Remington 870 cartridge stop timing?

[pete357]

I just bought a used 870. It appears to be in excellent condition in all respects except one. The one cartridge stop (left as you look at the bottom of the gun, barrel up) does not depress so you can load a shell. If you bring the slide back half way it will then depress so you can load shells. But as you cycle the action the stop does not release and allow shells to leave the tube.

I took the gun apart, cleaned and oiled it, but could not fix it. The spring seems to function normally, but the mechanism won't allow its function at the proper time.

Is this adjustable / fixable? What controls the release of the cartridge stop?
Thanks in advance.
pete 357

 

[Fred Fuller]

Pete,

Sounds like a worn action bar on that side, or a worn or broken shell stop where it contacts the action bar to be released. Either is relatively easily fixable if parts are worn or broken.

Could also be that the action bars/fore-end tube are not properly assembled into the gun, I have seen one instance where someone managed to get the shell stop behind the action bar and trap it so that it did not work properly. A field strip and careful reassembly might possibly take care of it.

Good luck with it,

lpl/nc

 

[dfariswheel]

I think Lee covered the possible problems.
The only other one I can think off off-hand is a loose shell release.
Although the trigger group will hold a loose release in place, sometimes it will allow a release to be just loose enough to cause this problem.

Shell release replacement requires a special riveting tool to install the release.
If you remove the trigger group and look inside the receiver, you'll see that the releases are staked in place.

To install the releases, a special staking tool is required.
You're best option is to either send the gun in to Remington, or find a QUALIFIED gunsmith who has the staking tool.

Although you can buy several versions of the tool from Brownell's, this is expensive for a one-time repair:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/productdetail.aspx?p=946&s=3522
080-870-203. 870/1100 Shell Latch Staker $74.97

or:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/productdetail.aspx?p=9495&s=23476

 

[pete357]

Thanks

Thanks guys.
The shell stop / release appears to be in excellent condition. Fits tight and good spring action.

Lee, you used the term "action bar". I'm not sure what part you're referring to. Do you mean the two protruding metal guide rods on the forend slide? Or do you mean something else?

I think this must be the key because the shell stop functions well. It's just not getting tripped by a secondary part.

Thanks again. This is a big help.
Pete

 

[dfariswheel]

The action bars are the two flat bars protruding from the pump handle.

If you look at the left bar, you'll see a small sloped cut or "ramp".
This is the area that actually activates the left shell release.

On the right bar is another ramp, but this one faces the other way.
This one activates the right shell release to allow the next shell in the magazine to move back to the feed position.

When the pump handle is pulled to the rear, the small ramp on the left action bar pushes the left shell release out, toward the wall of the receiver, and out of the path of the shell in the magazine.

This allows the magazine spring to push the shell into the receiver.

You can remove the trigger group and watch the left release as you pull the pump handle back.
It should push the release outward when the ramp contacts the release.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Pete,

See the diagram at http://www.urban-armory.com/diagrams/rem870.htm . Sorry it's a lefty, but the basics are the same.

The action bars are the 'arms' that protrude from the fore-end tube, that the bolt slide and bolt assembly ride on. The shell latches (in the parts list, Part #56 & 57) both have protrusions at the top that the bevel cuts on the action bars actuate. If the protrusion that the action bar bevel engages is broken off of the shell latch, then it won't allow shells to feed out of the magazine when the gun in pumped. That means the shell latch(es) will have to be replaced.

It's kinda hard to diagnose without seeing the gun and the relevant parts. Chances are it needs a little TLC from someone who knows their way around the insides of an 870, if a fieldstrip and careful reassembly haven't cured it by now. Hope you get it sorted out with no trouble- doesn't sound like a big problem, just a hassle.

lpl/nc