Problem with 870 HD

[telecaster1981]

Hey guys,

I've had my 870 HD for about a month now and haven't had a single problem with it. Well, today, I went out shooting with some friends and they wanted to shoot some slugs through my shotgun. I was perplexed when every time a slug was fired, the action worked open by itself! Never happens with Buckshot or Birdshot...just slugs. I watched them shoot it and saw it open on its own with my own eyes.

Any thoughts you have on this would be appreciated!

Ben

 

[Stretchman]

After the round fires, the forearm unlocks. A lot of times, because of recoil, the gun will cause the forearm to move, sending the forearm back and opening the action. I am thinking that this is normal.

Slugs have a higher velocity than do normal 00 buck rounds. This may be why you are noticing this more with the slugs. But I could be mistaken.

 

[benelli12]

This happens with my Winchester mod. 1200 every time I shoot high brass/buckshot/slugs. Like Stretchman said, once the trigger is pulled, the action is unlocked and the recoil from the load could open up the action. This has happened hundreds of times with my 1200, and Im pretty sure that it's normal

My Remington 870's dont quite have as smooth of an action as my old Winchester, but occasionally it will open up by itself with stouter loads.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Not a problem- don't worry about it.

Actually the 870 action doesn't unlock until the forearm moves forward a fraction of an inch under recoil when the gun is fired. With hard recoiling loads there can be enough thrust on the bolt to 'assist' the action in opening after the action unlocks. That happens with some other pumpgun designs also, it isn't limited to 870s.

lpl/nc

 

[rkh]

It's not a problem if you hold your shotgun properly. If you tug on the slide when you fire your heavy load, you might find yourself in stovepipe city.

I've always been instructed never to put any rearword pressure on the slide until ready to cycle the action.

 

[telecaster1981]

Whew...ok! I feel much better now! Thanks guys.

Well, now that I know this is somewhat normal, I'm ready to go enjoy my semi-semi-automatic pump gun...