remington 870 question - The Firearms Forum

gipper · 04-10-2004, 11:27 PM

I have an older remington 870 20 guage, it doesn't load all the time, when the lever (not sure if thats the correct term) is supposed to move over and let a new shell chamber, it gets hung on the shell and you have to either push it w/ your finger or push the shell back in the tube and let it go to get it to pop in. Any ideas to remedy this? The gun is in great shape, but until recently hasn't been fired in probably a good 15-20 years. Any help would be appreciated.

Always sad in the heat of a clay shootout to pump it and hear "click" cause it didn't load...

glocknut · 04-10-2004, 11:42 PM

15 to 20 years ?!!!

I'd break that thing down and do a thoural cleaning AND replace every spring in it !!!!!

Seriously.....

mike

gipper · 04-10-2004, 11:57 PM

do yoiu know if that specific part I'm talking about is spring loaded? read somewhere that that magazine stop/loader is riveted to the body... $ounds $uper complicated

CountryGunsmith · 04-11-2004, 08:58 AM

There are two shell latches (right and left) on the Remington 870, which are actuated by movement of the operating handle. It's a bit more complicated than that, but that's the basic concept. Both of these shell latches SHOULD be staked in place in their receiver mortise. The latches themselves are tempered as springs, there are no seperate springs powering them.

A good cleaning, first, is correct. Crud/rust/gunk can build up underneath the shell latch and cause it not to compress fully out of the way.

Let us know if that solves your problem.

gpostal · 04-11-2004, 09:09 AM

Country101 · 04-11-2004, 10:04 AM

Yeah, I'd say it was due for a good cleaning.

gipper · 04-11-2004, 11:56 AM

I'll totally dismantle it and let you know how it goes, its the left one thats givin me problems, hopefully a good cleaning will remedy the problem
thanks for the help guys,

gipper · 04-11-2004, 03:17 PM

took it all apart, anyone know if the left magazine bar, (number 88 in the posted pic above) is supposed to be bent a little? Mine has a pretty dramatic curve to it, and I'm wondering if its so extreme that the action isn't pushing it enough out of the way everytime.

Country101 · 04-11-2004, 04:19 PM

Going by the picture, I'd say it should be fairly straight. It might have a little bend in it if it is like my shotgun, but not very much. Mine's a differant model though, so i dont know if it'll help ya any. Ya might try straightening it out some if you're comfortable doing it. Could help, but might hurt, too. Good luck

gipper · 04-11-2004, 07:10 PM

bent that piece closer to beign straight, I think being so bent it was just to overpowering for the pump rails to really move it out of the way, seems to be cycling every time now, guess I might have to go shooting again next weekend and see

Country101 · 04-11-2004, 09:20 PM

Let us know how it turns out, gipper.

dcon12 · 04-13-2004, 01:35 AM

I have every model 870 from 410 to 12. Never had a failure or a mis fire. Don

04-10-2004, 11:27 PM	#1
gipper V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 122	remington 870 question I have an older remington 870 20 guage, it doesn't load all the time, when the lever (not sure if thats the correct term) is supposed to move over and let a new shell chamber, it gets hung on the shell and you have to either push it w/ your finger or push the shell back in the tube and let it go to get it to pop in. Any ideas to remedy this? The gun is in great shape, but until recently hasn't been fired in probably a good 15-20 years. Any help would be appreciated. Always sad in the heat of a clay shootout to pump it and hear "click" cause it didn't load... -->

04-11-2004, 08:58 AM	#4
CountryGunsmith Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Deep Piney Woods of East Texas Posts: 5,116	There are two shell latches (right and left) on the Remington 870, which are actuated by movement of the operating handle. It's a bit more complicated than that, but that's the basic concept. Both of these shell latches SHOULD be staked in place in their receiver mortise. The latches themselves are tempered as springs, there are no seperate springs powering them. A good cleaning, first, is correct. Crud/rust/gunk can build up underneath the shell latch and cause it not to compress fully out of the way. Let us know if that solves your problem. __________________ The autonomic nervous system provides for involuntary muscle function - the work of breathing, digestion, and so forth. On some folks, that's a pure waste of ingenuity.

04-11-2004, 09:09 AM	#5
gpostal Former Guest Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 4,552	. Attached Images

04-11-2004, 10:04 AM	#6
Country101 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dardanelle, AR Contributor Posts: 2,026	Yeah, I'd say it was due for a good cleaning. __________________ Gainfully employed= shooting somebody elses bullets and getting paid for it Country101 Last edited by Country101; 04-11-2004 at 10:07 AM..

04-11-2004, 04:19 PM	#9
Country101 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dardanelle, AR Contributor Posts: 2,026	Going by the picture, I'd say it should be fairly straight. It might have a little bend in it if it is like my shotgun, but not very much. Mine's a differant model though, so i dont know if it'll help ya any. Ya might try straightening it out some if you're comfortable doing it. Could help, but might hurt, too. Good luck __________________ Gainfully employed= shooting somebody elses bullets and getting paid for it Country101

04-10-2004, 11:42 PM	#2
glocknut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: THE FORUM MASCOTT... Posts: 12,482	15 to 20 years ?!!! I'd break that thing down and do a thoural cleaning AND replace every spring in it !!!!! Seriously..... mike

04-10-2004, 11:57 PM	#3
gipper V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 122	do yoiu know if that specific part I'm talking about is spring loaded? read somewhere that that magazine stop/loader is riveted to the body... $ounds $uper complicated

04-11-2004, 11:56 AM	#7
gipper V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 122	I'll totally dismantle it and let you know how it goes, its the left one thats givin me problems, hopefully a good cleaning will remedy the problem thanks for the help guys,

04-11-2004, 03:17 PM	#8
gipper V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 122	took it all apart, anyone know if the left magazine bar, (number 88 in the posted pic above) is supposed to be bent a little? Mine has a pretty dramatic curve to it, and I'm wondering if its so extreme that the action isn't pushing it enough out of the way everytime.

04-11-2004, 07:10 PM	#10
gipper V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 122	bent that piece closer to beign straight, I think being so bent it was just to overpowering for the pump rails to really move it out of the way, seems to be cycling every time now, guess I might have to go shooting again next weekend and see

04-11-2004, 09:20 PM	#11
Country101 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dardanelle, AR Contributor Posts: 2,026	Let us know how it turns out, gipper. __________________ Gainfully employed= shooting somebody elses bullets and getting paid for it Country101

04-13-2004, 01:35 AM	#12
dcon12 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Albany, Ga. Posts: 1,128	I have every model 870 from 410 to 12. Never had a failure or a mis fire. Don