anybody run into this? The replacement seals he got are supposed to be some new whiz-bang polymer blend, if that helps. The torn O-ring doesn't appear to affect the action of the gun, but it makes me nervous. This'll be my first year bow hunting for turkey, and he's suppoed to be my backup in case I wing one or gutshot.

Murphy's law states that it'll fail just when he's supposed to be finishing off a 25lb gobbler I winged. I need that thing fixed.

 

[HSMITH]

As long as he shoots 3" mags the o-ring can be back at the house and it will function OK.

Most likely there is a burr on the mag tube or the barrel band. Rub your finger around (carefully) and you should find it. Clean the burr out and the ring should last 1000 rounds or better. Also stop paying Remington $4+ each for them and go buy some Viton O-rings from the hardware store that you match to the last Remington ring, cost you less than $1 for THREE.

 

[Buck]

HSMITH is right. It is caused by sharp edges on the gas holes inside the gas cylinder.

Buff up (slightly) the area around the gas holes edges. Also, when reassemblying make sure the barrel seal ("o" ring) is sitting in the indented ring in the mag tube and hold the gun level so that the O ring tends to hang down and has a better chance of "missing" the gas holes as you slide the gas cylinder over the mag tube. It doesn't really hang down, but the fit is so close and since gravity sucks, it's better to not encourage the O ring to touch the gas holes.

I always inspect mine during assembly to insure the barrel seal is well back into the gas piston.

And HSMITH -- Thanks for the tip on the deal on "O rings".

Buck

 

[yankytrash]

Actually, I originally suggested to him to get them at the hardware store. He insisted on Remmy, and the gunstore sent them to him for free (it was purchased at the gunstore he used to work at).

Time for buffin...