AndyJ
Member
Been searching and reading for days about smoothing up the action on an 870 and I *hope* I am not asking one of those dreaded repetitive questions....
I have an 870 Express with lord knows how many rounds through it. 100% dependable, ugly and beat up as sin and it is standing barrel down in the corner right now- ready to go.
Recently, I picked up a 1975 vintage Wingmaster that is an absolute beauty. Fit and finish noticeably better than the old Express. The previous owner said he picked it up in an estate sale and had used it but very little. A cursory inspection bore that out... very little wear on the action bars or magazine tube. The only thing wrong with the gun was a forearm that was split longitudinally end to end and glued back together rather crudely... what a shame as the older walnut furniture is just gorgeous. So looked it over, approved of the condition and the exchange was made. I did think the action was REALLY tight but just attributed that to little use and the need for a good cleaning.
Took it home, broke it down and cleaned it and now after several hundred "dry" cycles-- it has loosened up just a teeny bit.
So I got to thinking maybe the spit forearm was due to a hard fall and perhaps the mag tube or action bars are bent. I looked and compared it to the Express which will cycle if you thump the butt on the ground and here is what I discovered.
Gosh--this is getting long. I am sorry....
Remember the Express cycles like butter and the Wingmaster is HARD.
On the Wingmaster, after several hundred cycles, there are no appreciable wear marks on the action bars. There is some indication of wear on the Express' action bars but it is more like scuffing than actual wear marks.
On the Wingmaster, with the action open, there are appreciable wear marks on the forward end of the magazine tube. Both sets of marks are half way of the tube. One side is a wide area--perhaps 3/4" . The other side is a much smaller area-perhaps 1/8" and much more distinct. On the Express, the marks are not exactly completely opposed, much narrower and less distinct.
On the Wingmaster with the action closed, there are heavy wear marks on the very bottom of the mag tube. There are no wear marks to speak of on the Express in this location.
The other big difference is the forearm on the Express is loose and easily moved side to side. The Wingmaster is forearm is TIGHT--with very little side-side movement.
So what do I have guys? A Wingmaster that needs to be run plenty or something bent?
I have an 870 Express with lord knows how many rounds through it. 100% dependable, ugly and beat up as sin and it is standing barrel down in the corner right now- ready to go.
Recently, I picked up a 1975 vintage Wingmaster that is an absolute beauty. Fit and finish noticeably better than the old Express. The previous owner said he picked it up in an estate sale and had used it but very little. A cursory inspection bore that out... very little wear on the action bars or magazine tube. The only thing wrong with the gun was a forearm that was split longitudinally end to end and glued back together rather crudely... what a shame as the older walnut furniture is just gorgeous. So looked it over, approved of the condition and the exchange was made. I did think the action was REALLY tight but just attributed that to little use and the need for a good cleaning.
Took it home, broke it down and cleaned it and now after several hundred "dry" cycles-- it has loosened up just a teeny bit.
So I got to thinking maybe the spit forearm was due to a hard fall and perhaps the mag tube or action bars are bent. I looked and compared it to the Express which will cycle if you thump the butt on the ground and here is what I discovered.
Gosh--this is getting long. I am sorry....
Remember the Express cycles like butter and the Wingmaster is HARD.
On the Wingmaster, after several hundred cycles, there are no appreciable wear marks on the action bars. There is some indication of wear on the Express' action bars but it is more like scuffing than actual wear marks.
On the Wingmaster, with the action open, there are appreciable wear marks on the forward end of the magazine tube. Both sets of marks are half way of the tube. One side is a wide area--perhaps 3/4" . The other side is a much smaller area-perhaps 1/8" and much more distinct. On the Express, the marks are not exactly completely opposed, much narrower and less distinct.
On the Wingmaster with the action closed, there are heavy wear marks on the very bottom of the mag tube. There are no wear marks to speak of on the Express in this location.
The other big difference is the forearm on the Express is loose and easily moved side to side. The Wingmaster is forearm is TIGHT--with very little side-side movement.
So what do I have guys? A Wingmaster that needs to be run plenty or something bent?
