I just read Dave McCracken's links to the shotgun forums posted above as a "sticky", and it was VERY informative. I was specifically searching to see what I could find on reliably operating a Remington M870.
I had a 20 ga. a couple of years ago, and frequently experienced a shell backing out of the tube and jamming the gun. Evidently, it is necessary to push the shells WELL up into the magazine to be sure the shell catchers have engaged. This may have been all or part of my problem.
From reading the threads in the archives, I gather it is important to also shuck the pump handle really vigorously to ensure that similar jams don't occur. I may have short-stroked the pump a few times or not pumped hard enough.
I like the IDEA of the M870 a lot, and have located a nice Wingmaster grade in 12 ga. (local dealers seem to stock only Express grades in 20 ga. now). I'm thinking seriously of buying it. (This is a new gun.)
The alternative is to get a M11-87, probably also a 12 ga.
What scares me about the M1100/M11-87 is that I've heard the action bars break fairly often. Or, maybe they don't, but so many have been sold, that gunsmiths do see the problem, anyway. So many are around that if only 2-3% broke, people would note it. I had no trouble with the sole M1100 I've owned, years ago. I sold it only because I needed money at the time.
So...how likely is it that one will goof up operating the M870? Does the chance of the shell backing out of the magazine, or needing to operate the slide handle really hard ease up as the gun "wears-in" from use? I.E., is a jam less likely in a gun that's been "broken-in"?
I suspect that many of us would have fewer problems with an M11-87 we keep clean than we would due to operator error with the M870.
Has anyone here had any problems with an M11-87 that he CLEANED REGULARLY? Have the action bars broken on your gun or on one owned by an acquaintance whose word you trust? The honest gunsmiths I've asked say that 95% of the problems that people have with Remington auto shotguns is due to poor cleaning habits.
Frankly, the auto swings and points just a little better for me, and if I thought it would jam less, I'd readily pay the price difference between it and the pump gun. Providing that the action bars aren't prone to breakage...
Comments? Personal Experiences?
Thanks,
Lone Star
I had a 20 ga. a couple of years ago, and frequently experienced a shell backing out of the tube and jamming the gun. Evidently, it is necessary to push the shells WELL up into the magazine to be sure the shell catchers have engaged. This may have been all or part of my problem.
From reading the threads in the archives, I gather it is important to also shuck the pump handle really vigorously to ensure that similar jams don't occur. I may have short-stroked the pump a few times or not pumped hard enough.
I like the IDEA of the M870 a lot, and have located a nice Wingmaster grade in 12 ga. (local dealers seem to stock only Express grades in 20 ga. now). I'm thinking seriously of buying it. (This is a new gun.)
The alternative is to get a M11-87, probably also a 12 ga.
What scares me about the M1100/M11-87 is that I've heard the action bars break fairly often. Or, maybe they don't, but so many have been sold, that gunsmiths do see the problem, anyway. So many are around that if only 2-3% broke, people would note it. I had no trouble with the sole M1100 I've owned, years ago. I sold it only because I needed money at the time.
So...how likely is it that one will goof up operating the M870? Does the chance of the shell backing out of the magazine, or needing to operate the slide handle really hard ease up as the gun "wears-in" from use? I.E., is a jam less likely in a gun that's been "broken-in"?
I suspect that many of us would have fewer problems with an M11-87 we keep clean than we would due to operator error with the M870.
Has anyone here had any problems with an M11-87 that he CLEANED REGULARLY? Have the action bars broken on your gun or on one owned by an acquaintance whose word you trust? The honest gunsmiths I've asked say that 95% of the problems that people have with Remington auto shotguns is due to poor cleaning habits.
Frankly, the auto swings and points just a little better for me, and if I thought it would jam less, I'd readily pay the price difference between it and the pump gun. Providing that the action bars aren't prone to breakage...
Comments? Personal Experiences?
Thanks,
Lone Star