Guyon
Member
Was patterning a new 870 for turkey yesterday. After the first round--a 3" Hevi-Shot load--I tried to pump the action to eject the spent hull and got nothing. Wouldn't budge a bit.
I thought it was just a stuck shell, so I removed the barrel along with the forearm assembly and eased the two apart. Tapped the shell out from the muzzle end with a long wooden dowel. Problem solved, I thought.
Put the gun back together, and the action still wouldn't budge. Tried several things, but to make a long story shorter, I finally noticed that the locking block assembly that rides in the breech bolt was stuck. I've broken down enough 870s to notice that this locking block has some vertical play in it by design (it rides up and down inside the breech bolt). But mine had wedged somehow. I tapped it lightly from underneath using a dowel and it freed up.
On the next shot the action stuck at first, but then I was able to cycle it. On the next two shots, the action cycled just fine.
Wondering if anyone here has had this same problem with the breech bolt/locking block. Also, would you chalk it up to "new gun, still a little tight", or do you think that the part needs to be replaced? My first inclination is to just shoot the dickens out of the thing and see if there's another hiccup.
FWIW, the gun patterned great at 40 yards on the last shot (after the last sight adjustment).
I thought it was just a stuck shell, so I removed the barrel along with the forearm assembly and eased the two apart. Tapped the shell out from the muzzle end with a long wooden dowel. Problem solved, I thought.
Put the gun back together, and the action still wouldn't budge. Tried several things, but to make a long story shorter, I finally noticed that the locking block assembly that rides in the breech bolt was stuck. I've broken down enough 870s to notice that this locking block has some vertical play in it by design (it rides up and down inside the breech bolt). But mine had wedged somehow. I tapped it lightly from underneath using a dowel and it freed up.
On the next shot the action stuck at first, but then I was able to cycle it. On the next two shots, the action cycled just fine.
Wondering if anyone here has had this same problem with the breech bolt/locking block. Also, would you chalk it up to "new gun, still a little tight", or do you think that the part needs to be replaced? My first inclination is to just shoot the dickens out of the thing and see if there's another hiccup.
FWIW, the gun patterned great at 40 yards on the last shot (after the last sight adjustment).