I know I shouldn't have, but...

[NoBite]

I am pretty new to 870's. I have disassembled mine just a couple of times. Recently, I was reassembling my 870 when I violated a cardinal rule, I allowed the trigger to be released. Yes, I SHOULD have had the safety on. I realize that. Incorrectly, I thought I needed to release the trigger when guiding the action bars back into the receiver. I don't know why I thought that.

Anyway, now I have a released trigger and cannot figure out how to properly position the slide block assembly and breech bolt assembly. They won't slide into place because the hammer is now in the way!

I wish I had the services of my local gun shop nearby, but I don't. There MUST be a way I can fix this without taking the 870 to a smith! What's the trick? :banghead:

Thanks, guys. I know experience comes from making mistakes. I hope to now gain some experience!

 

[esheato]

Let me get this out into the open right off the bat. I don't own an 870, nor have I ever fiddled with them, but couldn't you just manually cock the hammer?

Just push it back down until it catches and is therefor 'cocked' and reassemble as normal?

esheato...

 

[NoBite]

For the life of me, I can't figure out how to do that. Usually you rack thae slide to cock the hammer. Can't do that without the slide and slide block assembly in place.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

can't you remove the trigger group from the reciever with the hammer down?

 

[SDC]

Have you got it stripped down to the receiver/trigger group/barrel, or have you just got the barrel off and the bolt and forearm off/out? Either way, you should just be able to push the hammer back down to its "cocked" position, and then you'll be back in business. Some internal edges can be a little sharp, so watch your fingers

 

[Ringer]

If the trigger group is installed you should just be able to stick your finger in the ejectcion port (right side) and push the hammer back until it locks in the cocked position.

Edit: Good timing there SDC, and good point about watching the fingers, have sliced mine before.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Just push it back till it clicks. I've compared putting the bolt back in as about as easy as putting the bird dung back in the bird, but it's not that difficult with a bit of practice.

HTH...

 

[NoBite]

Thanks to everyone for trying to help me out with this. I took the 870 to my trusty gun shop yesterday. Those guys also have lots of patience with folks like me. Turns out in my haste to disassemble the 870, I lost a piece! I lost the slide block. Thus, the breech bolt wouldn't sit properly on the action bars and since I didn't recognize that I had lost the slide block I got properly confused. :banghead:

So, $21.60 later I have a perfectly functioning 870 and a bit more education.

Oh yeah. As you were thinking, my wife found the missing slide block today when vacuuming.

Damn, I wish I were more mechanically inclined. Had to buy a video to take down my Mark II. This month's American Rifleman shows how to take apart a Model 12, but I'm not sure I'm up for trying it with mine!

 

[Dave McCracken]

Glad you're back in action. Too bad you're not nearby, I could have walked you through the process.

Of course, your wife would find the missing piece. That's something guaranteed to come up on a spouse's radar.

 

[NoBite]

Thanks, Dave. I wish I lived closer to you, too. I would love to share some range time together.

The reason I had my 870 apart was to paint the wood black. It does look very nice now. And, I am now comfortable taking it apart!

Looking forward to following your formula for success: BA/UU/R!