New 870P and a few questions.

[Classified00]

Howdy all,

1. How do I remove the magazine spring retainer? The manual says to pry it off but I'm not so sure

2. How often should the magazine well be cleaned?

3. How about the trigger assembly? After every range trip?

Thanks!

 

[jdh]

1. I grab it with pliers and pull it out so I don't launch it.

2. When the gun gets wet, has been exposed to a sand storm, or when he follower starts sticking.

3. When the gun gets wet, has been exposed to a sand storm, every couple hundred rounds, or when it starts to feel sticky or gritty.

The 870 is a pretty low maintenance gun. Swab out the bore and wipe it down after a range session. Do a detail cleaning once or twice a year depending on how much you shoot it.

 

[Virginian]

1 - I pry it out gently with a screwdriver and put my hand over it so it doesn't launch.
2 - Once a year, or whenever it gets wet, or whenever it starts to feel sluggish.
3 - Depends how dirty your shells are and how fast you cycle the action. Pull it after a couple of range trips and see what it looks like and then judge from that. I usually do mine under the same conditions as #1 above.

 

[chevyforlife21]

virginian what does the cycle speed have to do with cleaning?

 

[Classified00]

Thanks!

 

[Virginian]

If you cycle it fast you will get unburned powder residue in the trigger group, just like occurrs with a semi-auto. If you operate at a more leisurely pace you are far less likely to. I could probably go forever without cleaning if all I did was target shoot, but Blue Dot powder and duck hunting, and I won't go more than two (bone dry) trips before I pull it out and clean it.

 

[Fred Fuller]

1) Pry it out gently and restrain it as you do so. After a time or two you'll get the hang of it.

2) Very thoroughly when the gun is unboxed the first time, to get the preservative out of it. Lube lightly at that point. If you keep the gun dry and out of the dust, and keep your ammo clean, the gun can go for years with no further attention to the magazine tube's insides. If you get it wet/dirty/dusty/drag it through the mud, then clean it. No need to obsess over it.

3) See 2) above. Same thing goes, pretty much. But resist the urge to take the trigger plate apart- there are no user serviceable parts inside. If it needs cleaning, use the spray/soak/blowout method and clean it as an assembly. Under normal conditions it won't need a lot of attention. It's not delicate or anything- it's a pumpgun after all. I've pulled trigger plates out of bird hunter's 870s and had enough weed fluff etc fall out for a bird's nest.

Try to wear it out by SHOOTING it, not cleaning it...

lpl

 

[RSVP2RIP]

Just one more piece of advice, if you don't wear glasses, you might want to wear saftey glasses when prying out the spring retainer. If it gets away from you and hits you in the eye, there is always the risk of damage, but I doubt there would be any permanent damage. I've been hit in the face once but not the eye.