870P bent forend action bars ... help!

[monduconstruct]

Hi,

I recently installed a new SureFire forend on my 870 Police. After installing it I noticed that the forend no longer installed smoothly into the receiver, and it took multiple tries to wiggle it in, and various combinations of pushing the shell stops (left/right) to get it in place. After installed, the action is VERY stiff in the 1/2 of movement closest to the receiver.

I took the forend off, tried straightening the forend tube within the SureFire forend to no avail. I think the arms themselves may be bent or out of alignment (I suspect vertically). Can anyone recommend a technique to align the arms? Am I stuck purchasing something like this: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=...ngton__870/Product/Forend_Tube_Assembly_w_Nut ??

Thanks everyone,
S

 

[BADUNAME37]

I know, from experience with several different pump guns, you cannot force the action bar(s)!

Any attempt to remove or reinstall them by brute force will be met with ruined bars.

There is a way to remove them that does not include forcing them in any way. Until you know that way, it is best to just look at them and figure out how it is they are in there.

I say order two new ones. As for your question and link, if that tube contains the bars, yes, otherwise, NO.

http://www.google.com/search?q=remo...d=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&ie=utf8&oe=utf8

 

[Zero Knives]

Look on Gunbroker first, best source for parts. Before I knew any better, I spent 60+ bucks from Numrich for a forend. When I was looking for wood furniture on GB, I found several with the tube still installed for 30 or so bucks...

 

[BADUNAME37]

I agree.

There is something that has to do with the rear stock removed and sliding the bolt out of the rear of the gun. In doing so, there is an action plate under the bolt which the bars control, that plate slides in tracks in the left and right sides of the receiver. When you manipulate the bolt and that plate the correct way, the bars just slide right out the front.

I am going by memory on this from both a Mossberg, an old Hi Point and an old Stevens 12 gauge pump, in having to completely disassemble them to detail and clean them, I learned almost the hard way. When I got to realizing I was beginning to force things was when I stopped and scrutinized how it was all assembled. Once you figure that out, you are nearly done taking the gun apart!

 

[tkopp]

I had to replace the fore end tube on my 870. Just know that if you have an older model (like I did) and get a fore end tube you may need to replace the bolt carrier as well. I bought mine from Remington, they identified my older bolt carrier by the shotgun serial number, and threw in the new bolt carrier for free with the tube.

 

[Youngster]

It's not hard to straighten the bars yourself, it just takes a lot of trial and error as you eyeball the clearance into the reciever and work by feel.

My bars weren't bent but I still improved the feel of the action a whole lot with a little time spent fitting.

 

[dfariswheel]

A good way to straighten 870 action bars is to remove the fore end and use a vise and a straight edge.

First, look for any bends in any direction in the middle of the bars. Bend any of these kinks out using the straight edge to gage the bar.

If the bars are bent inward, outward, or up or down use the vise.
Put one bar at a time in a vise with the tube sticking up. Grip the bar up as close to the tube as you can.
Grab the tube and bend the bar straight. You can usually bend inward or outward bends with just your hands.

To check for straight bars, use the gun itself as a gage by slipping the action bar assembly on the gun and checking the fit with the slots in the front of the receiver as you slide the action bar assembly into the gun.
The 870 is such that the action bars have to be pretty badly kinked or bent upward or downward before it'll get sticky.
If the bars are bent inward or outward, when assembled the gun itself will push the bars into alignment.
The combination of the receiver slots and the bolt carrier will force the bars to align and it can't stick.
What can cause problems are bends in the middle of the bars, so that's the main issue to check.

In almost all cases, unless the bars are broken off the tube or they're cracked, the bars can be bent back into proper alignment with little trouble, and there's no reason to buy a new action bar assembly.

 

[monduconstruct]

Thank you for the helpful guide on bending the bars .. I will borrow a vice and give it a shot! Thank you again, this is a huge help.