Atn 870 gurus, my new 870 is having extraction problems :(

[SapperLeader]

I purchased a new 870 express 12 ga last week from my local sporting goods store. I broke it down and gave it a deep cleaning last week, and played with snapcaps all week. No issues with the gun, it pumped wonderfully, and the snapcaps extracted fine(actually were thrown all over the room). I took it out to the range last night, and fired about 7 shells through it, mostly winchester AA xtra lite loads with some winchester super x heavy game loads. It fired those all fine, and then I loaded up some more of the winchester heavy game loads. This time, the action locked up, and would not extract the fired shell. I lightly tapped the gun, and it freed up, and it did this for the next two shells. Once I had emptied the gun, I stopped shooting, because I was a little leary of tappin the gun on the ground at a indoor range.

Any suggestions on fixing this? Do I need to clean something out, or replace the extractor or ejector? I also have the option of exchanging the gun at the shop I purchased it at. Would I be better off with just buying a new bolt? Suggestions are not only welcome but much desired! Thanks guys for the input.

 

[Dave McCracken]

First, your shotgun may just need a bit of a breakin. Read the floaters on new pumpguns and deep cleaning.

When I got the 870 YE 20(The only 870 here bought new), I disassembled the thing first and removed lots of preservative. If left, this turns into sludge and mud after some firings.

Second, if you can make it to PGC tomorrow morn, I'll be there and I'll look it over. Hard to diagnose from a monitor.

Chances are this's easily fixed.

 

[Fed168]

Check the shell latch. I have seen this give fits on 870s and 11-87s. Take out the trigger group first and look in the pin hole that is closest to the loading port. If you don't see a perfect circle in the hole, the latch has moved out of alignment a tad, recoil does this (and a bad stake). You'll also find it if the front pin has resistance while being reinserted.

Check the extractor on the breech block. Is there tension on it? Sounds like it needs a good cleaning, that's all. Ejector replacement is a factory job.

 

[sm]

I believe the above posts nailed it.

That preservative that is used is some tacky stuff. I took mine apart and let the bolt and trigger group soak in Mineral Spirits, blasted with CRC Brakleen,assembled and "racked away" the warming up as Dave said gets that preservative to "come out" of the recesses and the darndest places. Using fresh mineral spirits and let soak again, I then blasted with Brakleen, and even depress the firing pin , make sure firing pin hole is clear, I hold and wiggle the extractor and blast with Brakleen.

Sometimes is takes a couple of these cleanings to remove all preservatives.

Mineral Spirits works and is less money than using a jar of Hoppes or other solvents to soak. CRC Brakleen is less than Gun Scrubber, does the same thing.

 

[SapperLeader]

Dave, the first thing I did before buying it was memorize the buying a used pump gun thread and shopped around for a few months, and when finding a used gun didnt work out, used the breaking in a new pump gun thread to check out the one I bought. .


I did break down and give it a deep cleaning, but I didnt soak the bolt and trigger group. I sprayed the gunk out, so there very well may be some remnents left in there. Ill give soaking it a try.

There is tension on the extractor, I compared it to my 870 hd model, and it feels the same, and snaps back into place when I lift it up and replace it.

Ill take it apart next to check out the shell latch. Since the problem didnt develop until after a few shells, I wonder if the recoil did jar something out of place, or if the gun just gunked up.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Also, what time are you planning on going to PGC, ive been wanting to go to one of these shoots for a while, and actually learn how to shoot a shotgun, rather than the blasting away at paper targets I usually do.

 

[Dave McCracken]

I should be there between 10 and 11, look for a large middle aged guy with a blue cap that says MD Dept of Corrections carrying at least one 870. I'll probably be on 7 or 8, unless there's a match. Then, look up on 10 or so.

See ya...

 

[SapperLeader]

Id love to go, but Im working until three, and then Im helping take care of my grandfather who just got out of the hospital after having his leg amputated due to his diabetes.
I did spend most of last night soaking then cleaning my shotgun, and everything looks sound, Ill resassemble it tonight.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Too bad, we'll hook up another time.