Remington 870 locked up solid

[GUNDOC454]

stuck cases

Next time you run into that problem check the forcing cone. the high base 2 3/4 and 3 " shells will expand into the forcing cone and since the cheap hulls stretch more that the good ones it magnifies the problem. the extra plastic stretches into the forcing cone and then seizes itself to the machined angle of the forcing cone because its usually rough and not polished as like the chamber.With the crimp bottle necked into the forcing cone the cup and wad then have to use more pressure to get past the bottleneck and you get high chamber spike pressures that can effect the whole case even the base.

 

[MCgunner]

Ya know, that might be it in my case. Thanks for that! That would explain, though, why 3" is stickin' and 2 3/4" isn't. Yes, that explains a lot!

I know about 20 years ago, my old Revelation 310 I'd traded a guy out of (a Mossy by another name) was having problems with 3" Remington. I had put a new 3" Mossberg vent rib accu-choke barrel on it to replace the original 2 3/4" chamber C-lect choke due to the fact that I wanted to shoot steel. I had no problems before with other brands OR Remington 3" and then one hunt with new Remington it started hanging on the ejection port making ejection rough. The unfolded length of the round was too long. I switched at that time to Winchester dry lock and ended the problem. Well, I bought a camo Mossy about that time, the one I'm using now, dug out what was left of that Remington 3" and by damned if it didn't hang up in the new gun, too!

*sigh* But, you have put me on to the reason that 3" Xpert ain't working for me. Thanks a bunch! I always appreciate it when I understand what's going on. LOL

 

[MCgunner]

More I think about this, more convinced I am that this is MY problem. I still don't know what's going on for sure with the OP's 870. Anyway, I got to thinkin', perhaps the reason my extractors are slipping off the rim is that pressures are high enough to swell the bottom of the case when this crimp thing happens and pushes the extractors off the rim. More I think about it, the scarier this sounds. If pressures are going this high in the case, it could cause a rupture. Winchester should pull this crap before it hurts someone!

 

[Virginian]

While I was looking around for some sound info I found this. I did it last Spring out of curiosity. Regrettably, I forgot to measure the chamber diameters. I was in charge of the Machine Shop so I had access to good equipment and some skilled hands.
I am a huge Remington fan. I have five 1100s and one 870 Wingmaster. Not counting a newer Youth Model, the newest one is a 1977. The 12 gauge Magnum 1966 1100 is real low mileage, as is the 1977 LT20. I also have a 1980s vintage 1100 3" Steel Shot barrel, an extra 2007 vintage Light Contour Barrel for the Wingmaster, and a couple of extra barrels for the LT20 bought back in the early 80s.
I don't have access to a relative roughness meter that would fit in the chamber, but using a small dentist's type mirror, and a strong light, and some 3.5 diopter glasses, and looking as best I can, I found:
The four older 1100s, the 1976 Wingmaster chamber, and all the extra barrel chambers all looked downright polished, except the newer Light Contour barrel and the Youth Model barrel chambers both showed the slightest bit of surface roughness, and I do mean slight.
All of the above will digest the Winchester cheapies, and the 1100s will rip the heads on probably 5 to 10 rounds per box, but they all cycle. The 870 is not hard to cycle with these loads, but the bolt has already started to kick open from recoil.
Looking at three recent Express chambers, two of them looked like my LT20 Youth 1100 and the Light Contour barrel; just the slightest trace of remaining surface roughness. The third one you could definitely still see quite a bit of machining marks.
Using a bent scribe I couldn't feel any difference. One of my machinists could tell the chamber showing the machining marks every time.
None of these three Expresses have had any ejection difficulties with the Winchester cheapies.
Given the apparent variability of the finished chambers on newer Expresses, and I only looked at 3, and the variability of the Winchester ammo, it's pretty easy to where there could be a problem when two extremes meet.

 

[xm21]

Plastic stretching into the forcing cone?Measuring the length of a fired hull that did not stick and then measuring one that did stick will quickly put an end to that theory.Use a brake hone or a flexhone and the problem with cheap shells goes away.One thing I have noticed from threads on this issue and from personal experience is that Remingtons single extractor will rip right through the rim of a stuck shell while the Mossberg dual extractors will slip over the rim.

 

[shotgunmessenger96]

My old 870 that my grandpa passed down to me did that when I first got, it I had'nt been shot in years. A buddy of mine took the barrel off, put it back together and it's been running smooth as silk since then and I use it all the time.

