Problem with my 870

[surfrider115]

My 870 express just developed a problem where the breach won't lock with a shell in it. Without a shell, it locks fine. I took the gun apart and insepcted it, including the trigger mechanism. There doesn't seem to be any damage and the gun is clean. This problem came out of nowhere. any ideas?

 

[WVleo]

Hi, Just a hunch, but if it has been fired recently could something have gotten into the chamber which is obstructing the shell to chamber seeing how it racks empty ?....WVleo

 

[gleaner26]

I had this problem with a new 870 HD express model. When I put a snap cap into the chamber and pushed the for-end forward it wouldn't lock up. I did it really hard and still noting. So I ran down to the range and had the gunsmith look at it and he couldn't find the problem. So I decided to shoot it and when I put live rounds in and fired it worked just fine. Got home tried the snap caps and it did not go into battery like before. I found out that the snap caps and live ammo were just the least bit different in size. Both were two and a quarter inch but if one or the other is just off a little in size they won't work. I guess this is normal for the 870 and I would suggest getting some different brand of ammo in the same size and see if that works. Also make sure your using the right size shell.

 

[surfrider115]

Well, there's nothing in the barrel or the chamber that would be obstructing the shell. I just tried cycling a few different brands of ammo, and it still won't lock up. But now it won't lock even without a shell in it. It almost looks as if the barrel is sitting too far down into the chamber...meaning the edge of the barrel is slightly more visible in the chamber than I think it should be. What in the world would casue this? especially since this problem developed out of nowhere--I hadn't changed anything about the gun. I hadn't even disassembled it between the time it worked and stopped working.

 

[rbernie]

Sounds like the barrel isn't firmly seated into the receiver. Make sure that the cap on the end of the magazine tube is screwed on tightly; that holds the barrel into the receiver....

 

[Varob]

It sounds like your bolt has slipped off the safety slide that disengages the firing pen when it's out of battery.

Disassemble the gun and carefully reassemble it making sure the bolt it on the disengager correctly.

 

[surfrider115]

The gun has been disassembled and reassembled correctly several times since this problem develped. I've also had several other people who are familiar with 870's take a look. Nothing seems out of the ordinary. No broken parts and everything is assembled correctly. We're all scratching our heads.

 

[rbernie]

Then I suggest sending it back to Remington - I don't know what anyone here can tell you (other than trying the basics of reassembly) without seeing the gun in person.

 

[NCsmitty]

My only suggestions involve checking the bolt to see if the firing pin is broken which can impede the bolt lock up with an errant firing pin spring getting in the way.

While the bolt is out, check the ejector and spring for being loose. The rivets can sometimes loosen and bother the bolt and barrel installation.



NCsmitty

 

[surfrider115]

I figured it out. I feel dumb for not noticing it earlier: The fore-end tube has a nut on it to retain it in the fore-end. This nut had become loose and was preventing the slide from fully closing. I tightened up that nut and she's back to normal. Glad it was something that easy!

 

[rbernie]

And that answer was presented a week ago, back in post #5. Glad that it worked out for you...

 

[surfrider115]

you're absolutely right rbernie...I misunderstood you the first time. I stand corrected.