870s - do they all eject shells weakly?

[rc601962]

I have a new 870. There is no sticking of the shell in the chamber after I fire it. However, the ejection strikes me as pretty weak. For the most part, the shells just dribble out when I VIOLENTLY VIOLENTLY work the action. Mine does this with low base, high base shells, buck, and slugs.

Is this normal for the 870?

I looked on youtube at videos of other peoples 870s. And, they were pretty much the same. The shells dribble out 1-3 inches from the receiver. Every once in a while, one shell will be ejected strongly.

 

[Al LaVodka]

Didn't this get asked already?
Al

 

[rc601962]

I thought I solved this problem by cleaning out the extractor. But, the gun still ejects weakly. I am not sure if all 870s just don't eject a few inches from the receiver?

 

[.45Heater]

Mine spits em' out about 3 or 4 ft.

 

[Virginian]

As long as it clears the port, who cares? Are you trying to impress someone or shoot?

 

[zhyla]

As long as it clears the port, who cares? Are you trying to impress someone or shoot?

You're not shooting a real gun unless the spent casings are annoying someone next to you.

 

[Al LaVodka]

Two targets: one in front and guy to right.

Seriously, it sounds a little anemic. Ask the folks at the range but it IS possibly the symptom of a failure and could create a danger situation.

Good for you checking!

Al

 

[Virginian]

I have only been shooting 870s for 36 years, so I am not the be all authority, but I have never had a failure to eject. Often when trying to save certain hulls I have purposely ejected easily and stopped short and plucked the round from the port. If the ejector spring breaks you can still get them out if you pull it back hard and when the rim hits the ejector it will still flip it out. With a pump you provide all the energy to do anything, so the less required the better in my book.

 

[rc601962]

I have had a few stovepipes with this gun. I am violently and fully working the action. The reason the weak ejection matters is it doesn't leave any room for error.

 

[Virginian]

Check your extractor and make sure it is getting a good grip on the shell rim, and make sure your ejector spring is okay. I have seen a few that were partially broken and still functioning.

 

[Gord]

Just cycled through the 00 buck in my 870. Everything's ejecting briskly (I'd say ~8in from the receiver), and that's fighting gravity with the gun canted about thirty degrees to the left, with normal pump strokes, on heavy loaded ammo, not empty hulls.

I'm going to suggest either operator error (slow/deliberate shucking, which is unlikely as you specifically noted that you were "violently" working the action) or worn parts. Weak ejection is one thing; stovepiping means something is definitely wrong.

 

[jhallrv4]

I have a brand new 870 express, flings trap loads into the next county.

Jeff

 

[dak0ta]

My 870 express didn't really eject that positively.

 

[dom1104]

870s have weak ejection, but I have never had a shell fail to eject perfectly.

In fact I kinda like it, you can pick up your hulls easier.

 

[rc601962]

I just cycled some loaded shells in the gun. It launches them 5 feet away.

I emptied the shot from a bird load. Just the plastic cup and powder was in the shell. It sent the semi empty shell about 3 feet away.

Fired shells don't do as well. They vary. They go 1 foot away sometimes. Other times they only go an inch away.

 

[NMGonzo]

Some gunk in the ejector area?

It happened to me.

 

[dak0ta]

Actually, rc601962 has a point. My 870 express would eject loaded shells or immediately fired shells far. But with empty hulls for practicing, it wouldn't eject them too far, and would stove pipe them.

So all in all, just know that your gun can reliable eject live ammo and spent shells that were fired just before ejection.

 

[throdgrain]

My Wingmaster ejects in a similar fashion - a good thing for the bloke standing next to me when I'm shooting trap or down the line

 

[swinokur]

Mine spits em' out about 3 or 4 ft.

what he said

 

[JNewell]

870P (2000)...870 Wingmaster (1974)...870 Express (2010)...all the same here...

 

[Gummi Bear]

My older-than-me 870 Wingmaster 20ga (I'm 34, so guessing it's a late 60's, early 70's model) ejects shells just fine.

Admittedly, they don't fly as far when shooting trap as they do when I'm hunting (I get really excited sometimes!)

My brother has a 870 Super Mag that also flings hulls a reasonable distance.

Never had an issue with either one.

 

[Black Dime]

Make sure the right extractor moves freely and is good spring tension. Little effort is needed to move it. Pull the slide to the rear and look at the far wall of the receiver. That long spring running horizontally is your ejector. When you shuck a shell the right extractor does its job and extracts the shell holding it with the hook until the rim of the shell hits that flat spot in the spring. Notice the spring "ramps" up the pressure/hold on the shell rim. When the rim hits the flat spot, it kicks the shell to the right. The hook looses hold and the case ejects. That is the science part.
If the extracor hook is worn, the spring tension all but gone, or the parts are gunky......trouble. If the long spring loses tension, breaks, unseen crack, it will not hold the shell.
Mark in your mind where the face of the bolt face comes abreast of the far side horizontal spring flat spot. Chamber a fired case. Slowly bring the slide back until you feel the hard spot, then jerk. If it consistently fails to eject, let a good 'smith look at it.
On my lap is a M870 that is probably sixty years old. Pop (grandfather) Hart's go to gun. Works wonderfully. Ejects the spent shell about two feet right and about a foot in front of the port opening. Lucky, I guess.