870 wear ? Dave Mc

[tango3065]

I have a 870 made in 1991 with around 2 - 3 thousand rounds through it and the action bar on the LH side (ejection side) is looking worn where the little groove is cut in it. I think the groove is for the shell stop but I am not to sure. The wear is mostly just the blueing but there also looks like they might be a small (very small) chip worn into the sharpened groove.

What is the purpose of this sharpened cutout?

Is wear normal there?

Should I buy a new action bar tube assembly?

Or is this something that is common and nothing to worry about since it still functions normal?

Thanks

 

[Fred Fuller]

What is the purpose of this sharpened cutout?
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To actuate the shell stop on that side.
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Is wear normal there?
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Absolutely normal. Unavoidable in fact, if the gun is used any at all. The shell stop is a piece of spring steel that bears on the action bar as it reciprocates.
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Should I buy a new action bar tube assembly?
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NO, not for that reason.
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Or is this something that is common and nothing to worry about since it still functions normal?
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Right. Nothing to worry about at all. Shouldn't be a problem for another 100- 150,000 rounds or more or thereabouts.

Not Dave, but didn't want you to worry... he will no doubt weigh in.

lpl/nc

 

[tango3065]

Thanks Lee

 

[Dave McCracken]

Wear sounds a bit accelerated for just 3K rounds. But, I doubt it'll ever fail. Keep it lubed and clean.

The 870 is a wonderfully well designed shotgun. But like all pumps, visible wear marks start with the first shuck.

 

[tango3065]

As for the advanced the wear this gun sees alot of rapid action shooting come dove season which might explain it. Do you lube your action bars with a small coat of grease , or dry lube? I have just been using CLP when I clean. Also as long as the sharp groove is there it would still activate the shell stop wouldn't it?

 

[Fred Fuller]

It's of course impossible to say how bad the wear is without seeing the action bars. I suppose it's possible Remington turned out some that were particularly soft steel and might therefore wear excessively, I don't know. But function is the key indicator, and as long as the gun runs OK the wear is not excessive. Action bars tend to 'work harden' with use and sometimes that gives the appearance of a depressed area or excessive wear. Speed of pumping shouldn't have any bearing on wear.

There's no way to run a pumpgun without scuffing the finish off the action bars, that will start happening with just a few hundred rounds and continue as the gun 'wears in.' The vast majority of 870s wear in for a long long time before they start to wear out, and with the usual amount of use they get one lifetime is not enough to wear one out given proper maintenance.

That said, action bar assemblies are available as parts and are not all that expensive. If it eases your mind to have one in your parts box along with a just-in-case spare bolt assembly and a spare trigger plate assembly, go for it... .

hth,

lpl/nc

 

[Dave McCracken]

CLP works, I used it for years until the SLIP 2000 folks promoted me to Beta Tester and sent me oodles of stuff.

Before shooting, I like to close the action, put one tiny drop of lube on each action bar right where it enter the receiver and shuck it a few times. Slicks things up nicely, though it's not critical.

Unless things go horribly wrong, basic PM with a tad of TLC will keep your 870 running for over 250K rounds. Keep us posted....

NOTE: Dove fields contain a fair amount of dust particles with a high content of silica crystals. These are abrasive. Do deep clean your receiver at least once every dove season....

 

[1911JMB]

Upon discharge from the navy in the mid 70's, my dads friend purchased an 870. He went on to fire at least 800,000 rounds from it. Just last year he had to have it rebuilt, because it was so worn out that he says it would fall apart and he had to put it back together between shots. The cost of having it reebuilt was 90 dollars. My theory is, if you shoot as much as he does and have to have your shotgun rebuilt, 90 bucks is chump change compared to ammo costs.