Remington 870 won't feed next round

BillDish · November 14, 2011, 02:13 PM

I have a 60s vintage wingmaster that will not feed the next round from the magazine tube. I have cleaned and given the magazine tube a light coat of oil to make sure the follower is not hanging up. I can see the shell stop is slightly holding the edge of the shell and I can reach into the receiver with my finger and push slightly on the shell stop and the shell will pop into the receiver and can then be cycled.

Any ideas what the problem could be or a possible fix?

Dfariswheel · November 14, 2011, 08:20 PM

Could be an old, weak magazine spring that doesn't have the power to push the shell out properly.

Replace it with a new spring.

Check to insure the shell stops are firmly staked in place and are not loose.

Check the action bars to insure the small "ramps" on the bars are not burred or bent. These small ramp-like cuts are what operate the shell stops.

upstate81 · November 14, 2011, 08:42 PM

+1 weak mag spring is where I would start.

hogdogs · November 14, 2011, 09:35 PM

Could be wear to lifter and shell stop not allowing the lifter to push in far enuff to release next shell...

Put a business card against the shell stop and try to make sure the lifter stays on the other side of the card...

Cycle... If shell is released, you might can splay out the lifter sides a few thousandths...

Brent

nutty ned · November 15, 2011, 11:53 PM

Is there a shell latch on both sides of the reciever as in the 870 manual on the web site? They work at different times in the cycle.
Is there crud build up under either one?

hogdogs · November 16, 2011, 12:27 AM

Forgot the crud under the shell stop...

Being a Mossberg guy, I forget about the crud under them. I just drop them out and clean but they are staked in the 870 or is that different parts staked in place?

Brent

bamaranger · November 16, 2011, 03:38 AM

The staked shell stops are the "weak link" on the 870 design and can give trouble. In your clean and lube, did you pull the trigger group?

If the stops were loose you would have found out then, as they typically drop out with the TG. If you did not drop the TG, the stops could well be loose and you cannot tell.

Lee Lapin · November 16, 2011, 02:46 PM

Even if unstaked, 870 shell latches are pretty much pinned in place by the front trigger plate pin (part # 67 at http://www.urban-armory.com/diagrams/rem870.htm).

I'd suspect a buildup of crud behind the offending shell latch, or less likely an activating notch on the action bar on that side so worn it is no longer timed properly, if the gun has been heavily used.

An occasional new magazine spring never hurts... I usually replace plastic followers too, on used 870s. Brownells part number 080-000-083 contains a new spring and follower (for the standard magazine).

BillDish · November 16, 2011, 04:58 PM

Thanks everyone. I will try all suggestions.

TheKlawMan · November 16, 2011, 05:03 PM

It's not juxt crud that get under the shell latch. I stupidly used a paper towel to clean out my magaazine. I later spotted, before it could cause any trouble, a piece do paper towel stuck under the tip of a shell latch. Now I just use a piece of rag.

November 14, 2011, 02:13 PM	#1
BillDish Member Join Date: December 15, 2009 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 35	Remington 870 won't feed next round I have a 60s vintage wingmaster that will not feed the next round from the magazine tube. I have cleaned and given the magazine tube a light coat of oil to make sure the follower is not hanging up. I can see the shell stop is slightly holding the edge of the shell and I can reach into the receiver with my finger and push slightly on the shell stop and the shell will pop into the receiver and can then be cycled. Any ideas what the problem could be or a possible fix? Last edited by BillDish; November 14, 2011 at 05:47 PM.

November 16, 2011, 03:38 AM	#7
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,799	weak point The staked shell stops are the "weak link" on the 870 design and can give trouble. In your clean and lube, did you pull the trigger group? If the stops were loose you would have found out then, as they typically drop out with the TG. If you did not drop the TG, the stops could well be loose and you cannot tell.

November 16, 2011, 04:58 PM	#9
BillDish Member Join Date: December 15, 2009 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 35	remington 870 wont feed properly Thanks everyone. I will try all suggestions.

November 14, 2011, 08:20 PM	#2
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,559	Could be an old, weak magazine spring that doesn't have the power to push the shell out properly. Replace it with a new spring. Check to insure the shell stops are firmly staked in place and are not loose. Check the action bars to insure the small "ramps" on the bars are not burred or bent. These small ramp-like cuts are what operate the shell stops.

November 14, 2011, 08:42 PM	#3
upstate81 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2011 Location: NY Posts: 801	+1 weak mag spring is where I would start.

November 14, 2011, 09:35 PM	#4
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Could be wear to lifter and shell stop not allowing the lifter to push in far enuff to release next shell... Put a business card against the shell stop and try to make sure the lifter stays on the other side of the card... Cycle... If shell is released, you might can splay out the lifter sides a few thousandths... Brent

November 15, 2011, 11:53 PM	#5
nutty ned Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2006 Posts: 765	Is there a shell latch on both sides of the reciever as in the 870 manual on the web site? They work at different times in the cycle. Is there crud build up under either one?

November 16, 2011, 12:27 AM	#6
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Forgot the crud under the shell stop... Being a Mossberg guy, I forget about the crud under them. I just drop them out and clean but they are staked in the 870 or is that different parts staked in place? Brent

November 16, 2011, 02:46 PM	#8
Lee Lapin Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2004 Location: SE NC Posts: 1,239	Even if unstaked, 870 shell latches are pretty much pinned in place by the front trigger plate pin (part # 67 at http://www.urban-armory.com/diagrams/rem870.htm). I'd suspect a buildup of crud behind the offending shell latch, or less likely an activating notch on the action bar on that side so worn it is no longer timed properly, if the gun has been heavily used. An occasional new magazine spring never hurts... I usually replace plastic followers too, on used 870s. Brownells part number 080-000-083 contains a new spring and follower (for the standard magazine).

November 16, 2011, 05:03 PM	#10
TheKlawMan Junior member Join Date: June 23, 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 2,149	It's not juxt crud that get under the shell latch. I stupidly used a paper towel to clean out my magaazine. I later spotted, before it could cause any trouble, a piece do paper towel stuck under the tip of a shell latch. Now I just use a piece of rag.