Jams in pump guns?

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I'm in the market for a shotgun and so I've been going through some issues of Rifleman to check out the reviews. One thing that popped back into my head was that an article for a budget pump gun said something like:

"We had a number of failures (to feed, extract, and jams). However the solution to that, as with many budget pump action guns was application of sufficient elbow grease."

Can anybody explain what you think they meant by that? I'm used to people acting like pump guns have crazy reliability (which is a key part of why I'm considering one). I could understand short stroking, and I could understand jaming just because a certain shell doesn't play nice with a certain gun. But this seems to be a different sort of thing that apparently applies to a number of different weapons.
 
Light load shells (Winchester) won't eject from my Rem 11-87. I was having issues with Federal 7/8 until I put about 50 rnds of Remington and slugs through the gun shortly after I bought it. The Federal cycles just fine now, but I won't bother with the Winchester. As for the pump SG's I have never had an issue with FTE with Rem 870 or any of my Mossbergs 500, or 590 with any brand.

Too many people fail to check/lubricate their guns before heading to the range. Running a dry gun isn't good.
 
I have no idea what they might be referring to. I'm sure it happens, but no pump ive ever had has ever had any problem, nor those of my family or friends.
 
A lot of people are under the impression that if something doesn't work, you force it. Kinda like a guy I knew in high school. His fix for the engine making funny noises was to turn the radio up.
 
When I first got my 870,I took the spent shells from the range trip and knocked out the spent primer and trimmed the shells back to unfired length. I used them to practice loading, dry firing, and to learn the manuel of arms. They would stick in the chamber often. I would have to slam the slide back hard, really hard. This was when the gun was new, less than 100 rnds. Ive put many more rounds through and I havent had a stuck shell since I can remember.
 
Elbow grease, can anybody explain what you think they meant by that?
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It is a humorous reflection of the fact that some tasks can only be achieved by extra hard effort and human energy.

I read the review you were asking about.

The bottom line is, the gun is so poorly made & rough it wouldn't function unless you expended extra effort (IE Elbow Grease) to force it to work.

A poor excuse for a new gun that doesn't work right in the first place, and I thought the American Rifleman should have called a spade a spade.

rc
 
Here is the scoop. The number one pump gun in America is the Remington 870. If you use any ammo that has a steel based hull, expect extraction problems. If you wanted to, you could spend the rest of your day reading about the nightmares that 870 owners have with this gun. The 870 will typically feed brass based shells 100%. Brass based shells cost more.

On the other hand, I own 6 Benelli M1s and M2s. They function 100% with all types of shells I have ever tried.

You would think a pump gun should be more reliable than a semi auto. My opinion is that they are not.
 
I had a problem with an 870 with cheaper aftermarket barrel. FTE aboutone out of every ten rounds. I was using cheap ammo (Estate) in a gun I hadn't broke down and cleaned before firing. I broke it down, polished the chamber, lubed it up and gave it some Federal sport loads and have zero issues since then (about 150 rnds).

It's been extremely smooth and I'm convinced it was just the combo of dry gun plus cheap ammo.
 
My experience in a 1970s 870:

- Cheap Winchester steel promo shells work so-so in my pump: some hulls extract fine, some require effort.
- The slightly better Federal Target (also steel base) work fine, save for one or two hulls per box that are hard to extract.
- Any brand brass shell extracts flawlessly no matter what.

Examination of the steel shell base reveals that problem hulls are significantly expanded. imo, the fault lies with the ammo mfg's and our collective thirst for cheap shells.
 
I've owned a total of three pump actions in my life: An early 90s 20 ga 870, a mossberg 835, and a Benelli Nova tactical.

I never had a problem with any of them feeding, extracting, or ejecting, even with ultra cheap, bottom shelf ammo. The only things that have fed a little rough have been handloads where I mucked up the crimp or bulged the hull a little.
 
Most steel based loads are $6 a box.
Most brass based loads are $8+ a box.

Unless you reload, there really is no "cheap" ammo.
 
I reload Remington Gun Club steel based hulls and shoot them in my Beretta gas gun with zero issues - this is a 3.5" hunting model and I am loading 3/4oz (28 gauge level) payloads

The Remington and Mossberg issues tend to occur because of tooling and rough spots in either the chamber or barrel extension where the expanded steel grabs and "sticks" - polishing those areas (that SHOULD have been done at the factory) will remove the problem
 
3M fine scotchbrite pad or 0000 steel wool wrapped around an old bore brush, put on a cleaning rod, chuck it in a hand drill, spin back and forth without stopping in the chamber for a few minutes, clean and lube lightly.

I did that to each of the three 870s I own, and I have no problems whatsoever with steel based shotshells.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
In my experience, I find that any malfunction in a pump is usually ammo related.
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+1.

My 500 has an occasional failure to extract with 3" Winchester Xpert Hispeed. 2 3/4" isn't a problem nor is Kent Fasteel. Cheap shells, though. In the past, I also had problems with 3" Remington steel shot being too long for the ejection port once fired in TWO Mossberg 500s. I also have a friend who's 870 doesn't like Winchester hispeeds. Winchester steel shot is cheap, but can give problems in my experience. I just use the 2 3/4" as it feeds fine in my 2 3/4" only Winchester 1400, too, and is plenty effective on ducks.
 
Most pumpgun designs don't respond well to being "babied" (i.e., pumped slowly). Rack them briskly however and few will give you any problems. Thus the 'elbow grease' reference...
 
I'll disagree - quality pumps don't have that need to be manhandled - think Winchester 42, model 12 among others - if you need to "rack it like you mean it", then your gun has issues or is of poor quality
 
I have seen Mossberg 500s, 870s, and Novas, and even a BPS being beat on the ground to eject a spent cheapie shell. I have not seen one that honing the chamber wouldn't cure. In 2012 America, not much is finished as good as it was some years ago. The Global economy and the New World Order aren't your friend, unless you live in the 3rd world.
 
"Elbow Grease" hmmm....Now there is a marketing opportunity for the broad minded around us! Last I heard it was going at about $7 and change for the cheaper brands :) Some of the more high tech brands are about $150 for an hours worth. I am seriously suprised that someone hasn't come out with some sort of super lube with that name!
 
American Rifleman should have called a spade a spade.
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i have yet to see any gun rag do this.

i've had the occasional sticky winchester shell in my 870, but i wouldn't call it a jam...just sticky. after i run through what i have left, it'll be fed or others from here on out.

a pump gun need to be run like you mean it, but excessive force is still just that, excessive, and shouldn't be necessary with a properly made arm.
 
Sorry Fred, even "briskly" indicates an issue - I can work a 42, a 12 and even a 500 VERY gently and they function perfectly - yours should as well

This is akin to snapping open or closed an O/U or SxS - should not be necessary for a quality gun
 
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