Stevens 320 questions (jamming/other issues)

[zero_shot]

So I'm a first time shot gun owner, and mainly got one for trap shooting. I took it out with my roommates for the first time on Sunday in Concord, and I had a blast! Didn't hit that well (best was 15/25, worst was 10/25), but am motivated to go and get better.

When I was out though, I had a couple different jamming problems. Keep in mind that this is a brand new Stevens 320 with a stock (not pistol grip) and a 28" barrel.

1) Jammed when shell got stuck in the barrel (maybe extractor didn't catch it?). Pretty much pumped it and nothing came out, looked in there and saw the spent shell stuck in there. Had to use the wooden dowel looking thing to push the shell down and out.

2) Didn't load properly. Was putting in shells 1 at a time through the window, and I guess one time it wasn't seated properly and didn't allow me to move the pump handle. Had to kind of jimmy it out before going forward.

Now I didn't wipe off the factory goop off of it before going (will be doing that now), could that have been the culprit? Or is there something that I am doing wrong mechanically that I can adjust?

Thanks!

[ouch1]

Clean the Cosmoline (goop) off your shotgun and then try it out. I bet it was just getting gummed up. Brake cleaner works well for getting it off the parts. But if your shotgun has wooden grips and stock be careful with solvents as they may take the finish off the wood.

Just disassemble it and clean the metal parts separate from the wooden ones then reassemble it.

-ouch1