How to smooth out an 870s action

[Rob62]

I'm stymied. I've tried everything I can think of. I've sanded, stoned and polished just about every internal moving part of my older Remington 870 and the action is still not as smooth or slick as my much newer and less shot 870 express.

I've inspected the insides and looked for burrs or nicks that might slow down the action from being worked. There was a burr, actually more of a nick, on an internal action bar rail. I removed the burr and smoothed the area out.

The gun started life as a smooth barreled Wingmaster, SN 5225##V, that has been through Scattergun Technologies, aka Wilson Combat "Remington Steal" upgrade/refinish. After many other upgrades such as ghost ring sights and a Surefire 618 forend light, the gun now resides in my safe as an all purpose "social shotgun".

There's probably been thousands of rounds through this gun in its life before I acquired it. I've put about 500 or so through it.


Thoughts or suggestions on how to smooth out the action are welcome.

Rob

 

[HSMITH]

Shoot out the action with brake cleaner or gun scrubber, clean and completely dry. Cycle it till your arms hurt, repeat for 5 nights. Lube very lightly and see what it feels like. If it still is not as good as you want head down to the auto parts store and buy some NON EMBEDDING lapping compound, 600, 800 and 1200 grit. Mix it with a little oil and dab into the carrier rails, slip a tiny bit in where the bolt cams. Cycle say 75 times, spray it out and move to the next grit. It WILL get smooth. If you are not into labor go right to the lapping compound.

That ^^^^ is the lazy mans way of doing it. I prefer to shoot the crap out of them until smooth, honing skills the whole time. 15 or 20K rounds will make an 870 run like it is made of polished glass.

 

[Dave McCracken]

I suspect the action bars are not true, and need to be slightly straightened. Use a straight edge and see if they're straight and parallel to the bore. If not, straighten them and try again.

Next possibility is that the mag tube is a hair bent. Are the wear marks on the tube heavier on one side? If so, the tube's not true. Unless you're really sure you know what you're doing, I'd leave this one to a smith.

Of course, both conditions can exist.

Once the thing is pumping slick as you can get it,run a few cases of your ammo of choice through it to polish the working surfaces.

HTH....

 

[ruger357]

I agree with Dave. Take it to a smith.

 

[Rob62]

Thanks for the comments.

I'll play around with this gun a little more and see what happens. Nothing that I couldn't live with if it never smooths out but not like my other 870.

Robert

Founding member and president of the Hammer and Chisel lodge of Professional Firearm Repair Technicians.

Our motto is "If a 10lb sledge hammer can't get that pin in the hole then it can't be done."

 

[sm]

quote:
Founding member and president of the Hammer and Chisel lodge of Professional Firearm Repair Technicians.

Our motto is "If a 10lb sledge hammer can't get that pin in the hole then it can't be done."
-----------
ROTFL

I know your joking...but that's one to remember

 

[Johnpl]

Rob62-
My 870 had a slide assembly that was cocked about 1/4 inch counter-clockwise, which caused the slide bars to bind. I noticed this when I was having a tough time re-assembling the gun-the slide bars would not line up with the receiver slots...adjusted the assembly (turned it 1/4" clockwise) within the forearm and man, what a difference! Now, I working on slicking the action up the old fashioned way...shoot, shoot, and shoot some more.

 

[Guyon]

Pack plenty of ammo and take it dove hunting. If you're like me, the action will get a work out.