EDIT: SOLVED! (almost) ready for a Mossberg?

[pratchett]

I have an 870 but it decides when it will allow you to feed the last round into the OEM extension. I've tried everything, and the last round won't insert into the tube but about every 4th time. I've done all the tips, tricks, suggestions... the thing feeds, cycles, and fires like a bank vault, but I can't have an unreliable gun for home defense.

So I was set to buy another 870 as a replacement, maybe an 870P, but I heard their quality control is a dumpster fire. And now I hear that Mossberg just announced they've banned Dick's as a Mossberg retailer, so I'd like to support a manufacturer that's on our side.

So questions I guess: I've never owned a Mossberg, so is it xyz model over an 870 Police? If so, which model of Mossberg?

EDIT: SOLVED!
Unbelievable! I feel relieved, and I guess silly but I'd have never guessed it. I just had this weird idea, and I measured the OEM tube spring against the OEM tube spring I received with the replacement tube I bought to troubleshoot this problem. Turns out I swapped out the tube nut and tube but used the same freaking spring from the factory. When I laid them out against each other on the desk, in their relaxed state one was a full inch longer than the other! I swapped them out (installed the shorter replacement one), and the thing loads like a dream, every time. Unbelievable.

Thanks all for your help!

[E Michael]

Really depends on what you want out of the shotgun. Ie self defense, clays, multiple purposes? Best bet get the 500 combo at big 5 for like 299 on sell, this will give you an 18.5 barrel and a 24ish inch.

[Olav]

Get some dummy rounds and practice the last round loading to figure out the situation.

[etwinam]

Like stated above Mossberg 500 combo will be the best all around gun for most purposes and last a lifetime. I had a 500 combo and sold it. Missed it so much I picked up another one when big 5 had a sale. I got a Mossberg 500 field with 28" ported barrel, sling and 3 chokes for $274.

I have a 500, a 930 jm pro, and an A300. I much prefer semiauto but for a home defense gun that you can shoot clays or hunt with just save yourself the money and get a 500. This is my third 500 and I just keep going back to them.

I'm waiting for big 5 to have a sale on the 930 hunting then I'll probably snag one of those and keep the 500 by my bedside. I really like semiauto and the recoil mitigation it provides, escpecially with +p slugs.

[sealocan]

I've had a few Mossberg 500s (I usually buy them in the combo & on sale, as mentioned above, although those are sometimes hard to find) and I've never had ANY problems with them.

Obviously they're not expensive trap or skeet guns but at their low prices they are a great American made bargain.

They have aluminum receivers compared to the steal receivers of the 870 but got receiver design as has proven itself with the test of time and theoretically makes them a lighter gun.

Older 870 from Remington might have been great back in the day but I keep occasionally hearing about different issues on the newer ones.

Another factor to consider is it's always going to be cheaper than a comparative Remington shotgun.

And for me personally there location of the safety on the top of the receiver it is operated with your thumb is so much more ergonomic, convenient and logical to me ( although it's possible I feel that way because that's what I grew up using.)

If you don't like the safety in that location I believe they're lower-budget line labeled the Maverick brand of shotguns still uses the safety in the trigger area.

[JagerDog]

So you can't get the last shell in the mag at times? That's not a reliability issue IMHO. Sounds like you're out of room. Not all shells are the same loaded length.

[Thanatos2203]

I've tried everything, and the last round won't insert into the tube but about every 4th time. I've done all the tips, tricks, suggestions...

Define "everything" because it sounds like the crappy OEM follower is catching where the tubes connect.

the thing feeds, cycles, and fires like a bank vault, but I can't have an unreliable gun for home defense.

You don't replace your car every time it has a flat tire, so I don't see the motivation to jump ship here. The gun sounds perfectly reliable, you just can't get the last round into the tube.

[xXRifleManXx]

Old 870 wing masters are good to go. New Remington's suck. Grew up hunting with the 870 and went to replace my salt water duck gun back in 07 and that express was nothing but chit.
My brother bought a synthetic 3 1/2" at the same time, it was the same story.


590a1 with a 20" barrel for round the house and any tactical courses, 930 jm pro for similar uses but simiauto. Sx3 for water fowl and the wing master and a couple browning over and unders for upland game... and trap/ skeet once I jump into it.
Remington has repeatedly lost my business with their shotguns and piece of crap 700 rifle.

[PoorRichRichard]

+1 on the older model Wingmasters- I own 2 of them. Ive also found any Mossy 500s produced before the mid 90's to be great guns- I own 4.

I got my 13-year-old son a newer 20 gauge 870 junior, and we've had zero issues with it after at least 500 rounds fired over muliple dove/duck hunts and trap shooting trips.

[mossy]

Check the size of the shells. Some shells are longer than others. even though they are labeled as 2-3/4 they could be longer.

[xXRifleManXx]

Check the size of the shells. Some shells are longer than others. even though they are labeled as 2-3/4 they could be longer.

^^
2 3/4 is the size AFTER it's fired, so like mossy is saying the stack and crimp on different shells isn't always the same overall length.

[Paseclipse]

I went through similar nonsense with an 870 a few years ago. I kept sinking $ into a brand new Express Tactical to try and get it to work reliably. Nothing worked so I eventually came to my senses and gave up.

Went and bought a Mossberg 930 and recently a 590A1 and I could't be happier. Both shotguns work perfectly right out of the box and the quality is top notch.

I really tried to like my 870 and I tried get it to work reliably but the quality of Remington's is just not there anymore.

My advice to you OP- cut your losses and move on to something you won't have to screw around with.

[geedavell]

I know "more is better" but, Do you really need that extra round?
I'm not a bad guy, but if i was, i'd be running from your home after I heard you rack the slide.
I doubt they would stick around for too rounds to be fired.
I'd keep the gun you have if your good at shooting it.

[meno377]

So you can't get the last shell in the mag at times? That's not a reliability issue IMHO. Sounds like you're out of room. Not all shells are the same loaded length.

You don't replace your car every time it has a flat tire, so I don't see the motivation to jump ship here. The gun sounds perfectly reliable, you just can't get the last round into the tube.

Both of these OP. It's possible the follower could be jamming on the last round or the rounds are different lengths which will cause inconsistent capacity in the tube. Either way your shotgun isn't broke IMO. But if you still prefer to move over to Mossberg that's your choice and it's a good choice also. You may end up liking the ergonomics more than the Remington, but don't get rid of the Remington just because you think it's broken somehow.

[geedavell]

I'm not familiar with the gun mentioned but.. if it is the follower getting stuck, maybe a larger chamfer on the follower will help it "jump the step"?