Advise please -- 870 barrel insertion, is this gap normal?

[axhoaxho]

I guess I never really paid close enough attention before... Tonight when I cleaned and assembled my Remington 870 Express, I saw this gap at the end of the barrel when I viewed through the port opening in the receiver (shown with blue arrows in the picture below.)

My 870 seemed to operate okay when I tried it with some dummies, but I couldn't be able to insert my barrel any further (I always insert my barrel with the forend half racked during assembly, it seems to help insert the barrel easier)

I guess the gap is not supposed to be there, is it? If so, what did I do wrong and how can I correct it? i just don't want to have any incident when I fire it at the range next time. Thank you for your help.

With best regards,,
- Alex.

[10RoundLimit]

Mine has a gap there, it does not appear quit as large as the one in the pic but close. I would not worry about it.

[axhoaxho]

Mine has a gap there, it does not appear quit as large as the one in the pic but close. I would not worry about it.

Thanks very much, that is good to know.

With best regards,
- Alex.

[Barbarossa]

My barrel does not have that piece of metal extending in there. is that a 3 1/2" ?

[rebelmachine2000]

Looks like a normal level of tolerance between parts. Regardless try inserting the barrel but don't screw on the magazine cap or extended magazine yet. Lock the bolt forward and tug on the barrel. If it feels secure you should be GTG.

[aippi]

It should not be there. You can see by the ejector that you have room to move back. take the barrel off and with a small pick or srcew drive clean around the ejector. The ejector should fit fully into that knotch on the barrel root and the barrel should rest completly on the that ledge you see in the receiver above the ejector. Check that knotch and make sure there are no burrs on it. Also, scrape that ledge and make sure it is completly clean. Check below the ejector and make sure they did not accidently machine a slight ledge there as one should not be there. f that is the case, send it back to Remington as the barrel will never fit and they will have to replace it as a safety issue. You can also clean the barrel root, inside and out completly. Also clean the inside of the receiver where the barrel fits in. It should now fit correctly as somthing was holding it off.

[axhoaxho]

My barrel does not have that piece of metal extending in there. is that a 3 1/2" ?

That is a 3" -- Remington 870 Express Synthetic.

Looks like a normal level of tolerance between parts. Regardless try inserting the barrel but don't screw on the magazine cap or extended magazine yet. Lock the bolt forward and tug on the barrel. If it feels secure you should be GTG.

Thanks very much. I cleaned and oiled my 870 again (just for the peace of mind), and used your advise to feel the 'tug' of the barrel with the bolt locked forward. The barrel felt secure and okay, I guess I am more relieved now. Thanks again.

With best regards,
- Alex.

[axhoaxho]

It should not be there. You can see by the ejector that you have room to move back. take the barrel off and with a small pick or srcew drive clean around the ejector. The ejector should fit fully into that knotch on the barrel root and the barrel should rest completly on the that ledge you see in the receiver above the ejector. Check that knotch and make sure there are no burrs on it. Also, scrape that ledge and make sure it is completly clean. Check below the ejector and make sure they did not accidently machine a slight ledge there as one should not be there. f that is the case, send it back to Remington as the barrel will never fit and they will have to replace it as a safety issue. You can also clean the barrel root, inside and out completly. Also clean the inside of the receiver where the barrel fits in. It should now fit correctly as somthing was holding it off.

Thanks for your detailed explanation. I am going to have a thorough cleaning of my 870 per your advise.

With best regards,
- Alex.

[aippi]

I would not be relieved by locking it and tugging on the barrel as the position of the barrel determines where the locking Block cavot is. For the weapon to properly lock up the barrel needs to be in the correct position. This affects the head spacing in your weapon. You can prove it locks up but that still is not acceptable as your head spacing is off........go through the steps I recommended and if this does not correct it, take the weapon to a gun smith and have the head spacing checked and have him look for the cause of the problem.

[rebelmachine2000]

I would not be relieved by locking it and tugging on the barrel as the position of the barrel determines where the locking Block cavot is. For the weapon to properly lock up the barrel needs to be in the correct position. This affects the head spacing in your weapon. You can prove it locks up but that still is not acceptable as your head spacing is off........go through the steps I recommended and if this does not correct it, take the weapon to a gun smith and have the head spacing checked and have him look for the cause of the problem.

AIPPI is the real deal. I would definitely take his advice over mine .

[axhoaxho]

Hi,

Thanks folks, just an update -- I followed the advise from AIPPI to clean my 870 Express Synthetic as best as I could. Following is a picture after the cleaning. Sorry for the bigger picture size, I just hope to show the details clearly.

From the picture, it seems now the barrel root rests (almost?) completely to the receiver ledge above the ejector. However, there is still a gap between the ejector and the knotch on the barrel root.

I tried to cycle some dummies on it, and everything seemed to operate normally.

What do you folks think?

Wiith best regards,
- Alex.

[aippi]

Now that is what I call a picture and it shows me your proplem. Look right under the number 2 on the ejector. that is what is holding it off. The ejector is milled incorrectly. Remove your barrel and take a small file and try to file that down enough to allow the barrel to seat all the way back to that ledge. If you are very careful you could even take a Dremil and grind it down enough to allow the barrel to seat. Start grining lightly till you work it down enough to allow the barrel to come back a few hairs and seat. Careful as you don't have far to go. Have some Birchwood cold blue on had and after your finish, degrease the areas the Dremil hit then with a Q-tip swab some cold blue on there to protect the metal. Remember, it is not important that the ejector goes all the way into the knotch but it is important that the barrel seats on that ledge. This is an easy fix and cost nothing if you have the cold blue......

[axhoaxho]

Thanks once again, AIPPI,

Your instruction is very clear. I will order the Cold Blue and make it my weekend project.

This is a great forum and has many nice folks here, I truly appreciate all your inputs.

With best regards,
- Alex.

Now that is what I call a picture and it shows me your proplem. Look right under the number 2 on the ejector. that is what is holding it off. Remove your barrel and take a small file and try to file that down enough to allow the barrel to seat all the way back to that ledge. If you are very careful you could even take a Dremil and grind it down enough to allow the barrel to seat. Start grining lightly till you work it down enough to allow the barrel to come back a few hairs and seat. Have some Birchwood cold blue on had and after your finish, degrease the areas the Dremil hit then with a Q-tip swab some cold blue on there to protect the metal. Remember, it is not important that the ectractor goes all the way into the knotch but it is important that the barrel seats on that ledge. This is an easy fix and cost nothing if you have the cold blue......

[luckystrike]

yeah its fine