 

[nulfisin]

A good bump on the ground

I can't diagnose your problem as easily as others. I do, however, have an 870 Express that occasionally locks up. When that happens, I firmly, but not violently, smack the butt of the gun straight down onto the ground. The chamber opens every time.

 

[Roccobro]

When that happens, I firmly, but not violently, smack the butt of the gun straight down onto the ground. The chamber opens every time.

I had a marine tell me that is what they do with their units 870 when it gets stuck. Said it happened regularly. And that a large boulder helped inflict "anger management" to the 870 too.

Justin

 

[nulfisin]

Must be something about the Corps. My Dad taught me that trick -- and he's not even really a gun buff.

 

[GigaBuist]

I've seen the 870 + Cheap Winchester Universal problem first hand myself. It happens and the ammo is to blame. The hulls are crap and quality control on the shells isn't really all there. Trust me, I've reloaded a couple hundred of them.

 

[Newton]

The more I read of these Winchester shell issues the more I think that the narrow brass base on the shell had expanded slightly and stuck in the chamber.

I'll try the smack on the ground next time, I still have a hundred of those cheap critters to dispose of, but Federal next time for sure.

 

[nulfisin]

Remember, a firm but not violent smack. Be especially careful if you have a live shell in the chamber.

 

[mp510]

The Winchester value pack shells have a reputation for sticking in folks' chambers. I saw more than one person have similar problems with those loads and their pumps at a combat shotgun match last summer. If you take a loaded round of those Winchesters and a loaded round of (say) Federal bulk pack, you will feel that the plastic on the Winchester shells is a much crummier, more pliable plastic.

 

[teamster213]

on my 870 supermag i had federal 2 3/4 rounds 71/2 shot. and tried a few other i had the same problem. I took it back that day to my firearms dealer and he took a look, at it, and i had a shell stuck in the barrel. so he got a cleaning rod pushed it out and looked in the open part of the barrel. There was rib marks which i think he said comes stock but not supposed to be there very small ribs that go from teh open end that slides into the action and a few inches into the barrel. So he got a chop stick a knife and a electric dril. slice the top of teh chopstick the square part, make sure you break it in half first. the get some very fine like 300+ grit sandpaper have it like 6 inchs long 2 1/2 inches wide. then roll it up around the chopstick and slide it in the barrel just till you can't see the sand paper maybe leave a little bit sticking out. then pull the trigger the sand paper will slowly get rid of thos ribs and leave the barrel as smooth as silk.

 

[wgp]

Similar lock-up problem with a new 870 tactical when I bought it. It would lock up tight as could be every few shells. I emailed Remington and they told me to polish the chamber with emery cloth. I got the same suggestion from a gun shop, tried it, solved the issue.

 

[Roccobro]

Lol. Now we get the "its the guns NOT the ammo" crowd.

Justin

 

[swampboss]

Had this probem too, my fix

I bought one of the 3 1/2 870 magnums when they first came out. It had this problem pop up once in every box of shells. I found a burr on the brass on some of the shells that had been ejected and not shot. These would some times hang after the shot. I discovered this after removing the barrel from the gun and dropping different shell in the barrel until I found one that stuck. I did two things to cure the problem I very lightly hand sanded the ejector with emery cloth. I also hand sanded the area where the barrel and the brass seat.
This cured the problem.

 

[xm21]

Swampboss can you explain how sanding the ejector would aid in extraction?

 

[swampboss]

XM 21, I know this sounds like a bad thing to do, but my ejector was very sharp and was leaving a large burr on every shell extracted. It would leave a large burr on live shells when unloading. After getting advice from others with the same problem I sanded it very lightly. I had to do more on the barrel and have shot 1000s of rounds through it with out a hitch
Does this make sense?

 

[xm21]

Was this burr causing the the spent hull to stick in the chamber after firing or just causing the a unfired shell to not drop free when you put into the chamber of the barrel you took off of the gun?

 

[qman2]

My idea is better. Your 870 needs a new Johnson rod. Make sure the top end is polished and don't scimp on the cost.

(Sarcasm in case it wasn't completely obvious)

 

[swampboss]

both of these would happen. I think the "barrel to brass" tolerance was just made too tight on my gun, making the slightest burr really hang up. Never did it again after the fix, 9 years

 

[WutUpGeez]

I thought 870s were the flag ship pump action shotgun? huh

My Nova has never locked up solid...

 

[swampboss]

Just goes to show, even the best can have a minor flaw in mfg. This is a good reason to shoot your home defense gun from time to time and keep it clean and ready.

 

[FIESTA]

870 express

just bought a new 870 magnum and im having the same problem .once fired the shell is sticking in the breach