870 pumping/ejecting problem

[MEHavey]

Since the rest of the world is not having problems with Winchester ammo.
I would say the barrel is dirty or something is broken.

The primary problem is that the steel shell base does not react like brass to pressure. It does not spring back away from the chamber walls.

Simple test: Try to fit a fired steel case back in the chamber. It won't go, wereas a fired brass case will drop right in. The OP will have no problems with traditional brass.

HOWEVER.... the problem is exacerbated by less-than-mirror-finish in the chamber -- most specifically the 870 Express chamber. Polish it and "90%" of the problems will go away. But the tendency for steel-head ammunition to "stick" will always be w/ us.

Again, see http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=8376920&postcount=22 and read the referenced post from beginning to end.

 

[Drail]

Excellent advice.

 

[back40]

my 870 reacts the same way to the winchester bulk stuff. perhaps, not quite so bad though, as i typically just shuck a little harder and out it comes.

 

[Pit4Brains]

Ditto here..

Just got back from opening morning dove hunt with my brand new 870 express. I have the Winchester Super X 2 3/4-1-7 1/2 from Bass pro.
I had every shot get stuck in the chamber. No doubles for me this morning

Three unfired shells measured at the base:

.803
.803
.803

Three fired shells at the base measured;

.815
.815
.815

Looks like I'll be heading to the store for a brush to do some polishing before this evening's hunt, and I'll never buy this ammo again. I normally buy Remington for the 16 Ga. 870..

 

[Hunter125]

Make sure the your magazine cap is on tight

How is that going to help an extraction problem?

Same thing happens with both mine and my dad's 870 Express. I just recently started shooting clays and doves (a year ago) and had never run a lot of shells through my gun before. Borrowed some shells from a friend, some Winchesters some reloads, and they both caused jams.
My dad had some old Winchesters, not sure if it was a bulk pack or not, and they jammed his 870 as well.
Started buying Federal bulk packs and nary a problem since. Remingtons also work well.
BTW, not all Winchesters will do this, the AA stuff is top notch.

And around here the Winchester and Federal bulk packs are the same price.

 

[AI&P Tactical]

A simple cleaning/polishing rod in your drill will keep that chamber clean and will resolve the issue with most all ammo, even the Universal Bulk. In fact, I use the that mess to test my custom builds because if they extract that stuff they are going to extract anything. Go to www.aiptactical.com and click on the red link "Install and Cleaning" make a cleaning/polishing rod like on that page and the issue is over. I test the chamber with the barrel in hand bore down. I drop a round in the chamber and turn the barrel upside down and if the round freely falls out I am good to go. And yes, some new weapons can stand a light honing with a chamber ball hone but that is not common.

 

[JBrady555]

UPDATE: Went to the range today and had no problems using the bulk Federal rounds. No more Winchester superspeeds for my 870.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Thanks for the update. Glad you found something that worked.

 

[throdgrain]

Probably its a brand new gun that needs a thousand rounds or so through it , then it will be fine for the next 50 000 rounds.

 

[Pit4Brains]

I polished my chamber with a stainless brush and a drill. Took the gun out for some evening birds and I had the same problem again. I think I'll pass this ammo off to my buddy that has an autoloader..

 

[wgp]

Had the same problem with a new 870, solved it at the suggestion of a local gun shop by polishing the chamber with a strip of emery cloth. Took a couple of minutes (and as far as I am concerned it should have been done by the factory).

 

[220slow]

Haven't been around to reply. Mostly see the problems with the remington law enforcement extensions. If the magazine screw is not tightened before the tube, it leaves the barrel a little loose and can make the cycling difficult. It also will break the ejector eventually.

 

[oneounceload]

With the 870 EXPRESS, the solution is to take a cleaning rod end piece and with your bronze brush, wrap 0000 steel wool around the brush tightly, soak it (not TOO much) with a good oil, chuck the cleaning rod in a cordless drill and proceed to go back and forth slowly to polish the chamber. Once complete, the chamber should feel perfectly smooth thus not giving the expanding steel hull heads a place to expand and grab onto