Little chips on 870 Bolt?

[Seattle206]

Little chips on 870 Bolt? (PICS)

I noticed little chips on the inside part of my 870 chrome bolt (inside as in the part of the bolt you dont see). Small chips on it, but gun looks 100%. Shall I be worried anytime soon? Thanks. BTW, its a police model probably from the early 80s.

 

[Fred Fuller]

"Inside part" as in the part on the bottom of the bolt where it contacts the bolt slide, or inside of the receiver opposite the ejection port or on top of the bolt body? Or "inside part" as in the face of the bolt where it contacts the base of the shell?

Probably it's just chrome plating flaking off the bolt body, and won't really hurt anything, but if it's on the bolt face it might warrant closer examination. Or try giving Remington a call at 1-800-243-9700 and ask them about it.

lpl

 

[Seattle206]

or inside of the receiver opposite the ejection port

sorry for not being more clear. Yes, its on the side opposite of the ejection port. a little chips came off near the bolt face on the side.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Photos are a big help.

It looks to me as if someone dropped the bolt at some time while it was out of the gun, and it landed on that corner on a rough surface and got dinged. Or possibly the bolt got slammed shut with some foreign material inside the receiver that caused the damage. Is there any corresponding damage to the face of the barrel where it extends into the receiver and meets up with the bolt?

Was the bolt like that when you got the gun, or is this something new?

lpl

 

[Seattle206]

No damage on the face of the barrel. I never actually thoroughly examined the bolt until yesterday so it might or might not have been there since I've owned it. I've shot many rounds through my 870 and havent had a problem, so should this worry me or just get a new bolt?

 

[BADUNAME37]

Most likely, if you call Remington, they would ship you a new bolt and have you ship that one back to them. That is the way it has worked with me for a couple of small issues with various gun manufacturers.

I would think the bolts are identical, in that they do not need to be "custom-fit" to the gun, although I could be wrong on that. I have been wrong before and will most likely be wrong again some time.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Did you buy the gun new, or was it used? Forgot to ask that question along the way, I just assumed you got it used.

I doubt it's anything to worry about, especially if it hasn't caused any issues before now, but if it bothers you get in touch with Remington and see what they say.

lpl

 

[Seattle206]

Yeah I was a used police gun. I'll give Remington a call. Thanks for your help.

 

[mnrivrat]

A some point the out of battery bolt was jammed up against the ejector and dinged the edge of the bolt a little. It is not a big deal or problem but it wouldn't hurt to clean up the dinged area with file or stone.

 

[gamestalker]

I have several very old 870's that display some of what your speaking of. It hasn't caused any concern for me and doesn't appear to be related to high pressures. I reload shotshells and I don't hesitate to load em up magnum style with estimated pressures at near, and more likely above 11,000. These 870's are just about indestructable. Many years ago the only 870 I had was a 2 3/4" chamber one that I regularly shot 3" magnums during turkey season and now and then plinking with 3" slugs too. Even though it wouldn't cycle them very well because of the shorter reciever cut away, the shotgun never knew the difference. I don't think the shorter chamber made a differenc either, they chambered OK and even fed from the tube without problems.
I would shoot that 870 of your's and not give a second thought about it being safe, they don't break.

 

[mnrivrat]

Many years ago the only 870 I had was a 2 3/4" chamber one that I regularly shot 3" magnums during turkey season and now and then plinking with 3" slugs too. Even though it wouldn't cycle them very well because of the shorter reciever cut away, the shotgun never knew the difference.

One should at least recognize however that the 3 inch shell does not measure three inches until it is fired. It will feed into a 2&3/4 inch chamber with no problem. When fired however it has no space in the forward end of the chamber for the end of the shell case to expand into. This causes a restriction, and a spike in pressure. Not recommended, even though your gun stays intact, the next one might not.

 

[gamestalker]

Well I'm still waiting some 30 yrs. or more later for that darn 2 3/4" chamber to fail from 3" mags. being run through it. I completely understand what your saying and know that the pinch can run pressures up, but shotguns are far more forgiving than is a bottle neck rifle chamber in this way. Having reloaded shotshells for over 30 years I come to recognize that 2 3/4" shotshells are rarely 2 3/4" and depending on the brand of hull are much longer or shorter than that. After measuring the chambers of my 870's I've also found that there is well over a 1/2" beyond the 2 3/4" mark of chamber depth prior to the tapering down. I have some 2 3/4" nitro magnums that are as long as some 3" magnum shells. Also some 3" shells measure significantly longer and shorter than 3".
Simply said, shotshells are not a precision OAL component as is a metalic cartridge, to any degree.

 

[mike288190]

my bolt has those same nicks in it if not worse and its not chromed. it looks to me it comes from the ejector riding against it. when u clean it just lube everything up good on the inside with some clp. it shouldnt give u any problems and the bolt will probably show more nicks and dings like that over time. mine has em running the entire length of the bolt

 

[OldCavSoldier]

A guy from Remington told me on the QT in 1998 that the 2 3/4 inch chambered barrels were cut knowing that somebody would probably fire a 3-inch shell in it some time or another and they don't want something catastrophic going wrong if it happened. I asked because I had inadvertently fire a box or so of 3-inch shells in my 2 3/4 inch chambered barrel and I wanted to know if I needed to get a new barrel or new gun, or what. In other words, he said I was OK.