Can you pull back on the slide of an 870?

[Lucky]

When you're holding a stocked 870 to your shoulder, can you pull back on the fore-end? It surely speeds up reloading and makes the gun more stable, but does it wear out any parts faster?

 

[rino451]

Sure, but you can't put too much pressure on it anyway or risk locking up the action.

 

[Lucky]

I wondered if something bad might happen - could you elaborate?

 

[The Deer Hunter]

Well, when you need ammo from the magazine you have to rack the slide. Please clarify.

 

[Oldnamvet]

I normally have some small amount of rearward pressure when I shoot. On the pumps it just means that as soon as you pull that trigger, the slide is going to start coming back to rack in another shell. After years of this, I see no problem. Normally a pump just keep getting smoother with use. Now if you are seeing white dots in front of your eyes due to pulling back so hard, I still don't think it will cause an immediate disaster but it sure can't help your shooting if you are trying to track a moving target. A few milliseconds quicker shuck isn't going to make up for the disadvantage you put yourself at.

 

[Dave McCracken]

I've been doing that,Lucky, for a few decades without a prob. Some folks report they hang up a bit and have to push the forend forward to cycle. Mine are well broken in, maybe that's the difference.

Maybe it wears things a little. Maybe not. Since the life spans of 870s are measued in human generations, small matter....

 

[Lucky]

Great, thanks. Just wanted to be safe.