Remington 870 Jamming Question?

[Fisherman12]

I have a 1978 Remington 870 Wingmaster 2.75". It's served me well. However, I've found when I slowly rack the pump, the shell won't eject. It just stays in the receiver. It only does it when I deliberately (although once it wasn't deliberate) rack it slowly. I have newer 870's (that aren't as reliable as the 1978, but for other reasons) that don't care how slow you rack it, it'll eject. Is something wrong with the 1978?

It has an 18" barrel and I've kept it by my bed for home defense for years.

Should I continue to trust it? What if I'm injured or Murphy causes me to rack it slowly?

 

[BP44]

Not one thing wrong with it. Your supposed to rack it like you mean it another good one is hold rear pressure on the forend and shoot, it will only cycle "unlock" when the pressure is released. Seen a few birds missed just last season with that one.

 

[dprice3844444]

clean bolt,check/replace extractor/spring

 

[rodinal220]

Like BP44 said,pumps need to be violently operated,just like a rifle bolt.Don't baby it and work it with authority.

 

[Uniquedot]

I have an old gunsmithing book around here somewhere and the author said a lot of folks would bring in older pump guns because they wouldn't extract a shell and he went on to say what has been said here... that nothing was wrong with the guns. They were designed to be manipulated rapidly. If it bothers you replace the extractor and spring with newer units and see if it makes them extract in the same manner as your newer models.

 

[btg3]

Is something wrong with the 1978?

Most don't know, but since you asked, the best thing you can do is keep that 18" barrel and send the rest to me. Obviously you don't trust it, so it's best to move on and I am here to help.

 

[XTrooper]

BP44 said it best: Rack it like you mean it!

 

[AI&P Tactical]

The OP is asking about ejection and that has nothing to do with the extractor.

The ejector spring in an 870 is nothing more then a spacer. However, it does spring in so the breech bolt come back and once the bolt passes it springs out only to get in the way of the edge of the shell and kick it outward.

An 870 will eject even without that spring if you rack back with authority. This is evident since the 20ga 870 has no ejection spring. But this is because the receiver is narrower and it is not needed.

It is possible for that spring to be so weak and bent it does not return completely out so racking back slowly it does not fully engage the rim of the spent shell and cleanly eject it.

I see no reason that one would slowly rack any pump back after firing a round in defense so I do not see an issue here. However, if this concerns you find a competent gun smith with knowledge of the 870 and have the ejector spring checked.

Racking this weapon with authority every single time, even in practice, ensures that you will do it every single time.

 

[Uniquedot]

The OP is asking about ejection

I see that now... guess i should have read the post. He clearly stated that it stays in the receiver. I made the assumption it was staying put in the chamber.

 

[Uniquedot]

Fisherman12, i just went and pulled out an old 75 - 77 (don't remember the exact year on that one) wingmaster and put some Federal hulls in the gun after running them through the supersizer and it made no difference how slowly i pulled back the slide as it would eject them every time. I then ran some loaded rounds through it with the same results.

I took out an 870 express that has not had a box of shells through it and if i pulled the slide back slowly it would leave the round in the receiver every time. I also noticed the express had a tighter chamber as the federal buckshot hulls were very tight in that chamber and this was after running them through the supersizer.

 

[Virginian]

I have seen several newbies have this problem. They cant the gun to the left so they can watch and then they rack slowly and have a not unexpected problem.

 

[AI&P Tactical]

Loaded shells or dummies will not extract or eject the same as a fired shell. We use dummies mostly to test feed and function . Extraction and ejection are best tested on the range, or if your in the country like me, out the back door.

 

[Uniquedot]

They cant the gun to the left so they can watch and then they rack slowly and have a not unexpected problem.

It does not make a difference how you hold the wingmaster...left, right, upside down as it will not turn loose of the empty till it's clear of the receiver. The express will leave it in the receiver every time unless it's turned completely over to the right

In this case i think it's because the wingmaster is 2.75" only and the express is 3.5" SM. I'll see what a 3" wingmaster does.

 

[Uniquedot]

Here are some visuals of the wingmaster 2.75" ejection port and express with 3.50" ejection port. Note that a 2,75" fired hull will not even fit into the ejection port on the wingmaster if laid completely flat. The second pictures show how the extractor hangs on the the hull in the wingmaster until it contacts the ejector which angles it out of the receiver...one more bump back and it will fling it out regardless of manipulation speed or angle the weapon is held. At the same time the express photo is showing exactly where the extractor turned loose of the shell which is exactly when it made contact with the ejector. The express is not malfunctioning though as it will eject as designed when used as designed.