remington 870 express extraction problem

[picasso]

I went to the range last week to shoot some clay and encountered some extraction problem with the winchester birdshot (steel shots). But using different ammo it was fine, so I know that the steelshots are the culprit. Did anybody experienced this as well? What should I do? I have tons of these ammo.

[Creampuff]

Is the base covering brass or steel? Was it so tough to extact the shell, that you had to bump the buttstock against the ground?

[picasso]

it's steel (silvery). I have to extract it with a screw driver because it won't even budge using the fore end, even repeatedly.

[Creampuff]

I would hold onto the fore-end, and then give the entire shotgun a good wack into the ground (buttstock first of course); rather than the screwdriver to keep from scratching the chamber.
I've had problems with steel base coverings. When the steel expands, it expands just tight enough that it wedges in. It has been better since I wrapped steel wool around a cleaning brush and rod, put it into my cordless drill, and smoothed out the chamber a little. Take a look or feel, and make sure the chamber/bore is smooth.

[picasso]

but some of the ammo I used with the same steel base worked just fine. Only this particular ammo.

[aippi]

I think you will find that is not steel it is aluminum and the ammo is junk. If you have a lot of it then shoot it but keep the chamber of the weapon polished well. Take a wood dowl and wrap a pad of medium steel wool over one end and tape it off to the dowl. It will look like a big Q-tip. Put that in a drill and polish the chamber. This will help with extraction. However, the problem is the ammo not the barrel. I shoot the same ammo and don't have these issues because I keep the chamber polished and I rack a pump shotgun hard.

[wildog8812]

is it a new gun by any chance?

[BLD]

I had the same issue with my 870 express when it was new, with the bulk Win trap load. After about 100 various rounds of bird, buck, & slugs the problem has gone away. From what I've heard this happens alot when you shoot cheap trap loads through a new 870 express. The solution seems to be to smooth the chamber out like others have suggested or to just shoot the issue out like I did.

I also noticed that my shotgun would only lock up if I was pulling the fore end towards me while shooting. Like I said a couple of trap sessions and a few 3 gun matches seemed to clear the problem up for me.

[picasso]

more than a year old but seldom used.

So meaning I have to push the fore-end while shooting to avoid the lock ups?

[johnthomas]

I have both the 870 and the interstate arms clone. I shot a hundred rounds of the steel type, never had a problem, but since the brass cost about the same, and is available, I will just go with brass. Here is a great site for shot shell education.

http://www.shotgunlife.com/Shotguns/shotgun-shells.html

[SkiDevil]

It is NOT your gun. It is the Winchester Shells

more than a year old but seldom used.

So meaning I have to push the fore-end while shooting to avoid the lock ups?

I know several persons who have experienced the same problem. I have a standard Remington 870 and a modified one (Wilson's Standard Model).

I had extraction issues with these shells in both of my guns. Although it is useful at times to be able to employ malfunction drills with your shotgun it becomes tiresome after a while.

Yes, like the other member suggested. The proper way to clear a stuck shell is to engage the safety FIRST, then grab the shotgun on the forend with one hand firmly and hold the firearm receiver with the other and slam the shotgun butt first into the ground, preferably a hard/ smooth surface.

BE CAREFUL, with your hand holding the receiver.

Make sure that your hand is far enough down that you don't get pinched when the forend opens-up completely.

It may take a couple of whacks with these shells, but it will work.

Using a screw driver is NOT necessary.

There is nothing wrong with your gun/s. It is the shells. I too bought a few, and subsequently gave them away. I was having 3-5 shells stick in the chamber per box.

I now use only Fiocchi Target loads or Winchester AA loads in my Remington 870s with no problems.

If you must use these Winchester shells, then clean your chamber with a shotgun/ chamber brush regularly and it will lessen the problem, as was already suggested.

Winchester used to make some of the best shot shells available, now like every other company they cut corners to give us a truly "Cheap" product in every sense of the word. Remington used to produce budget loads as well with a brass case head. Although I haven't used any lately it may be a less expensive alternative for your gun/s. It would cost you the price of one box to find-out.

I am personally very pleased with the Fiocchi loads. They aren't cheap, run about $8-9 per 25 box plus tax. But I think the price is worth it (Winchester AA loads are usually $10/ 25 box). -Upside with AA many shot gunners will buy your used hulls if you don't reload.

All in all Fiocchi shells are excellent in quality, I even know some folks who use the (Fiocchi #7 1/2) target loads for bird hunting with good effect. I could recommend these for a Remington 870.

Good Luck,
SkiDevil

[Creampuff]

BE CAREFUL, with your hand holding the receiver.

Make sure that your hand is far enough down that you don't get pinched when the forend opens-up completely.

SkiDevil

Good advice here. I had a blood blister on my upper part of my palm that would tell you, it would be wise to listen to the above.

[wildog8812]

more than a year old but seldom used.

So meaning I have to push the fore-end while shooting to avoid the lock ups?

most of the Remington express shotguns take a little breaking in a few hundred birdshot from walmart will normally do the trick. It is a pain in the *** that you have to do this but it is also good practice in clearing a jam and shooting your gun. Mine did it off and on for about 200 rounds and has not since. This comes straight from an email I got from Remington on the issue. Best of luck.

[SkiDevil]

Good advice here. I had a blood blister on my upper part of my palm that would tell you, it would be wise to listen to the above.

I learned the hard way and cut my hand.

[Rover]

Experienced this today with my new 870 Express. None of the jams were bad enough that I had to bang it on the ground, but it was annoying all the same. Killed my average shooting doubles, the rest of the time I could at least clear it before calling for another clay. I did however notice that while shooting brass the problem went away.

Anybody know if the Federal bulk shells are brass coated, or plain steel like Winchester?