Rem. 870 express help

[Huntordie]

Hello
First off, Thank you I advance for all your input

I have 3 Remmington 870 express shotguns (1of which is magnum) and all 3 have developed the same problem. The magnum is brand new only shot about 100 shells through it and now has the exact same issue as my seasoned shotguns.
The problem is pretty often, let's say approximately every 3-5 shells the action is jamming after firing. It acts like the extracter is not able to pull the spent shell out of the chamber. Only slamming the stock on a bench will get the action to open and extract the shell. Sometimes the empty shell is still in the chamber. I have seen the jammed shell rim be gouged or bent from the attempt of pulling it out.

Ammo, mainly target loads 12ga. 2 3/4 1oz 8 shot
High base, low base, fiochie, herters, Winchester, Remmington etc. I have tried a lot of brands per my local Gun smiths recommendations. Same problem
Typically I use this for sporting clays or small upland game bird hunting. No slugs or buck shots or anything crazy.

I took all 3 to my local gunsmith and he charged me $150 a gun and the problem is still the same.
He claimed to clean them and said he fired 30 random brands through ea gun and didn't have any issues. Hard for me to believe....


Has anyone experienced this before?

[BlackonBlack]

I've bad my 870 for many years . An express synthetic 28" model. It's had a malfunction once where the shell wouldn't extract. I pushed it out with a cleaning rod and discovered the shell sort of bulged. Did you call remington?

[200Apples]

Has anyone experienced this before?

Oh yes. The Express is becoming notorious for this. While I don't have any problems with two 35-yr-old Wingmasters or their various new barrel types (Mossberg-made-for-870 or new Remington-made barrels), the new Expresses are a different story.

Some point the finger at the shotshell; that inexpensive, steel-cased game loads are the problem (but you claim to have tried quite a variety).

Others say the barrel chamber is to blame; that a factory rust-prevention coating needs to be removed before reliable extraction can occur.

Since you've already dumped 150 into the problem, I would contact Remington then go from there. Good luck.

[hermosabeach]

Take out the barrel and run your finger through the chamber?

One of my newer guns has a ring machined as a glitch in the chamber.


If the chamber is smooth, go down to the forcing cone? Is everything smooth?



If you have a drill, it is fairly easy to polish the chamber out to 600-800 grit

Lastly- the cheap priced bulk boxes from Walmart and other discounters are really junk compared to Ammo made in the 1980s. Thin copper washed steel rims on the cases..... Think case walls that can expand more..

So try a few premium rounds to see if it changes the problem....

[Huntordie]

I haven't called Remmington yet.
I will defiantly try that next.
Aren't just about all shells steel based?

Any reconditions for high quality shells?

[003]

No guarantee, but give this a try. Should be an easy fix, polish the chamber. Get some 000 or 0000 steel wool, and a short piece of wood dowel. Split the end of the dowel and wrap a piece of the steel wool. Place the other end of the dowel in an electric drill. Polish away.

[XVIga_Rob]

3 870's (1 new and 2 old/well used) all with the same problem of not extracting shells. I would say you have 1 of 3 problems.

Short stroking.
Magazine cap too tight.
Rough chamber.

As the problems are with multiple 870's (old & new). I suspect either short stroking, or the magazine cap to be the issue. If you overtighten the magazine cap, it forces the barrel and barrel extension too far into the receiver, causing the chamber tolerances to be too tight.

Remove the barrels and while they're off, inspect the chambers. Use your fingernail to check for ridges or rough spots. If you find any, polish them and apply some cold blue. When reinstalling the barrels, stop tightening the magazine cap after the 1st click of the detent (think of it like a torque wrench).

[golfish]

I haven't called Remmington yet.
I will defiantly try that next.
Aren't just about all shells steel based?

Any reconditions for high quality shells?

I find it hard to blame the ammo when all the older 870's work fine with the new cheap shells.

A good polish on the chamber would be a good start.

My nephew bought an Express earlier this year. He has the same problems with his gun.

[aippi]

Every 870 ever built is a magnum shotgun. So if you have three 870's then you have three magnum shotguns.

[AreWeFree]

Same problem in three different guns?

The problem is you.

[berettabattler]

Call Remington.

I had an similar issue,they sent me an label to have it shipped to an local gunsmith. The gun smith fixed it eland ever since then, I haven't had any problems at all. 2 3/4, bird, 00. Not an single problem

[humble servant]

Same problem in three different guns?

The problem is you.

I think it's been common knowledge for a while now that the new generation 870's have this issue. A friend had the same problem with his and it was new. Seems like Remington should've gotten ahead of this year's ago.

[cpttimerestraint]

I took a 1 in pipe cleaning brush from the plumbing department at Home Depot and cut the handle off. Put it in my drill and polished the chamber. Haven't had any issues since then. For me, it wasn't just low base cheap ammo. I was having FTE issues with my 3in #2 shot duck rounds.

[Go Packers!]

I had the same problem, even after Remington "repaired" it. Polishing the chamber eventually got it to run, but I will never buy another Remington. I lost all confidence in it, and that is not good in a home defense purchase. I feel strongly that it should work properly out of the box. I bought a Benelli and never looked back.

[AreWeFree]

I think it's been common knowledge for a while now that the new generation 870's have this issue. A friend had the same problem with his and it was new. Seems like Remington should've gotten ahead of this year's ago.

It's weird the OP hit the lottery all three times. I've bought three Remingtons and all three have worked flawlessly.

I had the same problem, even after Remington "repaired" it. Polishing the chamber eventually got it to run, but I will never buy another Remington. I lost all confidence in it, and that is not good in a home defense purchase. I feel strongly that it should work properly out of the box. I bought a Benelli and never looked back.

Which Remington did you have and what Benelli did you buy?