Help for noob pls. Pump action jamming?

[Dirte]

I have never owned a shotgun before so I have two questions for you guys. First, please tell me what the proper terminology is for this button:


I got this Savage Arms model 69RXL Series "E" 12 gauge from a family member that has been just sitting in storage for many years. Apparently some idiot had attempted to fire a 20 gauge shell out of it. The shell was jammed into the throat of the barrel at a 45 degree angle and busted open spilling out the pellets. I didn't think to take a picture at the time so I recreated the situation as best I could in this photo:


I removed the jammed shell, took the gun apart, cleaned the internals, and reassembled. I have taken it out twice since and it fired. Problem I am having is with the fore end jamming hard in the forward extended position. The only way that I can cycle it to load the next shell is by holding the "release button" (the one in the top photo) and jamming the buttstock down on the table with good amount of force. I have used these two different types of shells so far:


With the Winchester shells its jamming in between shots about 30% of the time and with the other stuff it jams nearly every time. Any thoughts as to what may be causing this?

[Andy Guy]

I consider the button just a bolt release. But as far as the jamming could the round have bent the barrel to a point it shifts when a shot is fired ?

Maybe a picture of internals can show any burrs or bare metal that could be the culprit

[Andy Guy]

Also could be a bent extractor or action bar as well.

[jfifer]

Hmm... The action bar coupd be the problem... It can be pretty easy to bend it if used not as intended... I have used an ithaca with the same issue... It was a bent action bar. Is yours a single?

[Stewdabaker23]

That "button " allows you to release the bolt and open the chamber after a round has been chambered. Not sure on actual name.

Something could be bent. Completely disassemble the gun and see what you find.

[CreamyFettucini]

The name is "action release" for that button.

My guess is bent action bar or extractor issues.

[Dirte]

Hmm... The action bar coupd be the problem... It can be pretty easy to bend it if used not as intended... I have used an ithaca with the same issue... It was a bent action bar. Is yours a single?

single

The name is "action release" for that button.

My guess is bent action bar or extractor issues.

Thanks for the nomenclature.

I don't have time to tear it down at the moment, but I looked at the action bar and can't see any glaringly obvious bending. I tried cycling it with no shells loaded a few times just now and noticed that each time it locks in the forward extended position until I hit the "action release." Is that how its supposed to be? Sorry, like I said I have zero experience with these things.

[mikey357]

If you cycle the action, it will lock until you pull the trigger. If you dont pull the trigger you will have to hit the action release to pull the slide back.

[ysr_racer]

If you cycle the action, it will lock until you pull the trigger. If you dont pull the trigger you will have to hit the action release to pull the slide back.

Yep, that's what I was thinking too.

[CreamyFettucini]

single



Thanks for the nomenclature.

I don't have time to tear it down at the moment, but I looked at the action bar and can't see any glaringly obvious bending. I tried cycling it with no shells loaded a few times just now and noticed that each time it locks in the forward extended position until I hit the "action release." Is that how its supposed to be? Sorry, like I said I have zero experience with these things.

Yes

[hermosabeach]

Let's go back a bit.

If a 20 gauge was lodged in the barrels forcing come and then a 12 gauge was loaded and fired... A few things can happen

It can blow up like a pipe bomb

Or it can dramatically over pressure the entire gun and eventually blow the 20 gauge shell and the shot column out the end of the barrel.

So if it did not blow up aka KB- then you can have major damage to the shotgun.

Weakened barrel
Weakened receiver
Weakened bolt
Bent parts


This is a firearm I would take to a very competent gunsmith.

One would need to determine if everything in in spec. Of a 20 was accedantly dropped into the gun and fired out of the gun, I would retire the firearm.

There is a reason why all 20 gauge ammo is yellow. It is to help identify it from 12 gauge.

If the firearm fails, what is one eye or one finger worth to you???

More or less than a $400 870 wing master?


Guns are expensive but they are cheap if compared to a finger, hand or eye.

[kingjoey]

If it is jamming after the shell is fired, you'd want to check the chamber for roughness or rust, it will make the fired shell stick pretty tightly. Another thing to check is the top rear edge of the locking lug on the bolt, if it has a small "lip" or sharp edge, it can cause the gun to be difficult to cycle when fired also.

[Dirte]

Let's go back a bit.

If a 20 gauge was lodged in the barrels forcing come and then a 12 gauge was loaded and fired... A few things can happen

It can blow up like a pipe bomb

Or it can dramatically over pressure the entire gun and eventually blow the 20 gauge shell and the shot column out the end of the barrel.

So if it did not blow up aka KB- then you can have major damage to the shotgun.

Weakened barrel
Weakened receiver
Weakened bolt
Bent parts


This is a firearm I would take to a very competent gunsmith.

One would need to determine if everything in in spec. Of a 20 was accedantly dropped into the gun and fired out of the gun, I would retire the firearm.

There is a reason why all 20 gauge ammo is yellow. It is to help identify it from 12 gauge.

If the firearm fails, what is one eye or one finger worth to you???

More or less than a $400 870 wing master?


Guns are expensive but they are cheap if compared to a finger, hand or eye.

The plastic portion of the 20gauge shell was busted open from when it smashed against the throat of the barrel and snagged. I presume it didn't feed correctly being that it was the wrong size. It never got fired, it didn't make it far enough into the chamber, the primer was still live. I removed that shell completely during my initial take-down of the gun.

[hermosabeach]

I am on my computer tonight, not my phone.

It looks like the first picture shows that the receiver cracked/ sheared off a piece at the slide release. Am I seeing the issue correctly?


If you are shooting an $80 mil surplus gun or a shotgun that was given to you, please have someone verify that it is safe to shoot.

Guns can hiccup for very small issues... dirt build up is a common problem...

Gun can also hiccup as a symptom that something is wrong... something is out of spec, out of alignment overall damaged in some way

Pump shotguns are very forgiving and work under a lot of circumstances that would have a semi auto malfunction....


A 12 Gauge round has somewhere between 11,000 - 14,500 PSI in the breech & barrel when fired...


If you are not both experienced with firearms and with this model... consider taking to a gun smith who can diagnose the issue....

We can not diagnose it over the internet...

and now some scary pictures